Chapter 41
41
POPPY
As Joel smiled at me and squeezed my hand, I knew he was thinking exactly the same as I was – it would be us soon. I’d have expected the idea of getting engaged to a man who’d been a stranger to me only a few months ago would have scared me but it felt so right, as though those stars were always meant to align and bring us together.
Since I’d met Joel, I’d done so many things that had scared me, but every single one had turned out to bring so much joy. I’d therefore decided it was time to stop being afraid and throw myself into life. When Joel had asked me if I wanted to ride a quad bike at Bumblebee Barn, I’d strapped that helmet on and driven my bike through the mud at top speed, squealing and laughing at the same time. I’d bounced on the trampoline at Snowy’s gym club. I’d asked Joel if he’d like to sell his place and buy Whisperwood Farmhouse with me. And tonight at the disco in Wildflower Byre, I was going to dance like nobody was watching. I’d admired how Joel had danced at Amber and Barney’s wedding with absolute abandon and twirled with his daughter without a care in the world and had thought I could never be like that. Well, I could be and I was. Joel and Imogen had helped me to see that.
The ceremony was beautiful and, as the bridesmaids followed the happy couple up the aisle afterwards, I found my eyes drawn to Samantha and Amber in particular. Their dresses had full skirts but I could just make out Samantha’s small pregnancy bump. She’d announced a few weeks ago that she and Josh were expecting their third baby, due in early November. Amber wasn’t showing yet but she wasn’t far behind Samantha – something which only the family and closest friends of the newlyweds knew. Baby Kinsella was due the first week in December and would be the first baby on both sides of the family.
Many of the guests had risen to follow the bridal party down to Wildflower Byre for the drinks reception and wedding breakfast.
Snowy passed with his grandfather, Eddie, and his twelve-year-old son, Harrison. A talented trampolinist, Harrison had taken Imogen under his wing at his dad’s gymnastics club. He smiled and waved at Imogen.
‘Can I go with Harrison?’ she asked Joel.
‘That’s fine. See you down there in a bit.’
‘Can we hang back until everyone’s gone?’ Joel said when Imogen left. ‘I want to give you something.’
When my eyes widened, he laughed. ‘Not that sort of something. I wouldn’t be so crass as to propose at someone else’s wedding, but it is related.’
Once everyone had gone, he led me onto the wedding gazebo and reached into the pocket inside his suit, producing a small jewellery pouch.
‘When we met, I was scared I’d talked myself into the friend zone with you. You challenged me as to why it had to be friendship or passion and showed me how it’s possible to have both and be happier than I could ever have imagined. So this is for you.’
He handed me the pouch and I removed the contents, laughing. It was a friendship bracelet with intertwined silver hearts in the middle.
‘Friendship and passion,’ I said, putting my wrist out so he could fasten it in place. ‘I love it.’
‘And I love you. I’ll make it official one day soon and this’ll be us saying I do next year.’
‘I was thinking why wait when you know you’ve found what you’ve always been looking for? What if, when you do propose, the plan is to marry this year?’
‘This year?’ His smile widened. ‘I’m liking the sound of that. Better make sure that proposal is really soon.’
He drew me into a slow and tender kiss then led me down the track in the direction of the music and laughter.
‘So, Poppy Wells, have you done anything lately that’s scared you?’ he asked.
‘Just the one thing.’
‘What’s that?’
I looked around me. There was nobody in sight so I opened my clutch bag. ‘I’ve got something for you too. Close your eyes for a moment.’
He closed them and I took a deep breath as I removed the item and held it out in front of me. ‘You can open them now.’
He stared at the item then at me. ‘Is that…? You’re…’
‘There must be something in the water round here,’ I said, smiling at him. ‘First Samantha, then Amber, and now me.’
He pressed his steepled hands to his lips, blinking back tears. ‘I wasn’t expecting that.’
‘Me neither. Scary, right?’
‘Scary, but absolutely bloody fantastic. Oh, my God! Poppy! We’re having a baby!’ He looked up at the sky. ‘Did you hear that, Stanley and Joy? Your first grandchild. Pretty amazing, eh?’
He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me as though nobody was watching. I’d found my tribe the day I said yes to a much-needed break in East Yorkshire and my new friends weren’t the only ones expanding that tribe. I was too. This year had been a sad one but, my goodness, had it been a happy one too and every day just got better and better.