Chapter Twenty-Nine
Bart popped his head around the door and peered at the little boy. Toby was sprawled starfish on the bed. He’d kicked the duvet off, and Bart worried he might get cold, so he crept into the room and gingerly drew it up, tucking it around his shoulders.
The child stirred, and Bart froze, holding his breath, only letting it out slowly when there was no further movement.
Treading softly, he eased out of the room, sagging in relief when he reached the landing. The last thing he wanted was for Toby to wake and ask for his mum.
It was New Year’s Eve, and Sarah was out with Mitch.
They’d gone for a drink at The Bumblebee but had promised to be back in time to watch the fireworks display at midnight.
He’d told them not to bother, to stay out and enjoy the atmosphere, but Sarah had insisted that the three of them see in the New Year together.
It wasn’t far off eleven-thirty now, and he expected them back any minute.
Walking to the sitting room window, he twitched the curtain aside to watch for them. From this elevation there was a clear view of the night sky over Honeycombe, and the fireworks should be easily visible.
Mitch had bought a bottle of inexpensive fizz to toast the New Year, and he had promised to bring a portion of fish and chips back for supper.
Initially, neither Mitch nor Sarah had wanted to leave Bart on his own at all on New Year’s Eve, arguing they could spend the evening playing board games, but Bart had managed to persuade them to go out and enjoy themselves.
He wasn’t in the mood for board games. Or fizz.
Or fish and chips. And he definitely wasn’t in the mood for fireworks.
He’d do his best to pretend to be though, because no one should be subjected to his miserable face.
It was five days since Eloise left, and he thought he was doing a decent enough job of hiding his misery, made especially imperative because of Sarah and Mitch’s burgeoning relationship—there was no way he wanted to put a damper on that.
He’d hoped it would get easier as the days progressed.
It hadn’t…
He should have realised it wouldn’t. After all, he had experience of heartbreak; he knew it couldn’t be shrugged off.
Movement outside caught his eye.
Sarah and Mitch were back, and his spirits lifted. Despite his own distress, he was so grateful to have been given the opportunity to help her and Toby. They mightn’t be related, but they felt like family. Mitch, too. He just hoped—
Bart’s eyes widened and a smile spread across his face.
Mitch had stopped short of the driveway and taken Sarah in his arms. From the way he kissed her, Bart had an inkling this wasn’t the first time.
To give them privacy, he closed the curtain and stepped away, but he couldn’t help grinning, and when Sarah entered the sitting room, her face glowing, the grin widened.
Mitch was hot on her heels, and he took one look at Bart’s face and beamed back.
“Do you want to break open the bubbly now?” Bart asked.
“Will it go with fish and chips?” Mitch held up three fat paper-wrapped bundles.
“Bubbly will go with anything,” Bart confirmed. He’d have a drink to toast the New Year, but he wouldn’t have any supper. Since Eloise had left, his appetite hadn’t been great. He’d had to force himself to eat, and whatever he put in his mouth tasted of cardboard and went down in lumps.
Mitch disappeared into the kitchen with the fragrant parcels, leaving Bart with Sarah.
“Is Toby okay?” she asked.
“He’s fine. Fast asleep. Haven’t heard a peep out of him.”
“That’s good. Thank you for babysitting.”
“You’re very welcome.” He gave her a meaningful look, and chuckled when she blushed.
“Don’t you go reading too much into it,” she warned. “It’s early days yet, and we’ve got the distance to contend with.”
“If you love him, you’ll make it work.” If he thought Eloise was even the tiniest bit in love with him, he’d—
“Who said anything about love?” Sarah demanded, but the glow on her face told a different story, and Bart knew damned well that Mitch thought the world of her.
It was up to them to find their way though. He couldn’t interfere.
“We’ve just got time to eat this before the countdown starts,” Mitch said, walking into the room carrying a tray with three plates balanced precariously on it.
Bart took his portion and nibbled on a chip in a desultory fashion. He simply wasn’t hungry.
Sarah and Mitch wolfed theirs down, and when they were done, Bart accepted a glass of champagne. He wasn’t in the mood for that either, but he didn’t want to sour the atmosphere by being a grouch.
“Would we get a better view of the fireworks from upstairs?” Sarah asked. “What about from Eloise’s room?”
Bart’s chest constricted. Eloise’s room…It would always be her room. He hadn’t been in there since he’d cleaned it after she left.
“I wonder what she’s doing for New Year?” Sarah mused as the three of them traipsed upstairs.
Not a lot, Bart thought, remembering her telling him she was almost as underwhelmed by New Year celebrations as she was by Christmas; but he wondered how she was spending it. Was she with friends? Or tucked up in bed, fast asleep?
She should be here with him. She was supposed to have stayed until the third of January, but he’d made the mistake of kissing her, and she’d fled.
Eloise’s room was bare and dark, with no hint of her ever having been there. His gaze slid to the bed, then the chair, and the memory of her sitting there was sharp and painful, and he blew out his cheeks.
