‘I had a dream visitation the other night from Bren.’
‘What?’ Christine’s eyebrows rose. ‘Really? Tell me about it!’
Morgan closed her eyes again, reliving the dream. ‘It was the night of those terrible winds. I had such a restless night, I always do when we have weather like that, because that’s what it was like the night Bren was killed.’
Christine gasped. ‘Was it? I never realised.’
‘You wouldn’t have known. You hadn’t yet moved into the bay when it happened. Anyway, the dream was a mixed-up one. I honestly thought I was still in my late twenties, and it was the early eighties again. I was washing up at the sink, and Bren was there. In the dream, I was re-enacting the last time I saw him, experiencing all the happy emotions of the night, right up untilI was woken by banging on the door when the police came to give me the dreadful news.’ Morgan opened her eyes and looked up at her friend. Christine’s mouth was open, aghast. Morgan continued. ‘On hearing the banging, I thought I was shooting up into a sitting position on the settee i fell asleep on, but I shot up in bed, instead. That’s when I saw him—Bren. He looked exactly like he had the last time I laid eyes on him.’
‘And did he speak?’
‘He did. To put it in a nutshell, he told me I’d grieved for too long, and now it was time to love again and not feel guilty about it. He told me I had enough love to share.’
‘Oh my goodness. I just got goosebumps. That is so wonderful Morgan. He's putting your mind at ease by letting you know it’s okay to date again.’
Mogan sighed. ‘Do you think I’ve left it too late Christine? I mean, who wants to date a greying woman in her sixties with a walking stick?’
‘You’ll be surprised how many secret admires you might have Morgan. Anyway, you are beautiful—inside and out. Any man would be lucky to have you.’
Morgan grinned up at Christine. ‘Awww, thank you. I knew there was a reason why you were in my closest circle of friends.’
Christine laughed. ‘You do realise grey hair is on point at the moment. I have to try and replicate your hair colour for so many women, you know.’
‘Hmmm, I’m a real trend setter, aren;t I?’ giggled Morgan. ‘Maybe I should design a fashion line of walking sticks too, and get Pharis to make and sell them in his farm shop?’
Christine stopped massaging Morgan’s hair for a moment. ‘Hey, that’s actually not a bad idea.’
Morgan just laughed. ‘Are you confirming Bren is encouraging me to find someone new?’
‘It appears so. All you have to do is let your guard down and see what happens in this new year.’
MORGAN LEFT CHRISTINE’Ssalon feeling a lot lighter than when she’d entered. She placed her fingers on the area Ned had kissed her yesterday. The kiss had felt nice. Maybe she was at a place in her life where she was open to becoming close friends with a male someone.
Close friends? Really? Is that all she wanted?
She shook her head slowly. She didn’t know. She was scared she wouldn’t meet anyone’s expectations. She lifted her cane and stared at it cynically. She wasn’t exactly the catch of the year.
Her phone rang and she fished it out of her handbag. The caller display told her it was Katherine.
‘Hello love.’
‘Hello Morgan. Sorry I missed you yesterday. Are you about now? I’m in Tammy’s Tearoom just catching up with her.’
‘I’ve just come out of Christine’s. I’ll walk around to you, Be there in five.’
‘Okay, I’ll get you a latte.’
‘You still remember my order then?’
Katherine chortled. ‘How could I forget? You’ve ordered the same coffee for the last five years.’
The call ended and Morgan smiled at the screen before slipping the phone back into her bag.
Katherine was sitting at a table with Tammy. Declan, Tammy’s boyfriend who was also the part-time chef at The Cheese Wedge and Pickles was serving behind the counter. They both looked her way when she walked in to another tinkling door.
Tammy’s smile was radiant. ‘Hello Morgan. I’m baking your cake tomorrow ready to decorate it the day after that, so if there’s any changes wanted, now’s the time to tell me.’
Morgan shook her head as she sat down. ‘No love. The design I showed you is exactly what I want.’
