Page 115 of My Kind of Happy

I nodded and stared at the envelope in my hands.

‘I came to work here because flowers were top of my happiness list. I wanted to make myself happy.’ I tapped the envelope against my palm. ‘I hope my happiness hasn’t come at the expense of Nina’s.’

He caught hold of my fingers. ‘Do you regret it?’

I didn’t answer straight away. I remembered what had set me on this journey: the decision to live a life that I’d chosen, one filled with happy moments, one that I’d look back on and have zero regrets about. I thought about the happiness that I’d experienced over the last few months and how happy Nina was to be finally doing the travelling she’d always dreamed of. A smile broke out slowly on my face until I was beaming at him.

‘What?’ He smiled. ‘What have I said?’

‘Exactly the right thing,’ I said, barely able to contain my exuberance. ‘I have absolutely no regrets, none at all. Isn’t that amazing!’

He laughed at me. ‘It is amazing. So amazing that I think we should go out and celebrate on Sunday. I owe you dinner, remember?’

My stomach fluttered; I couldn’t think of anything I’d rather do.

‘I’d love that,’ I said shyly.

‘Then it’s a date.’

We sorted out the time and place – Sam was going to pick me up from my house – and then he had to go.

‘Until Sunday, then.’ His face flushed. ‘Blimey, I haven’t been on a date for a long time. Not that it is one!’

‘No, of course not.’ I shook my head rapidly.

‘Unless …?’ He cocked an eyebrow and we both laughed.

After a moment’s hesitation he pulled me into his arms and we laughed some more and I knew that whatever happened I’d always look back at this moment with this man and my heart would smile. I was living the life I’d hoped for and I had a feeling that with Sam by my side, I could carry on that way for a long time to come.