Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
Lily only breathed properly once she was outside the building. A growl of frustration escaped her. Being cool and calm for Flynn’s benefit had taken all of her acting skills. Now, she pressed her fist to her mouth as she tried to get her emotions under control.
A rush of relief hit her. He had been trying to get back to St Mary’s. Her worries that he’d changed his mind about wanting to come back had been for nothing.
And it really might happen.
She took a few steps along the pavement, then turned and paced back the other way. She didn’t have a plan for where she was going, and her mind wouldn’t focus on something so mundane. Not when Flynn might be moving back soon. This was what she’d been desperate for. And it was within reach.
Don’t get your hopes up. That’s what Flynn had said, but how could she not? Her hopes were sky high.
She stopped her pacing and sat on the steps in front of Flynn’s building. If things didn’t work out, she’d need to curb her disappointment. She’d promised Flynn they’d come up with another plan, and she needed to be prepared for that possibility.
Dropping her head into her hands, she released a pent-up breath and felt a wave of sadness. Because she already had a Plan B - it had niggled at her occasionally over the last couple of months when she’d been missing Flynn.
Her fingers searched for her phone in her coat pocket, and she pulled it out, suddenly desperate to know how Maria was getting on at the ice cream shop. She fired off a message and was excited to see dots immediately running across the screen to show that Maria was typing a reply.
She couldn’t even find the patience to wait for that and hit call instead.
“Hi!” Maria said cheerfully. “Everything is fine here. I’m enjoying myself, and I think I’m keeping the customers happy too.”
“I’m sure you are,” Lily said, and her insides twisted. Maybe the ice cream shop was never meant to be Lily’s long term. Maybe it was right that Maria should take it back.
“How are things in London?” Maria asked.
“Crazy,” Lily said. “So much has happened in the last couple of days that it doesn’t even feel real. But the latest thing is that Flynn is about to speak to his boss about possibly getting transferred back to Scilly.”
“Oh, Lily, that’s brilliant.”
“Yeah.” Tears filled her eyes - partly due to how genuinely pleased Maria sounded. She knew how much it meant to Lily, and for that reason it meant a lot to her too.
“What’s wrong?” Maria asked, apparently hearing how emotional she was.
“If he doesn’t get it, we’re at a dead end in terms of him getting a job over there again. I told him not to worry, and if it doesn’t work we’ll think of a new plan.”
“That’s a good attitude.”
“I already have another plan,” Lily said. “I’m just not sure I really like it.”
“You’re thinking of moving to London?”
She nodded solemnly. “I’ve been thinking about it since Flynn left. I miss him all the time. I love it on Scilly, and I love the ice cream shop, but when I think about what I want from my life, the main thing is I want to be with Flynn.”
“That’s a really great thing to know,” Maria said. “And I think you’re right to put your relationship first. You could always open an ice cream shop in London.”
“I suppose I could.” She tried to smile. “What would you do if I moved over here? Would you run the ice cream shop yourself?”
She hesitated for long enough that Lily felt confident it wasn’t something she’d thought about.
“I wouldn’t think so. It’s nice spending a few days here for nostalgia’s sake, but it’s my past. I don’t want to run a business.
You don’t have to factor this place into your plans, though.
That would be for me to worry about.” She paused, and her voice was full of mirth when she spoke again.
“I think I could get a certain Treneary man to run the place, if it came to it.”
Lily beamed at the thought of Kit finally getting his hands on the shop. “I think you’re right about that.”
“You’re getting ahead of yourself, though,” Maria said firmly. “It’s a good idea to have a Plan B, but I don’t think you’re going to need it. Flynn will get the job and be back on St Mary’s with you before you know it.”
“I really hope so.” She glanced back at the building, wondering if he was on the call yet and how it was going. “He should find out really soon.”
“Will you let me know?”
“Yes.” She was about to wrap up the call when another thought came to her. “There’s something else I wanted to ask you,” she said. “I met with the property developer guy this morning.”
“How was it?”
“Really interesting. He seems like a lovely man. But he said a few things that got me thinking. Mostly about my old neighbours. I never realised it was such a tight knit community. Everyone on the street knew each other, apparently. He was surprised I wasn’t still in contact with any of them.
I wondered if maybe some neighbours were angry about my parents not wanting to sell.
It would have essentially blocked the sale for everyone.
I’d have thought Uncle Derek would have looked into that possibility too. Did he ever mention it?”
“Not that I recall. As far as I know, he and your gran were convinced it was to do with the property developer. I guess your gran would have known the neighbours well. If they were friends, maybe she wouldn’t have thought to look into them.”
“That makes sense.”
“Sorry, Lily. Customers have just come in. Can we talk about this later?”
“Yes. Of course. Thanks for listening to me rant.”
“Anytime. Take care of yourself and I’ll speak to you soon.”
Lily ended the call but didn’t move from the steps. Maybe she’d just stay there until Flynn finished his call.