‘You go inside; we’ll talk more at the pub soon.’
She put a hand on Morgan’s arm. ‘It’s good to have you back.’
Morgan went on her way, embracing the sunny day that was cooler than when she was here over a month ago, a slight chill on the air that hinted autumn was around the corner and necessitated the need for a cardigan over the shirt she’d teamed with jeans. She walked fast enough to get to the markets before closing but slowly enough to take it all in.
She paused at the top of the humpback bridge and leaned against the honey-coloured stone wall as she thought about Nate. He’d be long gone by now. Back to Wales.
She turned into Snowdrop Lane and meandered up towards the ground that hosted the markets every Saturday. Trading would have just finished so it was clear-up time. Hildy emerged from the front entrance as Morgan crossed the car park area.
‘I thought we’d lost you!’ Hildy waved enthusiastically, laughter lines prominent and proving the sense of fun that tended to be associated with the woman.
‘Never,’ Morgan laughed in her embrace.
‘Are you back? For good or to pack up?’ Her spirits diminished at the final suggestion.
‘For good. I’m buying Forget-Me-Not Cottage, so you’re stuck with me.’
Hildy pulled her in for a hug again. ‘That’s the best news ever!’
‘Morgan!’ Zadie from the second-hand book stall had appeared behind them and bustled in for her turn to hug the returning resident. ‘Can’t stop, got to go back for another box. You know what Jasper’s like; he runs a tight ship. But we’ll catch up. Soon.’
‘Promise,’ she hollered after her because she was already off. It felt unbelievably good to be able to finally let it be known that she wasn’t going anywhere.
‘You’ve been missed,’ declared Mindy as she emerged from the markets entrance with a huge box in her arms. She didn’t stop, the box looked too heavy, so she went over to her car.
Many more of these greetings and Morgan might well cry with the emotion of it all.
Sadie came out of the main entrance next, a big plastic container in her arms. ‘You’re back, great to see you!’
‘Thanks, Sadie.’
‘You missed my birthday cake cookies,’ she grinned.
‘Sounds interesting.’
‘White chocolate chips, sprinkles… they sold out before lunchtime. I’ll make them for next week.’ She nodded her head to the container in her arms. ‘Freebies inside if I can interest you; think there’s some chocolate, some oatmeal and raisin.’
Morgan shook her head because she wanted to catch Jasper and at this rate, she wouldn’t get a chance. ‘I won’t today, but next week for sure. I won’t be working the stall but I’ll come for a wander this way and see everyone, say a proper hello.’
‘Great. See you next week.’ Sadie hadn’t been doing this long either and she was already as much a part of it as the others. Jasper had a good team; she wondered whether he organised stalls and traders according to personality or whether he’d got lucky with them all without much effort at all. Or perhaps anyone who was a market trader was naturally adept at being friendly and fitting in.
As Morgan went in through the front entrance to the markets, which was really just a very wide gap between two stalls, she could feel her mother’s spirit with her. The breeze blew her dark hair lightly as she approached the stall that had once been Elaina’s. She could see boxes piled up on both tables but any signage to let her know who’d had the stall for the day was already down with the packing up underway.
She was about to walk on and find Jasper but she froze when she looked again at the man behind those tables, facing away from her.
It couldn’t be, could it?
He was bending down and that was why she hadn’t immediately realised. But looking at him now, the well-fitted jeans, a bottom she’d seen bending over enough times, the muscular shoulder blades in a casual t-shirt and the tanned, strong neck as he turned in her direction, she knew it was him.
‘I thought you’d left.’ He put the box in his arms down on the table, pushing another out of the way to enable him to do so. ‘Thought you’d taken the job.’
‘I did.’
She was about to explain everything when he picked the box up again and pushed a wooden chopping board under one arm. ‘That’s me done, ready to go.’
‘I can take something if it makes it easier.’
‘I can manage.’ Without another word, he left the stall and made for the entrance and the car park.
