Page 24 of Yule Party on Sunflower Street

‘Well… I was with this man for eighteen months. He was very handsome and ambitious and even before he had a lot of money, he liked to flash the cash around.’ Her eyes took on a glazed look as she recalled her past. ‘I was young, and, if I’m allowed to say it myself, quite beautiful. He liked to take me out and spoil me, treat me to fancy meals and buy me things.’

‘But it wasn’t enough?’

Her mum shook her head. ‘I liked him, but I wasn’t in love with him. He was handsome and generous but there was no spark for me.’

‘So how did you end it?’

‘I tried to love him, but it’s never been about the money or the possessions for me. I didn’t want to be with him for those things, nor did I feel like I could stay with him for any other reason. And back then, things were a bit different. My parents couldn’t understand why I didn’t want to marry him.’

‘He proposed?’ Tara’s mouth dropped open at the thought that her mum could have married someone else. She and Sadie would never have been born. How strange that thought was.

‘He did. And I considered it for a short while because I didn’t want to hurt him. We were friends, you see. Good friends. But when he told me he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me, I had to ask for some time to think about it. Of course, I turned him down. Ever so gently. He was upset at first, but then he picked himself up and dusted himself off. And within three months, he’d married someone else.’

‘So he was all right then?’ Tara said.

Her mum shrugged. ‘Perhaps she was a rebound relationship, because as I said, he’s been married several more times since then. Or perhaps it just wasn’t right between them. But I know in my heart that if I had married him, it wouldn’t have lasted for us. I’d have struggled and made us both unhappy and then we’d have split up and it would all have been far messier than it was.’

‘How do you know he’s been married more times?’ Tara asked.

‘I see things online and on social media. He’s in the celebrity magazines quite often.’

‘What’s his name?’ Tara’s brain went into overdrive trying to work out who it could be.

‘I won’t tell you that, my darling, because I don’t think you need to know. It’s another reason why I’ve never said anything. But I wanted you to know that I understand why you did what you did. Being with the wrong person is worse than being alone. In fact, there’s nothing wrong with being alone at all. You can be lonely in a relationship and that was what I felt with him because we lacked a connection. But then, with your dad…’ She clasped her hands to her chest. ‘He was right from the get-go.’

‘You guys are really in love, aren’t you?’ Tara said with a smile.

‘We are. Even after so many years together. I still look at him now and know I made the right choice. He’s such a handsome man and he has a good heart. We make time for each other and that keeps the spark alive.’

Tara watched her mum’s face as she spoke about her husband and knew that her mum and dad were always meant to be together. When it was right, it was right.

‘So you know I was right to end things with Paul,’ she said.

‘I do. And I’m glad you were strong enough to do that because ending things with a partner takes a lot of courage. It’s harder, sometimes, than staying with them.’

‘I hope he’ll be happy and that he’ll find someone who’s right for him in the ways I wasn’t. I felt like a square peg that he was trying to fit into a round hole.’ Tara laughed. ‘Gosh, that sounds awful, but you know what I mean.’

‘I do, Tara. But you can’t force these things.’

‘You certainly can’t.’ Tara watched the robin as it hopped closer to their table. It was so small and yet so beautiful. ‘Coming here and starting this business has made me realise how much I was just going through the motions before. At work and at home.’

‘You seemed that way. Dad and I were concerned about you.’

‘You never said, though.’

‘We have never wanted to interfere, and it might just have been a blip. People go through blips. You could have stayed but you’d always have wondered what if…’

‘I would have. And if I ever get into another relationship, I want to feel the spark. I know things change over time and that it’s not just about physical attraction, but I want to feel my soul calling out for that person. Perhaps I’ve read too many romance novels.’ She looked down at her hands as her cheeks grew hot.

‘Not at all, Tara, and I understand what you mean. You do need to feel a spark, or you end up in a relationship like you did with Paul. I’m not saying that these things can’t develop when you get to know someone, but you gave your relationship with him enough time to find out.’

‘I think so. Six years is time enough to know.’

Her mum smiled. ‘No regrets, now. Only embracing today and looking forward.’

‘Absolutely!’ Tara stood up. ‘Right, I’ll get us some drinks. What do you fancy?’

Her mum pursed her lips. ‘Something sweet and festive.’