Once he’d said goodbye to his brother, Peter got ready for another week at school, checking lesson plans and meeting slots. But his mind was restless, replaying every scene from his time with Gaby over the weekend, from their walks hand-in-hand around town to the meals they’d shared to their spectacular kiss beneath the stars to the earth-shattering time they’d spenttogether in his bed… to her gut-wrenching departure last night followed by his foolish quest this afternoon to tell her how he really felt.
His brother’s words kept spinning around in his head too.
There’s always a choice. You just have to keep looking until you find it.
Peter wished he could find it. But if there was something he could do to change things, he had no idea what it was.
Gaby was leaving tomorrow. He couldn’t stop her. What else was there to be done?
Peter lay awake half the night thinking about that question and chasing answers that didn’t exist.
29
Sayinggoodbye was harder than Gaby imagined it would be.
Over the last two weeks, she’d become much closer to her Aunt Jill and had loved every minute of the time they’d spent together. Phone calls and messages were fine, and she’d always looked forward to the occasional short breaks they shared together when Jill joined her in London if she was passing through or flew out to meet her wherever she happened to be working. But none of that was the same as day after day spent in each other’s company.
Gaby had come here to help her aunt recover from surgery but she’d also rediscovered forgotten depths in their friendship. She would miss her once she was gone.
“Saying goodbye to you is very hard,” Jill said as Gaby wheeled her suitcase to the front door.
“I’m trying hard not to cry, Aunt Jill,” Gaby replied. “I know I came here to help you recover and the last few weeks have been hard for you, but I’ve loved being here and spending time with you.”
“I’ve loved it too. I only wish it could’ve been under better circumstances and I hadn’t been recuperating. We could’ve had much more fun together and gone out and about.”
“I liked just hanging around the house with you. And let’s be honest, I wasn’t exactly stuck indoors the entire time.”
“I didn’t expect you would be. I’m so pleased you made yourself useful here to someone other than me and jumped in to assist the Goodwins. You’re a good girl with a very good heart. And I’m pleased you had time to socialise, too.” Jill gave her a serious look. “Have you thought any more about Peter and what we talked about last night?”
“I have,” Gaby said on a sigh. “But saying goodbye to you is hard enough without thinking about Peter, too.”
Jill held up her hands in surrender. “You know your own mind. You know what’s best and I won’t mention it again. Now, come here and hug me, my lovely girl.”
Gaby embraced her aunt, holding back the tears that threatened. “I’ll miss you, Aunt Jill.”
“I’ll miss you too, very much. But we’ll see each other soon. Once you’ve finished with your wonderful ocean voyages, we’ll make arrangements to get together again.”
Gaby nodded, blinking back tears as her aunt patted her back and then made her laugh by giving her cheek a soft squeeze.
“Now, off you go before we’re both sobbing. You’ve got a train to catch and I don’t want to be the reason you miss it.”
Gaby walked out the door, rucksack on her back and wheeling her suitcase behind her. The morning was bright and cold and as she walked to the gate she glanced at the bird feeders she’d filled after breakfast. Birds chirped and swooped as they pecked at the seeds, making a cheerful racket. She would even miss the sweet garden birds she realised with an amused smile, would miss the routine chore of refilling the feeders to welcome the feathery visitors for her aunt’s entertainment.
You could have this too—a pretty garden of your own with little wild birds that you welcome with seeds and a smile.
That thought spun inside her head as she closed the gate behind her and took one last look back at her aunt who stood framed in the doorway of her lovely house. Jill waved and held her hand to her heart before blowing a kiss. Gulping down a sob of emotion, Gaby waved back, grabbed her suitcase again and started walking.
Foxglove Street rolled past her with every step. She glanced at the houses through eyes wet with unshed tears and did her best to smile at the people she passed. When she turned onto the high street, she looked one last time at the pretty shops and bustling cafes. By the time she reached the train station, her heart was aching.
She’d said goodbye to so many places in her life and was always sorry to leave those she’d especially loved. But she couldn’t remember ever feeling quite this sad at the prospect of departing.
And that was before she even allowed herself to think about Peter. Only by blocking him entirely out of her head could she board the train and begin the journey ahead.
Right on time, the train pulled out of the station. Gaby watched Hamblehurst disappear behind her. The streets and roads, the houses and churches, the parks and allotments all turned into a blur as the train picked up speed and headed into the open landscapes of the Hampshire countryside on its journey towards the coast.
Gaby told herself she’d feel better once she arrived in Southampton and made her way to the port terminal where she’d check in with her new employer. It stood to reason that saying goodbye to her aunt would leave a lump in her throat, and it was only natural to feel sorry to leave behind a town as pretty and charming as Hamblehurst.
Once she reached the port and focused on the grand adventure that lay ahead, she’d feel excited, she was sure of it.
