Chapter 28
IZZI
Izzi swiped a tear from her eye as she drove along the narrow road that would lead her to the motorway.
She’d called Lottie an hour ago. She wasn’t sure why she’d left it so late to tell her she was coming to London early.
Perhaps she’d just been hoping Cameron would realise he was wrong?
But it was clear things were over between them now and it was time she moved on.
Staying in Honey Haven, continuing to work for Maud, would be too painful.
Her friend was delighted she was moving back, but had told her the job she’d been banking on had been offered to someone else this afternoon.
The owners of the bakery were apologetic, but they’d decided they simply couldn’t wait.
It was another blow in a long line of them, but Izzi wasn’t going to let it get to her.
Sometimes things happened for a reason – Flora would probably tell her that.
She wiped another tear, trying not to think about the festival tonight, or of all the friends she’d made who’d be gathering in the castle before moving on to enjoy the Halloween parade and bonfire.
She could only imagine how Maud’s face would light up when she realised the whole event had been organised just for her.
How happy she’d be surrounded by her friends and the Candy Apple Lassies.
She forced herself to focus back on the road.
She had to stop thinking about Honey Haven and all the people she’d met since working at the Candy Apple Café.
She had to forget about Cameron too. As soon as she was on the motorway, she’d be at the beginning of her new life, and she had to look forward – not back – or she’d go mad.
Cameron didn’t want her, he thought she was going to cheat him and his grandmother, and he wasn’t prepared to listen to reason. He just wanted her gone.
She saw headlights in the distance and forced herself to slow when she realised there was a queue of traffic at a standstill ahead of her.
A rescue vehicle was blocking both lanes further up and she tapped her fingers on the steering wheel as she drew the car to a stop and watched the blue lights flashing in the distance.
The sat nav said she was only half a mile from the motorway junction, she’d be on her way soon.
She rested her head on the steering wheel trying to clear her mind, ignoring the way her insides hurt and how empty she felt – like all the emotion had been drained out of her.
When she glanced up a few minutes later, she saw the road was starting to clear and the traffic had begun to ease forward.
A set of lights shone behind her as she pressed the accelerator and as her car gathered pace, the vehicle behind began to beep its horn.
Was something wrong? The car, truck, whatever it was continued to follow, still beeping insistently, but the glare from its lights made it difficult for Izzi to make it out in her mirror.
The driver beeped again and put their hazard lights on, so she indicated and pulled her car into a small clearing on the right of the road before stopping and switching off the engine.
‘What’s this about?’ she muttered, making sure her doors were locked and turning to peer out of her window.
Then she saw a large German Shepherd leap from the vehicle that had stopped behind.
The dog bounded to her car and leaped up so it could stare in the window.
‘Cupcake?’ Izzi gasped, as Cameron appeared behind him.
She undid her seatbelt and unlocked the doors, then fumbled with the driver’s handle. But her hand was shaking so badly she couldn’t seem to open it. Then it was wrenched open and Cameron was staring down at her, his face filled with relief.
‘Is it really you?’ she croaked.
‘Yes,’ Cameron said, kneeling down and taking one of her hands. He pressed it between his warm palms and gazed at her, and she drank in his face, the sharp curves and arches of his jaw, the lips she suddenly wanted to press her mouth to – despite what had happened between them.
‘Why are you here?’
Cameron shut his eyes momentarily and when he opened them, they were filled with regret. ‘I thought I’d missed you, or you’d been caught in that accident. I was afraid I’d be too late,’ he rasped.
‘Too late for what?’ she asked.
He winced. ‘To tell you I’m sorry and I was wrong – you have to know I made a mistake.
I know you’re not working with Sophie. I’m sorry I didn’t believe you.
I was so caught up in the idea of being cheated I couldn’t see the truth.
Wouldn’t let myself see it.’ He frowned. ‘Izzi, I don’t want you to leave.’
‘Can you repeat that please?’ she croaked as hope made her pulse flutter.
Cameron swallowed, and sucked in a breath as Izzi forced herself to stay put.
She wanted to wrap her arms around him, to tell him it was okay – but she needed to hear the words.
Needed to know he believed her. ‘I’m sorry, Izzi – because I didn’t believe you.
I saw what I expected to see, not what was actually there. ’
Izzi trembled. ‘You really mean that?’
He nodded as his gaze warmed. ‘You’ve done so much for us – for me and Maud – and you haven’t asked for anything in return.
Just a roof over your head and a chance to find your family.
’ His mouth pinched. ‘The meals, what you cooked for tonight, the castle and pumpkins.’ He shut his eyes.
‘You even got Sophie to give my grandma’s money back. ’
‘I can’t really take the credit for that,’ she whispered, picking up their linked hands and pressing a kiss to his skin. Her eyes filled as relief swept through her.
‘Are those happy tears?’ Cameron asked, sounding alarmed as one trickled down her cheek. ‘Remember, Izzi, I need a label.’
She nodded and grinned as another joined it. ‘Very happy,’ she said. ‘In fact, I might even say ecstatic. Only you need to kiss me now so I know this isn’t a dream.’
He smiled and pressed the edge of his palm to her jaw and brushed the tear away with his thumb. She could smell cinnamon and she leaned into it, feeling her whole body hum.
Then Cameron pressed his mouth to hers, gently at first, like he was checking she wasn’t going to pull away, before deepening it.
Izzi wrapped her arms around Cameron’s neck and got out of the car so she could stand and deepen the kiss, showing him with her lips and tongue exactly how she felt.
