'THAT WAS AMAZING. THANKyou! I've never been able to finish anything creative in my life and yet I'm walking away tonight with this.' Trudy, one of Merri's students held up her willow angel. 'It'll take pride of place on top of my tree.'
'You're very welcome. And you were great at making her.' Merri grinned. She still couldn’t believe her conversation with Nick earlier and the fact she was going to be coming abck to
Merri smiled as Trudy left the classroom, carrying her angel proudly.
'Hey, how's it going?' Gabby walked in and leaned against the teacher's table as Merri packed the flask she'd brought with her into her bag. 'You're booked up for every session until Christmas now and Nick has had to add four extra spaces to the day after tomorrow's session as it's so popular! I bet you’ll be glad of the break tomorrow being as it’s the lantern parade!'
'Really? That's brilliant.' Merri shrugged into her coat. 'I love teaching these sessions. I'm so grateful you all thought to ask me to cover and I still can’t believe I’ll be coming back after Christmas.’
‘It still hasn’t sunk in. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to make the move down here and now I can!' Slipping her handbag onto her shoulder, Merri grinned. She was so excited for her new start. Yes, she had a lot to do, a lot to think about. She’d have to give in her notice at work and on the flat too and find a room to rent down here but in this moment in time it actually felt possible.
'Right, I'd better get going. I'm absolutely shattered, and I have to be at the florists by five for a delivery tomorrow morning.' Gabby yawned.
'Yikes. That's early.' She didn’t know how Gabby did it. Ever since Merri had begun teaching here at the farm Elsie had been really insistent that she no longer wanted her to get up early to help with the mornings baking and after assuring her that Ianwould help before he went off to the daisy and Ollie's restaurant, Merri had been grateful for the later mornings.
'Night.' Gabby held her hand up as she opened the door to leave.
'Night.' Holding the door open, Merri paused and looked around the classroom. It was all tidy and she'd already prepared and set up for the next session.
As she was about to reach across and turn the light off, her mobile pinged. Pullign it out of her pocket, she slumped her shoudlers. It was from felix. He had to work late. There went their dinner and hot cholocoate which had become a little routine for them since she’d started teaching here and which had also become her faviurite time of the day.
The celebrations would have to wait until tomorrow now. Heopfully he’d ring when he was finshed with work and then at elast they could talk about her news. Sighing, she switched the light off and closed the door before heading outside.
She slipped her mobile back into her bag as she walked past the entrance to the shop and paused. She could hear Felix and Janet talking. He must be helping replenish the stock in the shop. She’d pop in and say bye quickly before she left.
'... I go back the week after Christmas. It's not long and we've still got a ...' Felix's voice wafted out into the courtyard.
Stopping in her tracks, Merri frowned. What was he talking about? Where was he going a week after Christmas? Inching a little closer to the open doorway, she tilted ehr head to listen.
'I'm surprised you're not staying on now Nick is keeping the farm open throughout the year.' Janets spoke.
'...wasn;t the right time...' Felix's voice was more muffled than Janet's. he must have been standing further away from the door and Merri struggled to hear all he was saying. '... no reason to stay... I'll head back home...'
No reason to stay? Felix had no reason to stay in the bay? Merri stumbled backwards. Sticking ehr hand out, she gripped onto the sleigh, steadying herself. Closing ehr eyes, Felix's words echoed in her mind. she shook her head. Why had he said that? Why didnt he think he had a reason to stay now? She'd left him the voicemail to say she'd been offered a job here at the farm and what? he suddenly wanted to leave? it made no sense. No sense at all.
He'd messaged her to tell her he could no longer meet tonight, that he had to work late, so she knew without a shadow of a doubt that he'd have heard her news. He ahdnt lost his phone, or had the battery die on him or anything. Felix knew she was staying and yet now he was leaving? Why?
She needed to get away from here. Her gloves could wait. Rummaging in her bag for the van key, she wrapped her fingers around it and went to pull it out only to find it was caught on something. 'drat.'
merri tugged on the key and finally felt it come free only to watch her bag fall to the ground, her belonging scatterings across the flagstones. that's all she needed. Dropping to her knees, she began scooping up her hairbrush, purse and other bits and pieces she kept in her bag.
'Merri?' Felix's voice loomed above her as he knelt down to help her.
Snapping her head up, she narrowed her eyes and reached forward, grabbing her handheld mirror from his grasp. 'I dont need your help.'
Rocking back on his feet, Felix frowned. 'is everything okay?'
merri stood up, shoving the handheld mirror into her bag before glaring at him. Who did he think she was? Soemone he could mess around with? someone he could promise a future too one moment only to make it evidently clear that he didnt care about her at all the next? because that's what he'd done. he'dsnatched away any hope she'd had of a future between them as well as the memories they'd already made together. they hadnt been real.
Standing up, Felix went to step towards her before she held up her hand to stop him. 'merri?'
'Don't you Merri me.' She swallowed. she would not give him he satisfaction of seeing her cry. 'I heard you. I overheard you telling Janet that you didnt have nay reason to stay here in Penowrth Bay, that you're goign home.'
Felix frowned. 'I...'
'please. I dont want to hear it.' turning, Merri ran across the courtyard towards the van, the tears flowign freely before she'd even reached the path leading to the car park. Why had she let him in? Why had she trusted him? let herself believe that they could have something good together?
Chapter Fourteen
