That Special Something: A heartwarming, small town romance to fall in love with

Twelve

After her encounter with Rob, Hope had gone to bed the moment she got home. But she hadn’t slept at all and spent the night tossing and turning, flitting between feelings of anger, surprise, a strange sort of guilt, an odd type of happiness, but mostly just doubt, concern and incredulity.

She spent the whole of Wednesday in a sort of dream. No. Not a dream. More of a twilight zone. She felt zombified. As if she wasn’t quite sure who she was, where she was, or what she wanted.

Her family spent the entire day asking if she was coming down with something.

‘What happened with you last night?’ Grace asked at breakfast. ‘You said you’d help me pack. If Mum hadn’t stepped in, I’d be buried under a pile of clothes this morning.’ Grace gave her a playful nudge. ‘Everything okay, Hope? You look shattered.’

Hope nodded. ‘Sorry. Felt tired. Went to bed.’

‘Are you unwell, darling?’ Pat asked her eyes filled with concern as she poured Hope a large cup of coffee.

‘ No. I don’t know. Maybe,’ Hope said.

‘You do look a bit drained today, sweetheart,’ said Simon. ‘You’ve had a lot going on. We all have. But maybe this new client is the straw that broke the camel’s back.’

‘No! Not him. I mean her. Them. Whatever. It’s not that.’

Grace chuckled. ‘Dad just called you a camel and you didn’t come back with a retort. You must be ill. Quick. Call the vet.’

‘It’s those late night walks on the beach,’ said Granny Joy. ‘Or your love life.’

‘Love life?’ queried Grace. ‘What love life? Do you know something I don’t?’ Grace glanced from one to another of her family and gave Hope a second nudge. ‘Are you keeping secrets, Hope?’

‘Yes. No. Erm. Look. I’m just … not feeling quite right today. Can you all give me a break, please?’

‘Sorry,’ said Grace.

‘Take things easy today, darling,’ said Pat.

‘We can deal with everything today,’ said Simon. ‘You get some rest.’

‘I’m moving out this morning, don’t forget,’ said Grace. ‘I thought we could all go out tonight to celebrate my new life, as we don’t have any actual events happening this evening. But we can do that another night if you’re not feeling up to it, Hope.’

‘No. It’s fine. I’ll be okay. Although it might be better another night. We’ve all got a lot going on this week. It’s going to be strange you not being here though. Weird.’ Hope let out a sigh. ‘I’m … I’m going to miss you.’

Grace laughed. ‘I’ll be right across the road. Not in the back of beyond.’ She wrapped an arm around Hope’s shoulder. ‘But I know what you mean. I’ll miss you too. All of you. I’ll miss these breakfasts. I’ll miss Lady E. I’ll have to come back and have sleepovers every so often. How about that?’

‘That would be lovely,’ said Pat.

‘If you can drag yourself away from Grifforde,’ said Granny Joy. ‘I know where I’d rather spend the night. Every night. And it isn’t here. If I were a few years younger, you’d have some serious competition for that man.’

Grace pulled a face. ‘You’ve got a point. Maybe I’ll just come over for breakfast. Or lunch. Or dinner.’

‘This will always be your home as far as your dad and I are concerned and you’ll always be welcome, Pat said, her voice filled with emotion.’

‘Thanks, Mum. I’ll be able to say I’m someone with two homes.’ Grace joked.

‘Oh. I almost forgot, Hope,’ said Simon. ‘I bumped into Laurence Lake this morning on Lady E’s walk. He asked me to tell you that he’s almost finished the new book and he can’t wait for you to read it. He’s hoping to give it to you tomorrow night at his book launch. I hope you’ll be well enough to attend that. But if you’re not, one of us will go. I know he’ll understand.’

‘What’s this?’ Grace asked. ‘Why’s he giving you his new book to read? Oh. It’s because you’re the main character in this one, aren’t you?’

The last thing Hope wanted to think about right now was Laurence Lake. Or his new book. As for reading the damn thing, she really wasn’t in the mood for finding out all the different ways he had thought up to try to murder her.

Although on second thought, death might not be so bad.