The kiss was hot and hard, almost desperate and she pressed her body closer, feeling the hard patter of his heart, wishing she could strip him bare and feel his skin against hers.
He dipped her low and she heard Cupcake bark until he righted her again, pulling away so they could press their foreheads together.
‘Will you come back, move into my house, work with my grandma in the Candy Apple Café and stay in Honey Haven for good?’ he asked, dabbing gentle kisses to the edge of her mouth.
‘I will.’ She nodded, hugging him tighter as her heart filled.
‘Everyone stay quiet!’ Flora demanded as Erin, Violet, Fenella, Cat, Jade, Lara, Lachlan and Scott huddled together with Izzi in the basement of the castle.
‘Cameron’s just texted to say they’re on their way.
’ She sounded excited and Izzi leaned into the crowd, enjoying the hushed whisper of voices, the way the lights Lachlan had strung across the ceiling glittered in the darkness, casting spooky shadows around them.
Some of the pumpkins Izzi had placed around the castle this afternoon were flickering on ledges, and there were more in the sitting room and kitchen, not to mention the dozens that led up to the castle door. The effect was a wonderful mix of cosy and spooky.
She wondered what Maud would make of it, couldn’t wait to see her face when she arrived.
Cameron had gone to pick up her and Beth earlier. He’d made up a story about there being a problem at the castle that he needed her help with and Izzi knew his grandmother would immediately rush to assist.
She smelled chocolate and when she turned, Lachlan and Scott were both digging into some of the cookies she’d made for the festival.
There were plates of them laid out in the kitchen ready for visitors and more at the parade which was due to start in half an hour.
They planned to meet Violet and the children from the school beside the float which would be waiting outside Flora’s gemstone shop.
‘I can hear footsteps. Be quiet everyone,’ Erin whispered excitedly and everyone stopped talking. They waited with bated breath as the treads grew louder and Izzi could hear Maud’s voice as she followed Cameron through the sitting room.
‘What is this place?’ She sounded confused.
They all stood silently, huddled together, trying not to giggle as the footsteps began to descend the stairs to the basement. Moments later, Maud appeared, closely followed by Cameron, Cupcake and an older woman Izzi guessed was Beth.
‘Surprise!’ Everyone yelled.
‘Oh my goodness!’ Maud yelped, then she stood gaping at them.
‘What’s going on?’ She glanced over her shoulder.
‘It’s like some kind of spooky ghost tour.
I had no idea what was going on when I saw the pumpkins and those suits of armour almost scared the life out of me.
Why are you all hiding down here?’ She glanced around taking in their faces.
‘We wanted to give you a Honey Haven Halloween,’ Flora shouted, working her way to the front. ‘It was Izzi and Cameron’s idea – and the rest of us helped make it happen.’
‘A special Halloween, just for me?’ Maud’s eyes widened as she spotted Izzi in the crowd and mouthed, hello. ‘It’s good to see you here, lass.’ She winked. ‘I hear you’re not leaving, after all?’
‘No.’ Izzi smiled as everyone cheered.
‘We need to talk tomorrow about making your job permanent,’ Maud said before looking around again.
‘What do you think of our haunted castle, Maud?’ Lachlan shouted.
‘It’s the best I’ve seen,’ she said, beaming at him.
‘There’s a parade planned in twenty minutes,’ Erin shared. ‘So we’ll need to finish the tour so we can get to the start of that. There are more surprises planned – we’ve created a Halloween festival to rival any you’ll see in the world.’
‘Even in New Orleans,’ Cameron said from behind her.
Maud put a hand to her mouth and for a moment, Izzi wondered if she was going to cry. ‘You created a New Orleans Halloween just for me?’ she gulped.
‘It’s a fusion – there’s some Honey Haven thrown in,’ Izzi said.
‘It’s because you missed out—’ Cameron started.
‘Ach, lad, I understand but.’ She shook her head, her eyes widening. ‘I can’t believe you did all this for me. You shouldn’t have.’
‘We knew you’d say that.’ Cat laughed.
Maud laughed too. ‘But I’m so glad you did. Thank you.’ She gave Cameron a quick hug before coming to wrap Izzi in her arms too. Then she began to work her way around the crowd, thanking everyone, taking a moment to chat to each of them, and dragging Beth along so she could introduce her.
Izzi stood watching until Cameron came to stand by her side. ‘You’ve made her very happy,’ he said warmly.
‘We’ve made her happy and I’ve made myself happy too.’ She turned so she could grin up at him as Cupcake came to join them. Izzi smiled at the dog before pulling a treat from her pocket and feeding it to him. ‘What do you think of Jake?’ she asked.
Cupcake swallowed the treat and barked before wagging his tail.
‘Jake,’ Cameron said. ‘I like it better than Cupcake.’ He stroked his dog’s head. ‘You’re a miracle worker, Izzi Beaumont. You’ve made my dog, grandma and this whole community very happy. But I think you’ve made me happiest of all.’
He reached down and took her hand before squeezing it. ‘I know this has all happened very quickly, but I want you to know I love you,’ he whispered before leaning down and kissing her ear. ‘Thank you for coming to Honey Haven, for changing my life,’ he added huskily.
‘You changed my life,’ she murmured. ‘And I love you too.’ He smiled and pressed his mouth to hers again, deepening the kiss before sweeping an arm around her waist and pulling her closer.
Izzi heard everyone cheer, before they all began to file past, heading for the exit ready for the Halloween parade.
Instead of joining them, Izzi shut her eyes as she continued to kiss Cameron until their footsteps fell silent – because she’d finally found the place she was supposed to be and she wasn’t ready to let it go yet.
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