Epilogue
‘ Are you ready for the Valentine’s Day Dance?’ Matty paused outside the town hall and looked at Fleur.
With her hand in his, she was ready for anything and if the laughter, chatter and music escaping the open door to the hall were anything to go by, everyone inside sounded as though they were having a good time. She looked down at her red dress, the satin fabric clinging to all the right places. They were late, two hours late to be precise, but she wasn’t worried about turning up late. No, she was more concerned about the two of them walking in together. Yes, they’d rekindled their relationship a week ago now, and some people knew, their friends, Matty’s family, the people who were closest to them, but it was the reaction from the wider community she was more concerned about. What if they tried to warn him off her?
Matty leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek. ‘We’ll have fun.’
‘I know.’ Fleur nodded. He wasn’t worried, so maybe she shouldn’t be either. After all, the people who cared about them were over the moon for the pair of them, so did anyone else’s opinion really matter? After fixing a smile to her face, she nodded and led the way towards the door. ‘I’m ready.’
Once she’d stepped inside, Fleur paused, giving her senses the time to adjust to the flashing lights from the makeshift dance floor and the volume of the music. It was busy. There must have been at least ninety-nine percent of Nettleford’s population crammed into the hall. She gripped Matty’s hand tighter in hers before leaning back towards him. ‘At least most people are here, meaning we can get this over and done with.’
‘This?’ Matty frowned.
‘Letting people know we’re back together.’ Fleur spoke quietly.
‘That’s very true and there are enough gossips in the town to make sure everyone else knows by midnight.’ Matty chuckled.
‘Exactly.’ Nodding, Fleur pulled her free hand up to her lips.
Twisting her so she was facing him, Matty took her hand away from her mouth before leaning in and kissing her right there in full view of everyone. ‘Do you think they’ll get the hint now?’
Shaking her head, Fleur laughed as she spotted Martha nudging Marty before she pointed her finger towards them. ‘Oh, I think so.’
‘Good, let’s go again. Make sure no one missed the announcement.’ Matty leaned in again, this time resting his hand against the nape of her neck as their lips touched.
Reacting to his touch, Fleur took a step closer to him, the hustle and bustle of the hall fading out of focus. She had Matty back. When he eventually pulled away, she stepped back slightly and watched as Bea bounded up to them, Scott a short step behind her.
‘Fleur, how are you? I’m so pleased you came.’ Bea hugged her friend as Scott and Matty said their hellos. ‘I was so worried about you.’
‘No need. I’m fine. Thank you for being there with me when I got the letters.’ Fleur glanced around the hall, pleased to see the rose filled vases taking centre stage on each of the tables and a basket full of her bouquets sitting on the counter next to the serving hatch at the other end of the hall. ‘And thank you for sorting the flowers.’
‘No worries.’ Stepping back, Bea gripped her friend’s forearm. ‘And you’re okay?’
Fleur nodded firmly. ‘I am. It was all a huge shock, but I’m okay now. I promise.’
‘Good.’ Placing one hand on her chest, Bea glanced behind her at a crowd of people who had congregated close to them before she took Scott’s hand. ‘We’d better leave you for a while. It looks as though we might be monopolising your time.’
Fleur grimaced as she followed Bea’s gaze. Sure enough, Matty’s plan had worked. Ten or so people were huddling close to them, some standing back a little, clearly just there to eavesdrop, whilst others were patiently waiting in somewhat of a queue to speak to Fleur and Matty. She tugged on Matty’s sleeve.
‘Oh.’ Matty wrapped his arm around her waist and grinned as he faced the first of the curious Nettleford residents. ‘Evening, Helen, and Jonathon. How are you enjoying the dance?’
Walking across to them, Helen batted Matty’s question away. ‘Enough with the small talk. We both know why we’re here.’
Fleur felt the tinge of self-consciousness travel up her neck and across her cheeks.
‘All I want to know is, why did it take so long?’ Helen shook her head in disbelief.
