Chapter 3
Chapter Three
R uby’s mouth fell open before she closed it again. ‘You’re taking a break? From dating? Seriously?’
‘Yep. That’s it. For now, at least. I’m sick of menlikeDrew thinking they can do what they want and giving me no consideration at all. I’m done.’ She swept her hand in the air as though drawing a line. ‘I’m focusing on me and my own happiness for the time being.’
‘Oh, what amIgoingto do now? You know I live precariously through you.’ Ruby laughed. ‘I don’t have time to even thinkaboutdatingwith this place,that’swhyIalways come to you for all thedating gossip.’
‘Well, sorry to disappoint you, but not any longer.’ Fleur turned to Sadie. ‘You’ll have to go to Sadie.’
‘Don’t look at me.’ Sadie held herhands up, palms forward. ‘My heart’s still healing from Patrick. I’m not even close to being ready to brave the madness of the dating world just yet.’
‘Umm, well,Iguess we’ll just have to find someone elsewho’sactive on the dating scene to keep us all up-to-date then.’ Rubyslumped back in her chair.
‘Yes, you sure willbecauseitwon’tbe me.’ Fleur grinned. Shecouldn’tbelievehow carefree she felt sincemakingthedecision. She looked down at her mobile before picking it up and slipping it into her handbag. She’d be using that a whole lot less, for one thing. And she’d have a heap of time to spare, no messaging people back or spending every other evening sitting across from a stranger making small talk. Yes, she was quite looking forward to having a break. She might even take up a new hobby.
‘Fair enough.’ Rubyglancedaroundthe restaurantbefore leaning forward and lowering her voice. ‘I haven’t told you what our dear Gregory wants me to host here, have I?’
‘Aw, no, you haven’tbutI’m getting the distinct feeling I don’t want to know.’ Fleur groaned. Whatever Gregory, the grocery store owner and town’s self-elected leader of all things retail, had planned, there was one thing that she was certain of and that was that it wouldn’t be good. Whatever hare-brained idea he’d had this time was one she’d have to be ready to duck out of.
‘No, youprobablydon’t, actually. Especially in light of your recentannouncement.’ Ruby took a deep breath before continuing. ‘He’s organising a Nettleford Singles Night, complete with speed dating here in the restaurant.’
‘What?’ Fleur covered her face with her hands. She wastryingto get away from dating, the last thing she wanted was to have anything to do with a singles night. ‘I’m busy thatnight. Whenever he’s organising it for. Or else I’m moving to Australia. You can tell him that.’
‘Umm, I’m not sure you’ll be so lucky. I have a feeling he’s going to be asking us all to pitch in.’ Ruby crossed her arms.
‘How did you hear about his plans? He’s normally super good at keeping hishare-brainedideascloseto his chest so he can catch usoff guardwhen heasksfor help at the retail meetings.’ Fleur shook her head.
‘You mean demand our help?’ Sadie asked.
‘He was in here the other night, with his partner, andtheywerediscussingit. I overheard them when I was serving him.’ Ruby glancedaroundtherestaurantagain,asthough worried he might have suddenly popped up from beneath a table.
‘Ireallydon’twantto be involved.’ Fleur took a gulp of her wine. ‘What did he say, exactly?’
Ruby shrugged. ‘He said that he’dthoughtof thisideaas he was in love andwantedeveryoneelse to have the chance to feel how happy he was.’
‘Yuck.’ Fleur pulled a face.
‘I know.’ Ruby grimaced. ‘I must admit, I did have to run out the back before I threw up over them.’
‘Haha, I can just imagine you trying to keep a straight face.’ Sadie’s shoulders shook.
‘Yes,Ican assure you it was a task and a half in itself.’ Ruby twistedaroundas the door chimed to announce a newarrival. ‘That’ll be my pickup order. Best run and check on it.’
As Fleur watched Ruby hurry towards the kitchens, she glanced towards the front of the restaurant and froze as her eyes landed on the man who had just walked in. Placing her wineglass down with a clunk, she didn’t notice the red liquid spilling over the rim of the glass and onto the white tablecloth beneath. She knew him.
‘Fleur? You okay?’ Bea asked quietly.
‘Uh-huh.’ Dragging her eyes away from the man, Fleur grabbed the napkin from her lap and patted at the spilt wine. It couldn’t be him. She’d not set eyes on him in ten years. Why would he suddenly turn up in Nettleford again after all this time? She allowed herself to look across towards the door again and bit down on her bottom lip. It was him. Matty Holmes. With his signature scruffy curly brown hair and deep brown eyes, there was no mistake. Yes, he’d gained a few laughter lines around his eyes, and he no longer wore the denim jacket from their youth, but it was him. It was the man who had broken her heart, the man she’d been trying to replace for all these years.
