Autumn Wishes & Fireside Kisses (Little Duck Pond Cafe #42)

PROLOGUE

I’d dreamed of weddings, and when I woke, Mick and Sylvia were on my mind.

Not long now until their Big Day.

Thoughts of another love, my love, were now invading my head.

When he’d left for war, I’d been terrified he wouldn’t come back. But he did. Just once. And we’d spent a whole wonderful week together – a precious time that I’d been treasuring ever since that dreadful day, when I’d received the news of his death.

The years had passed and no other man had ever claimed the place in my heart that he had. Not really. I’d grown used to seeing the pity in people’s eyes when I told them about him and how I’d always known I could never love again.

‘But aren’t you lonely?’ they’d ask, and I’d say, ‘Yes. Sometimes. But I have my memories.’

Just lately, I’d begin to think that life had one last beautiful gift in store for me... a new joy to embrace in my later years. But that had turned out, in the end, to be just wishful thinking. (Ever since I was a child, people had praised my fertile imagination!)

Oh, but that mermaid box!

I needed to see it now... run my fingers over the lid and lose myself in the memories. So I eased myself out of bed, ignoring the pain and stiffness (getting old was all it was cracked up to be!) and I crossed to the dressing table.

How many times had I stood right here in the silence, cradling this sweet little heart-shaped silver box... closing my eyes and remembering?

I’d told him I was fascinated by mermaids and he’d remembered that!

When I’d pulled away the pink birthday wrap, my eyes had filled with astonished tears as I’d gazed down at the most precious gift I’d ever received.

When our mother died, I’d placed the jewellery she’d left me inside. Lifting the lid, I ran my fingers over the sapphire necklace and earrings. More memories. Not all of them so good...

I smiled sadly to myself, thinking about the forthcoming wedding of Sylvia and Mick. It had been quite a surprise when their ‘save the day’ card had arrived in the post and that was an understatement!

But they made a lovely couple. They deserved their happiness. They really did.

It would be a wonderful wedding day . . .