The curtains were open, and Sarah and Mitch positioned themselves in front of the window to watch the fireworks, which would be let off at the harbour on the dot of midnight. Although the display wouldn’t be huge and wouldn’t last long, the villagers enjoyed the symbolism.
Sarah took out her mobile and scrutinised the time, watching as the minutes and seconds ticked down.
“Twenty seconds to go,” she announced. “Get ready…Ten, nine, eight…”
Bart stared out of the window, not seeing the twinkling lights of the harbour. He was seeing the dismay in Eloise’s eyes after he’d kissed her.
“…three, two, one—Happy New Year!” Sarah flung her arms around Mitch and kissed him soundly, then turned to hug Bart. “Happy New Year, Bart.”
Bart hugged her back, his heart full. This young woman deserved all the happiness in the world, and he hoped this brand-new year would bring her love.
He wished the same for Eloise, and as fireworks lit up the sky above Honeycombe Bay, he sent her a silent prayer that she too would be happy.
“Happy New Year,” Hannah and Lee chorused as Eloise stepped into Hannah’s hall on New Year’s Day.
She’d been invited to lunch and was glad not to be alone today.
Hannah had tried to persuade her to go to a party with them last night, but Eloise had refused.
The last thing she felt like doing was partying.
Hannah moved in for a hug and kissed her cheek.
“I’ve brought dessert and wine,” Eloise said, returning the hug one-handedly. Her other was holding a bag of goodies. She kissed her friend’s cheek, then drew back to examine her.
Hannah looked radiant. Being in love clearly suited her.
“You shouldn’t have,” Hannah said, taking the bag from Eloise. She peered inside, then passed it to Lee. “Mmm, Rocky Road cheesecake, my favourite.”
Eloise smiled. She hadn’t forgotten Hannah’s preference for cheesecake over any other dessert. “This is for you too.” She withdrew the postcard from her pocket. “I meant to pop it in the post when I was away, but I didn’t get around to it.”
Hannah took it from her. “You didn’t stay there, did you? I thought you were booked into a guest house?”
“I wish! That’s Midcombe Manor. I’m pretty sure they don’t let the likes of me sully their stately rooms. No, I stayed in a guest house in nearby Honeycombe Bay.”
“Did you have a nice time?” Hannah ushered her into the open-plan kitchen-diner, with its patio doors and view of the small, well-tended garden.
Eloise fought not to let her face crumple, but she couldn’t have done a good job because Hannah shot her a look of concern, then shooed Lee away.
“I’ll finish cooking lunch,” she told him.
“You go watch the football and let me and Eloise have a catch-up.” As soon as he was gone, she demanded, “What’s wrong?
And don’t say ‘nothing,’ because I can tell there is. ”
“I met someone.”
Hannah’s mouth dropped open and her eyes widened. “That’s marvellous!”
Eloise grimaced. “Not really.”
“Oh, my love, come here.” Hannah opened her arms, and Eloise stepped into her embrace, her friend’s comforting hug almost reducing her to tears.
When she’d regained control and was sure she wasn’t about to dissolve into a blob of misery, Eloise plopped onto a chair.
Hannah took a seat, kitty-corner to hers. “Do you want to talk about it? You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
Hoping that a problem shared was a problem halved, Eloise nodded.
“As you know, I thought I’d treat myself to a little break over Christmas,” she began.
It was the little fib she’d told her friend when she’d said she was going away for the festive season, because she hadn’t wanted Hannah to feel bad about spending Christmas with Lee.
Glossing over the wanting-to-escape-Christmas part, Eloise went on to tell her all about Bart: how she’d fallen in love with him, that they’d been caught kissing in the pantry, and the most important detail of them all—that he hadn’t got over losing his wife.
“So you see, it isn’t marvellous at all,” she finished, dabbing at the corner of her eye with a finger. “I wish I’d never gone to Honeycombe Bay, and I wish I’d never met him. It hurts, Hannah.” She swallowed hard. “How is it even possible to fall in love with someone you’ve only just met?”
“From what you’ve told me, he sounds incredibly thoughtful and caring.”
Eloise smiled through tear-blurred eyes. “He is.”
“That’s how.”
“He’s good-looking too.”
“Got a pic?”
She retrieved her phone. “This is him.”
“Ooh, isn’t he a silver fox!” Hannah exclaimed, scrolling through the photos. “Wow! I take it this is Mitch? He’s a hottie too.”
Eloise leant in to see the screen. “And that’s Sarah with Toby.”
“Oh my goodness, he’s so cute.” Hannah looked up. “Will you keep in touch with her, do you think?”
“I hope so. She’s messaged me several times already. And look…” She found the image she wanted. “This is Sarah and Mitch last night.” They had their arms around each other, but Mitch wasn’t looking at the camera—he was looking at Sarah, and his eyes were full of love.
Sarah hadn’t said anything, but Eloise was quietly hopeful.
It was a shame she couldn’t feel as hopeful for herself.
Everyone around her was falling in love, and the only thing she was falling into was a well of self-pity.