‘Huh?’ Fleur frowned. What did she mean?
‘Well, everyone...’ She waved her hand behind her, encompassing everyone in the hall, ‘…knew you two were made for each other, so why did it take so long for you both to get the memo?’
Fleur grinned as relief washed over her. Did everyone really think that? ‘You mean people expected us to get back together?’
‘Of course! Why wouldn’t you have? The entire town could see what a good pair you made years ago.’ Helen smiled back.
‘Oh, right.’ Fleur mumbled. She wasn’t really sure how to answer that statement.
‘Come here.’ Stepping forward, Helen drew them both in for a hug. ‘I’m glad you’ve both finally seen sense. It’s lovely to see you back together.’
‘Well, I guess we can’t argue with that.’ Stepping back after the hug, Matty ran his hand across the back of his neck. ‘I guess we both really have seen sense.’
‘Yes, well. I’m happy for you.’ Helen took Fleur's hand in hers before looking up at the ceiling. ‘And you know who else would be too? Your dear old grandparents.’
Fleur nodded, a warmth rushing through her body as she pictured them both. Yes, they would be pleased. ‘Yes, they would, wouldn’t they?’
‘Absolutely.’ Helen nodded firmly. ‘Before taking her husband’s hand and returning to the dance floor.
‘That went well.’ Fleur whispered.
‘Yes, it did.’ Matty looked over her shoulder and nodded slightly. ‘There’s more.’
Turning, Fleur caught her breath as Liz and Kevin who lived next to Matty’s parents’ house rushed over to them.
‘Oh, would you look at you two? What a picture.’ Liz smiled sweetly as she stepped towards them.
‘Thanks, Liz.’ Fleur dipped her head. This wasn’t at all how she’d expected the evening to unravel. She’d assumed they’d be met with a certain wariness, She’d guessed people would either outwardly criticise the idea of them getting back together or at least look at Matty with sympathy and pity, but not one person had anything in the slightest bit negative to say to them and the only expressions they were met with was warmth, kindness and, strangely, a look of knowing. As if, just like Helen had said, everyone else had known she and Matty would get back together apart from them.
A loud voice broke through the mumble of congratulations as the crowd parted to let Gregory through. Fleur glanced across at Matty next to her and raised her eyebrows as she realised Gregory wasn’t alone. A woman, her hair pulled back into a neat bun, walked beside him as he breezed past them onto the dance floor. The chatter and laughter silenced as Nettleford’s residents turned to watch their self-appointed town leader take to the floor, hold his hands out for his lady friend, and begin to sweep her across the dance floor.
Gripping her tighter around her waist, Matty drew Fleur closer to him. ‘I think that’s us off the hook. Gregory really does have a lady friend.’
Fleur grinned. ‘Yes. I wonder if we’ll be told her name before the night ends?’
Matty shrugged. ‘Maybe. But all I’m interested in is the answer to my next question. Will you dance?’
‘Of course.’ Taking his hand, Fleur followed him towards the dance floor, which was rapidly filling with people eager to get a glimpse of Gregory’s mysterious woman. Once on the dance floor, Fleur let Matty take the lead and draw her close to him. Lying her chin on his shoulder, she smiled. This was perfect.
‘Fleur?’ Matty’s voice was barely above a whisper.
‘Yes?’ Lifting her head, she looked him in the eyes.
‘I love you.’
‘I love you too, Matty.’ A week ago, she would never have dared dream that she’d be here on Valentine’s Day, exactly ten years after she’d left him at the altar, in his arms and hearing those magical three words. Her heart had finally healed, and she knew that whatever life threw at them from here on out, they’d be stronger together. Finally, she wasn’t just the instigator of romance, the florist who created the bouquets to accompany the engagement rings, she was playing her very own part in it too.
Thank you so much for reading. I hope you enjoyed reading Forever Love at Fleur’s Flower Shop as much as I enjoyed writing Fleur and Matty’s story. If so, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a review, please.