Page 57 of Snowflakes Over Micklewick Bay

The drinks poured, Hannah and Lachie headed over to the table for two. Lachie was telling Hannah how he’d got interested in foraging for food, when she was overcome by the feeling she was being watched. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as her eyes swept the room. In the next moment her breath caught in her throat and her heart stopped as she locked eyes with one of the very last people she wanted to see. Polly!

‘Oh, my God, I need to get out of here.’ She started shaking as panic took hold. She went to grab her bag, but it must’ve got caught on her chair as it wouldn’t budge. ‘No! Don’t do this to me!’ She stole another look in Polly’s direction to see her heading over to them. Hannah tugged at her bag once more.

‘Hannah! What’s wrong?’ Lachie followed her line of sight to see Polly glaring angrily as she bore down on them. ‘Is it the woman who’s stomping over here?’

‘I just need to go.’ This was her worst nightmare. She needed to get out before Polly got a chance to speak to her, before she made a scene. But a cringingly familiar voice told her it was too late.

‘I don’t know how you dare show your face around here after what you did,’ Polly hissed, pushing her face into Hannah’s.

‘Who are you? And please don’t talk to Hannah like that.’ Lachie went to stand between them. Roly scrambled to his feet, a warning growl emanating from him.

‘Who are these? Your minders?’ Polly sneered, her bright red lipstick daubed over her cruel lips putting Hannah in mind of a vampire.

‘We were just going.’ Hannah took advantage of Lachie blocking Polly’s path and managed to loosen her bag. She hooked it over her shoulder, her heart pounding. ‘We don’t want any trouble, Polly.’

‘Hannah’s right.’ Lachie pinned her with a meaningful stare.

Polly glowered at him. ‘She’s stolen from me multiple times. Stole from her father, too, and her stepbrother. Bet she hasn’t told you that, has she?’ She gave a victorious snarl. ‘She might look all sweet and innocent, but that’s the last thing she is. You need to watch her. She’s trouble.’

‘It’s not true, and you know it. You and your son set me up,’ Hannah said, deliberately keeping her voice low in a bid not to attract attention. Though judging by the heads that were turning and the necks that were craning, it was already too late for that.

‘Don’t believe a word she says, no one in this town does. Everyone knows how she broke her father’s heart. And she’s carrying on even after he’s gone. Shamelessly stealing my home from me. Well, let me tell you this, you little good-for-nothing money grabber, you won’t get away with it.’

Hannah’s eyes were swimming with tears. This was worse than she’d feared. Lachie had heard what Polly had said. She couldn’t bear it if he believed her.

‘I know Hannah, and I know she doesn’t do things like that. So I think you should stop harassing her and go and sit yourself back at your table.’ Lachie glared down at the woman.

‘Come on, Polly, it’s time to leave. We can’t have you upsetting our customers.’ Hannah peered around Lachie to see the barman who’d served them. He’d fixed her ex-stepmother with a warning look.

‘Aye, behave yourself, Polly,’ said another man who’d been standing nearby and overheard the whole exchange. ‘And, from where I’m standing, it’s you who’s the money grabber.’

Polly shot him a toxic look. ‘Who asked you? Keep your nose out. Nobody cares what you think. I could tell you plenty about what she’s done.’

‘I’m warning you, Polly, you’re going to have to leave,’ said the barman, taking on a sterner tone.

After more grumbling, she stomped over to her table, retrieved her bag and left, slinging a filthy look Hannah’s way as she flung the door open and stormed out.

Lachie turned to Hannah. ‘Are you okay?’

Though she was still shaking, she nodded. ‘I am now.’ Hannah was stunned the woman had actually left and hadn’t carried on having a go at her like she used to.

‘Who was she?’ Lachie asked.

‘She was the reason I left this town when I was sixteen years old and never wanted to come back. She’s my ex-stepmother. And, in case you hadn’t noticed, she hates me.’

‘Aye, I got the impression she’s not your biggest fan.’ He guided her down on to her seat. ‘Can I get you anything else? You look pretty shaken; in fact, you’re trembling.’

‘I’m fine, thanks. Or at least I will be in a couple of minutes.’

The reappearance of the barman by the side of their table took Hannah by surprise. ‘Thought you could do with one of these.’ He set down a tray with a pot of tea and two mugs. ‘It’s chamomile, nice and soothing.’ He smiled kindly at Hannah. ‘My name’s Pim, by the way. My husband Bill and I own The Cellar. And I want to apologise to you for the unfriendly welcome you were subjected to on your first visit here. We always pride ourselves on giving our customers a warm welcome. I can assure you, Polly is no longer allowed back here. It’s not the first time she’s behaved in such a way.’

‘Thanks so much for the tea, Pim, it’s so kind of you.’ Hannah was touched by the gesture. It was another thing that helped ease her worries about Polly’s clout in the town, as well as hearing that she wasn’t the only customer Polly had been confrontational with.

When Hannah’s nerves had finally settled, she explained her situation to Lachie, though she didn’t go into quite as much detail as she had with Florrie and the lasses, but she gave him enough information to form a picture of what had happened when she’d been growing up and why she’d left the town.

Lachie had sat, speechless, taking it all in, the look in his eyes betraying his feelings.

He reached across and took her hands in his. ‘I don’t know what to say, Hannah. I can’t believe you went through all that.’