‘Are you sure? You look as though you’ve seen a ghost.’ Bea nudged her.
‘No, I’m fine. Absolutely fine.’ Tearing her eyes away from her ex, she forced herself to focus her attention on Bea and Sadie again. The last thing she wanted, or needed, right now was to have to recall the whole sorry story of her and Matty’s past relationship and them to turn around to look at him. No, that would only draw attention to herself, and she didn’t want Matty to notice her. Picking up a menu, she held it in front of her face and took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. ‘I’m starving, that’s all. We should order.’
‘Okay... But that’s the wine menu.’ Bea tugged the menu away from Fleur’s face and replaced it with another. ‘You might find some food in this one.’
‘Of course, thanks.’ Fleur muttered as she lowered the menu just enough so she could keep an eye on Matty. How many meals had he ordered? Who for? And most importantly, what was he doing here?
‘I think I might go for the tomato and basil pasta. I feel like pasta tonight.’ Bea tapped the menu in front of her.
‘I was thinking I might order the potato and leek pie with chips.’ Sadie rubbed her stomach.
‘How about you, Fleur? What are you going to have?’ Bea asked.
‘Uh, the same.’ Had he moved back to Nettleford? Please no. She couldn’t cope with having to see him every day, running into him in the grocery store, or standing in line waiting for a coffee. She’d put him out of her head years ago, she’d moved on...
‘You don’t like leeks, though?’ Bea tilted her head.
‘What?’
Pulling the menu down from Fleur’s face, Bea frowned. ‘I didn’t think you liked leeks?’
‘I don’t. I hate leeks.’ Fleur mumbled as she forced herself to focus on Bea. What did leeks have to do with Matty walking into Ruby’s restaurant?
‘You’ve just said you’re going to have the same as Sadie, potato and leek pie.’
‘Oh, umm... I’ll find something else.’ Lifting the menu again, she tried to decipher the dishes as the words danced in front of her eyes. Giving up, she peeked across towards Matty again as her stomach churned. Something must have brought him back here. He wasn’t settling down, was he? Had he married and moved back to Nettleford to start a family? She didn’t think she’d be able to cope with that and live here if he was. She’d have to move. But where? Where could she go? Maybe it didn’t matter, as long as she got away from him and the memories his mere presence was already conjuring up.
‘What’s up with you?’ Now it was Sadie’s turn to pull the menu away from Fleur’s face. ‘You’re acting super weird.’
‘No, I...’ Despite her best efforts, she glanced back across at Matty, only for a split second, but it was enough for Sadie to notice.
Sadie followed Fleur’s gaze before gasping. ‘That’s not who I think it is, is it?’
‘Who? Who is it?’ Bea twisted in her chair to take a look. ‘That man waiting for his order? Who is he? I’ve not seen him around here before.’
‘That’s because if it’s who I think it is, and by your reaction, Fleur, it is, he’s not been seen in Nettleford for almost ten years.’ Sadie frowned.
‘Who is he?’ Bea asked again as she turned back to Fleur.
‘That’s Matty Holmes.’ Sadie stated matter-of-factly.
‘Who is?’
‘The man Fleur was going to marry.’ Sadie spoke quietly, but her words still struck a blow to Fleur.
‘What? How did I not know this? You were engaged?’ Bea’s voice grew high-pitched.
Fleur bit down on her bottom lip again, this time drawing blood as the metallic taste filled her mouth.‘Shh, don’t stare.’
Turning back to her, Bea raised her eyebrows. ‘I thought we told each other everything?’
‘It was a lifetime ago.’ Fleur shrugged. And a time she really didn’t want to think about, a time she’d spent the last ten years trying her best to bury.
‘Yes, but, come on, being engaged is a huge deal. Why didn’t you tell me?’ Bea wrung her hands in her lap.
Fleur couldn’t mistake the tone of Bea’s voice. She was hurt. She would have told Bea, eventually anyway, but it just hadn’t come up. And she hadn’t offered up the information. She watched as he slowly turned, his eyes roaming the restaurant before meeting hers. She watched as a small frown flashed across his face before Ruby called his name and he turned away to collect his order, the moment lost.
‘I still don’t know why you left him at the altar.’ Sadie shook her head. ‘You two were, like, perfect together.’
‘You left him at the altar?’ The shock in Bea’s voice was audible.
Fleur nodded slightly as she peered out of the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of Matty again. Please just be visiting. Please. When they’d split, he’d left, swearing never to return, not to the town centre, anyway. Of course, he visited his parents, but he wasn’t supposed to be wandering around Nettleford. He’d promised to give her space. She swallowed. Why hadn’t he kept his promise?