Page 71 of My Kind of Happy

‘Ha snap!’ Laura found hers and we chinked them together.

‘Do you remember what she said about them?’ I asked, taking her crystal from her. Whereas mine was a smooth egg-shaped stone, hers was irregular, shaped like a little bird, golden threads within it catching the light.

Laura nodded, her gaze soft. ‘That mine would help me work on my communication skills.’

‘It didn’t take long to take effect, did it?’ I teased. ‘We’d barely left the studio and you spilled all the beans.’

‘That was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done,’ she admitted. ‘But then I plucked up the courage to suggest Hamish and I moved in together.’

‘That was your suggestion?’ I said surprised.

‘Yep. Losing Freddie …’ She lifted her shoulder. ‘Well, it puts life into perspective. I knew I loved Hamish and I didn’t want to waste time not being with him. So I told him.’

‘I love that you two are so happy,’ I said. ‘And Maureen’s advice to me was to be kind to myself. So on that note …’

I helped myself to a delicious chocolate biscuit from the plate. Laura joined me and we crunched away for a few moments. Maureen had said more than that of course, she’d asked me if I’d forgotten what made me happy. She’d hit the nail on the head, but now with Freddie’s help, I felt like I was getting there. Here I was in a beautiful setting, with my best friend, about to discuss the biggest order Nina’s Flowers will have ever taken. Life was good. Except for one thing: Sam …

‘Despite what I said about it being the twenty-first century,’ Laura said out of the blue, breaking into my thoughts, ‘I would prefer it if Hamish were to propose to me rather than the other way around. And I don’t think I’d have the reception here.’

‘Oh?’ I took another biscuit. ‘I like it.’

‘It’s a bit fancy for me.’ She wrinkled her nose. ‘I’d just go for something simple. Or just escape to a white sandy beach and do it in secret.’

I looked alarmed. ‘I hope the maid of honour will still get an invitation?’

She pretended to think about it and I poked my tongue out at her.

‘Of course you will,’ she laughed. ‘I don’t mean entirely in secret. I won’t have my mum there to see me get married but I couldn’t do it without Dad.’

‘I’m so happy for you.’ I took a deep breath and blinked away the prickle of tears in my eyes. ‘My best friend and Freddie’s best friend. There’s a circular beauty to it that just feels right somehow.’

Laura smiled, misty-eyed. ‘Thank you.’ She cleared her throat. ‘Perhaps we need to keep the circle going and find you someone from Hamish’s list of Facebook friends.’

‘Um.’ I brushed the crumbs from my lap. ‘I have made a friend since I’ve been in Barnaby. Sam. He works for the landlord. The one I said came around to chase Nina for money.’

She looked surprised. ‘Isn’t he supposed to be the baddie?’

A picture of Sam’s handsome face appeared in my mind and the look of concentration in his eyes when he was trying to twist the stems for Pandora’s bouquet.

I shook my head. ‘Sam only wanted the rent which was overdue, he’s hardly a loan shark threatening to send the heavies round. He’s nice and kind and it was he who helped me get a foot in the door here.’

Laura stared at me amused. ‘You really do like him, don’t you!’

I felt the beginning of a blush. ‘No. Possibly. But it doesn’t matter either way because he’s just got back with his ex-wife. And I helped him.’

‘Sounds complicated.’ She arched an eyebrow. ‘Trust you.’

‘I know.’ I smiled ruefully. ‘And in theory, of course I want him to live happily ever after with his wife and children, but I’m not sure his wife feels the same.’

Laura ploughed through the rest of the biscuits while I told her I’d discovered that Pandora might be having an affair.

‘I was hoping to see her for myself when I delivered two lots of flowers to her house, but a cute little boy answered.’

It had had to have been Sam’s son, Will. The one who slept curled up with his thumb in his mouth. My heart fluttered as I remembered the look of adoration on Sam’s face when he’d told me about his children. I hope Will hadn’t read the note from Sexy Tiger which had accompanied the roses. I gave a shudder.

Laura shook her head. ‘Poor kid. Sounds like Sam might not be married for much longer.’

‘I hate knowing something about his wife that he doesn’t know,’ I screwed up my face. ‘It feels underhand.’