‘Holly and I had a good talk. She loves it here and I think it’s the perfect place to bring her up. She wants to go to school and it’s a chat I’m going to have to have with her mum.’
‘How do you think that will go down?’ Libby asked tentatively.
‘Sophie and Lydia tend to do what they want, when they want, without any regard for Holly, and she needs stability. If she agrees, I want Holly to live with me, here. They want to go travelling and I think it’ll do me the world of good if they do. Everyone needs a breather. I’m prepared to take projects that I can work on from home, so that I can pick Holly up from school.’
‘It sounds like you have it all worked out.’
‘I have, if everyone agrees.’
‘I’ve got everything crossed for you,’ said Libby, feeling a tiny bit envious.
They carried on walking. ‘I’ll miss you when you leave, you know.’
'Me too,’ replied Libby, knowing that every day her move to New York was getting closer.
‘Timing is not in our favour, is it?’
‘I don’t even want to think about it. I just want to spend as much time with you as possible. However difficult it is, we can work it out as we go along.’ He bowed his head and pressed a soft kiss to her lips.
Libby wanted the dream job, but her feelings for Guy were growing stronger by the second. She didn’t want to give him up.
Hearing his phone ring, Guy looked at the screen and promptly answered the call. By the look on his face and the way he was intently listening and nodding his head, Libby knew it was something important. Then he beamed widely. ‘That’s brilliant, thanks so much!’ He hung up the call. ‘I can’t quite believe it.’
‘Good news?’ probed Libby.
‘The best news!’ He picked Libby up off the ground and spun her round.
She laughed. ‘Come on, tell me. Don’t leave me in suspense.’
‘I put in an offer on Weathervane Cottage and it’s been accepted. I’m getting my fresh start!’
‘Guy! That is brilliant news! Your luck is changing. I can feel it. I’m so happy for you. Living in Heartcross is living the dream.’
She knew as soon as the words left her mouth that she meant every single one. Being in Heartcrosswasliving the dream. It was the perfect place to live: the community and the village had everything anyone needed and the views were to die for.
‘Wait until I tell Holly; she’ll be so excited.’
‘A new home to decorate how you please,’ she added.
‘I know and we’ll be able to send you updates as we go along. The whole cottage needs a little tender loving care and I can’t wait to see it become a happy home.’
‘That would be lovely. I can’t wait to see the transformation.’ Libby was genuinely pleased. This was just the fresh start he needed and it would give him something to focus on.
The traffic through the town was quieter than usual, probably due to the weather, but Libby noticed a bus on the high street slowing down at the traffic lights. They stopped to cross the road and Libby glanced up to the top deck. Jenny looked out of the window.
‘There’s Jenny,’ Libby exclaimed. ‘She’s on the bus.’ She took hold of Guy’s hand and dragged him after the bus.
‘What are you doing?’
‘The next stop is the care home.’
‘And?’
‘I don’t know. I’m going to see if there’s an opportunity to have a chat. Introduce myself. Maybe ask her why she said those things about Starcross Manor.’
‘Are you sure that’s the right thing to do?’ Guy asked.
‘No, but I’m going to do it anyway.’
