Page 36 of Yule Party on Sunflower Street

‘Something like that.’ Seth scratched the back of his neck.

Gerry’s bushy grey eyebrows climbed his forehead. ‘You got a date with someone special?’ he asked.

‘Oh… Uhm…’ Seth cursed himself for not shutting this down as heat flooded into his face. He ran a finger under the neck of his jumper.

‘Suddenly too warm in here?’ Gerry laughed. ‘Sorry, Seth, I didn’t mean to pry.’

‘It’s fine.’ Seth smiled. ‘It’s just… it’s one of those⁠—’

‘A complicated situationship?’ Gerry asked.

‘Yes.’ Because it was complicated and confusing and wonderful and… He sighed. What was he thinking? He was always a consummate professional, his business was incredibly important to him, but as he’d toured the site with Gerry, he’d struggled to concentrate. His thoughts kept circling to Tara and how easy it had been to talk to her during the journey. He’d enjoyed learning about her teenage years and her dating history. When she’d talked about wanting to meet someone organically, he realised it was what he wanted too.

Gerry held out a hand and Seth shook it.

‘You take care now, Seth, and if you like this woman, I’d say go for it. I’ve been married twenty-five years to the woman who was my situationship and I have zero regrets.’

‘Thanks, Gerry. Have a wonderful Christmas and I’ll be in touch soon.’

Out in the cold again, Seth walked away from the building then found a quiet spot with a bench. It was too early to meet Tara yet, so he sat down and closed his eyes as the cold air soothed his hot cheeks.

Tara had asked if he was seeing anyone. Why had she asked that? Was she just making conversation or did she really want to know? After all, he’d arranged this appointment today so he’d have an excuse to spend time with her. But he knew he’d have come anyway, even if he hadn’t been able to rearrange his diary.

This was unusual for him. He liked his independence, his routines, his work and his flat. He’d never felt that anything was missing.

Until now.

Until he met the woman with a smile that could light up a room and stir something inside of him.

Opening his eyes, he watched as a robin fluttered around on a planter then settled to peck at some seeds from a bird feeder someone had placed there. It made him smile to see a simple act of human kindness like that, done just to make the life of the robin and other birds easier.

Seth was feeling differently about more than one thing and it was unsettling. He was making excuses to go to Wisteria Hollow. He’d got involved with planning the Yule Party. He was attracted to Tara but it was so much more than that. He’d fancied women in the past but there had always been something missing. And he knew they’d felt the same about him. But Tara was different…

And yet… This was all temporary.

Tara would leave after Christmas. He would have the shop refurbished and then rent it to someone on a long-term lease. It was the plan and he always stuck to the plan.

Didn’t he?

He stood up and sucked the chilly air into his lungs.

Tara said she didn’t know what she was going to do after Christmas and that concerned him. He wanted her to have happiness and security. The thought that she could leave the village and he might never see her again made an ache start up inside him that he didn’t know how to stop.

He rubbed a hand over his face.

He had to keep things uncomplicated.

But when his heart jumped at the thought of spending time with her today, he knew it was impossible.

He checked his watch.

It was time to go and meet her.

And as he walked across the car park, he realised that he couldn’t wait to see her again.

When he reached the vintage place where she’d gone, he paused and tried to steady himself. This situation was spiralling out of control. He was nervous but he was also excited because after so long without feeling anything like this for another person, it was good to know he didn’t have a heart made of stone.

Tara had got to him, and he couldn’t find it in himself to be sorry.