Chapter Forty-Two #2
‘I can see you don’t really want to talk about it, Hattie, so I won’t insist. But I am very happy for you, and yes’ – Sheila looked flushed with excitement – ‘I think I do want a puppy.’
On the way back to Luke’s, Hattie pondered as to why she didn’t want to talk about getting together with Luke.
Much as she didn’t want to admit it, she knew it was because there was that niggling doubt about the vision which wouldn’t leave her.
Who was the other woman, and was she a threat to Hattie’s newfound happiness?
And, more importantly, how would Hattie ever know the answer to that question?
‘Are you sure you’re happy for me and Xander to live with you until the house sale goes through?
’ asked Hattie over a late lunch at Luke’s.
‘I don’t want to take advantage of your good nature.
’ She’d tortured herself with thoughts of the vision for the whole drive over and decided to simply try and enjoy herself with Luke for the time being.
It wasn’t as easy as she’d hoped it would be.
‘Sweetheart! You don’t have to ask. I feel I can speak for Frank and Fearless here too: we’re all delighted for you and Xander to stay forever if you want to. Well, maybe not Xander forever, but quite a long time.’
Hattie used a piece of bread to wipe up the last of the salad dressing on her plate. ‘That’s so kind.’
Luke put down his fork and picked up her hand. ‘I want to spend every minute I can with you. Why would you doubt that?’
Hattie smiled as broadly as she could manage. ‘I just don’t want to take advantage of your good nature.’
He kissed the hand he was holding. ‘Don’t be silly. Now let’s go to bed. An afternoon nap is always a good idea.’ He gave her a look to suggest that he had no intentions of sleeping.
Hattie smiled and then her phone pinged.
She saw Luke look irritated. ‘It’s all right,’ said Hattie.
‘It’s Fiona. Aw – she’s just saying thank you for yesterday.
It was such a pleasure. And she wants to meet up later this week as they’re not going away.
’ She tapped out a quick reply and then said to Luke. ‘Where were we?’
Much later, Hattie and Luke were on the sofa flanked by Frank and Fearless. Hattie was playing with her snow globe, turning it over and over.
‘You should show it to Mary,’ said Luke.
Hattie turned to him. ‘What a brilliant idea,’ she said.
‘I can do some rearranging and see her tomorrow. I’m pretty busy but can fit Mary in after my house viewing if I press on.
’ She felt happier when she’d made this decision.
Mary was full of wisdom and knew her well.
She would help her dispel the small niggle that was spoiling her joy.
‘Darling!’ said Mary, turning the snow globe over and over just as Hattie had been doing. She watched the snow settle on the model of her old home. ‘Luke must love you very much to take so much trouble and spend so much time to make this for you.’
Hattie nodded. ‘And I love him. It took me a while to realise I did, or rather to feel brave enough to take the leap.’
Mary looked at her carefully. ‘So why aren’t you jumping up and down with happiness? Especially as he’s making it possible for you to have the full-size version of my house as well as this one.’
‘It sounds so silly – it is so silly – but I can’t shake off the doubt…’
‘What doubt? And don’t worry about sounding silly.’
Hattie took a breath. It was almost impossible to explain this to Mary with any certainty without mentioning her visions.
‘I just… I can’t shake the feeling that there is someone else out there who Luke might be destined to meet.
A feeling came over me at the wedding that he might meet someone and I’d miss my chance with him so I rushed to him to stop him meeting her, but that was probably wrong.
’ She shrugged and looked down at her hands. ‘Call it female intuition?’
Mary didn’t speak for some moments. Hattie could almost see her holding back the words telling her she was an idiot to place so much trust in something that couldn’t really be real. Except she didn’t.
‘I wish I could think of something to say to you that would make you stop worrying. But I do think that Luke loves you so much – it’s always been very clear to me how he feels about you.’
Hattie sighed. ‘I suppose.’
‘I hate to be predictable but I can’t help telling you to just let yourself be happy about all your recent good fortune. I think you might have simply got cold feet. It’s perfectly normal. You’ve been on your own for so long. You have a lovely man, you will have a lovely house—’
‘And a lovely snow globe—’
‘The best snow globe,’ Mary went on.
‘So you think I should just be grateful and go on my way rejoicing?’
‘You’re welcome to stay as long as you can,’ said Mary.
Hattie laughed. ‘Fair enough! Sadly, I can’t stay any longer. I’ve just about got time to get back for my sister to take me shopping. She wants to find me something for her engagement party that our mother will approve of.’
She drove away feeling more cheerful, if not entirely reassured.