Pull it together, Gaby,she told herself.
“It’s been a long time,” Peter said when their clumsy hug ended. “How are you?”
“I’m good. You?”
“I’m good, too. What brings you back to Hamblehurst?”
The necessity of friendly small talk was a welcome relief after the rush of emotion she’d felt during those brief seconds she’d spent in his arms.
“My aunt had surgery and I’m helping her around the house for a few weeks.”
“Your Aunt Jill, of course I remember her. I hope she’s okay,” Peter said, his genuine concern obvious and touching.
“She’ll be fine in time. So, are you still living here?”
Peter nodded. “I teach maths at the high school.”
“That’s wonderful. I remember you were studying maths at university.”
“What about you? Did you travel around the world like you said you would?”
“I did and I still am, actually. I was working in Madrid before I came here and…”
Gaby’s gaze fell on Harry Goodwin who was sitting behind the wheel of the car parked outside the Sweet Treats café and looking increasingly worried as he watched her chatting away.
“Peter, I wish I could stay and chat but I’m in a horrible rush right now,” she said. “Maybe we could catch up later?”
“I’d like that. What about a drink together tonight?”
She wanted desperately to say yes, but if she spent the afternoon managing the birthday party booking at HarryGoodwin’s hotel, she couldn’t possibly also swan off for drinks in the evening and leave her aunt all by herself again.
“I don’t think I can tonight. Maybe tomorrow instead?”
“Sure. I’ll give you my number.”
Gaby punched his number into her phone. “It really is great to see you, Peter. I’ll drop you a message later.”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
She gave him another awkward hug and then hurried to Harry’s car. As she climbed into the passenger seat and pulled on her seatbelt, she couldn’t help peering out the side window and watching Peter walk inside the café and head towards the counter.
“Sorry about that,” Gaby said as Harry pulled away from the kerb and drove along the cobbled lane.
“An old friend?” Harry asked.
“Something like that. We knew each other when we were teenagers and haven’t seen each other since.”
Harry made the turn at the junction and something about the look on his face made Gaby curious.
“What is it?” she asked.
His grin widened. “Nothing really. It’s just that I watched you come out of the café and almost walk into that guy and saw how you pulled the box of cakes out of the way in the nick of time. That’s almost exactly how Mel and I met.”
This was the last thing Gaby had expected him to say. “Really?”
Harry nodded. “Except in our case, Mel didn’t get the box of cakes out of the way in time and they ended up crushed between us. I was covered in chocolate cake and so was she.”
“Oh, my goodness!” Gaby couldn’t help laughing.
