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

Twenty

Della looked magical, especially as she sat astride Brilliant Day. They both seemed to glow beneath the lamplights in the mews at the rear of Bishop’s Books, and the white cone shaped cardboard cut-out on the mare’s forehead for the horn, secured in position with white ribbons and a white bridle, looked deceptively real. If Hope didn’t know better, she would’ve believed in unicorns.

Della and Alice had already exchanged Valentine’s Day cards, and Alice had given Della a gorgeous, silver heart shaped locket containing both their photos. Della was wearing it when she met Hope at the bookshop later that day.

But Della had told Alice that her present was in a bookshop and that she would meet Alice there at five-thirty that evening. She had lied and said that the shop shut at six so there was plenty of time to collect the gift.

Alice had naturally asked why Della couldn’t go and get it herself and hand it to Alice at home, and Della had explained that it was because Alice had a choice and could pick one of two things.

Della hoped that Alice would think it was a book – and in a way it was because Hope had arranged for a wooden box to be made to look like a book by one of Alice’s favourite fantasy fiction authors.

Inside that book was another box. This one containing the engagement ring which Della had had made. It was silver and was simple but beautiful in that it had the letter A inside the letter D and both were entwined within the safety of twisted branches of a tree.

The plan was for Tom to arrive and lead Alice to the rear of the book shop where Della would be seated on Brilliant Day. She would ride forward, dismount and lead the ‘unicorn’ towards Alice. Della would take the book from the saddle and present it to Alice telling her that it could only be opened by a key and that key was inside the bookshop. Photos would be taken by a photographer, unbeknownst to Alice who would hopefully still be thinking this was all for her to get a book.

The couple would go inside where the trompe l’oeil backdrop of the life-size fairy grotto surrounded by fresh flowers, plants and several small blossom trees Hope had managed to source, would be revealed. All their family and friends would also be waiting there, Hope having let them all in when the couple were in the mews, before returning outside so that she could ensure Brilliant Day was safely ensconced in her horse box.

Alice realised that there was far more going on than her simply selecting a book, and burst into tears of joy, and everyone cheered. Alice and Della ‘searched’ for the key which didn’t take long because Della knew it was hanging on a cherry blossom tree. Whilst Alice opened the box and the smaller box inside, Della got down on one knee and proposed.

Everyone cheered once more when Alice said, ‘Yes.’ And now, aware of the photographer’s presence, Alice and Della posed so that more photos could be taken.

The champagne was opened but Della and Alice drank mocktails suitably embellished with cocktail sticks with little unicorns on top.

‘That couldn’t have gone better,’ Tom said later, pulling Hope into his arms. ‘It was worth every penny you’re going to charge me.’

‘I’m giving you our special friends and family discount,’ Hope said, ‘so it may not be quite as much as you expect.’

‘Am I friend or family?’ he asked. ‘Because I know I’ve only just met you but you feel like family to me.’

‘I think you’ve had too much champagne.’

He shook his head. ‘It’s not the champagne, Hope. But I will admit you make me feel light headed.’

And much later that night, or possibly in the early morning – Hope wasn’t sure which because she had other things on her mind than checking the clock – Tom made her heart soar when he said the words she longed to say to him.

They had made love for the second time that night and they were both in that sleepy stage of bliss and satisfaction and sheer exhaustion. She was wrapped in his arms and she could feel his heart beating against her body.

‘I love you, Hope Eversley,’ he whispered.

‘I love you too, Tom,’ she whispered back.

His arm tightened around her and his soft gasp matched the one she had just made, but other than that, neither acknowledged the other’s words and they drifted off to sleep, with Hope content in the knowledge that Tom Hardy loved her. Whether he had meant to say it aloud or not.