Spring Blossoms at Mill Grange by Jenny Kane (a court of thorns and roses ebook free txt) 📗

‘Are you sure I can’t I offer you a lift home, Mabel?’ Tina gestured to the car they’d just climbed out of.

‘Some fresh air will do me good.’ Mabel waved as she walked away. ‘I’ll see you both tomorrow.’

As Mabel disappeared from view, Sam kissed the top of Tina’s head. ‘The frocks are sorted then?’

‘One more fitting for Thea and Helen, and that’s it.’ Tilting her head to one side, Tina asked, ‘Did you make your appointment to hire a suit?’

‘Umm, no. I keep getting sidetracked. It’s not like what I wear is important. Everyone will be looking at you.’

‘But Sam, it isn’t long now.’ Tina felt bad about what she was about to say, but knew if couldn’t be avoided. ‘You don’t have to go into the shop. You can order one online and stuff.’

‘I know.’ Sam played one of her pigtails through his fingers. ‘It isn’t my claustrophobia that’s the problem this time.’

‘Tell me?’

‘They’ll expect me to wear my uniform.’

‘Your parents?’ Tina slipped her palm into his and towed Sam towards the kitchen.

‘Not just them. Bert and Mabel. And probably Tom as well. He told me he’s trying to get his out of storage.’

‘And you think if Tom’s in his uniform, then you should be too?’

‘Something like that.’

Flicking the kettle on at the switch, Tina smiled. ‘I won’t pretend I wouldn’t like to see you in uniform, because I know you’d look mouth-watering, but I want you to stand at the head of the aisle feeling relaxed and happy. If an army uniform is going to give you flashbacks then don’t wear it. You’ll look great in a suit too.’

Sam kissed her again. ‘Thank you.’

‘What for?’

‘For saying what I needed to hear.’ Sam unhooked two mugs from the rack. ‘Don’t tell Helen about Tom looking for his uniform. He wants it to be a surprise.’

‘I bet she’ll love that.’ Tina paused. ‘She’s been very quiet lately. I hope they’re alright.’

‘Probably a bit low because she’s leaving.’ Sam headed to the fridge for some milk. ‘I’m assuming she is going. She’s not told me she’s staying.’

‘Come to think of it, Helen hasn’t said much about anything lately.’ Tina mused. ‘She was quiet at the dress fitting, although she looked stunning. With her in that dress and Tom in uniform, I’d be putting money on another wedding being just around the corner if I was a gambling sort of girl. Do you know where Helen is?’

‘Thea told me she was planning to write some of her book.’

Tina cradled her newly poured coffee. ‘That’s probably on her mind too. It’s a great idea to have a book about the fortlet, but how people get all those words from their heads onto paper to turn them into a book worth reading, I’ll never know.’

*

Helen tapped Chapter One: Exmoor and the Romans onto the screen of her laptop and stared at it for a long time. Then she deleted it and tried again. Chapter One: The Romans on Exmoor.

‘Better.’ She absentmindedly picked up the stone Dylan had given her and played it around her palm.

‘Think of it like writing a load of papers. That’s what Tom said.’ She turned the pages of her notebook over to see the copious lists of information she needed to include and double check, not to mention the list of references she’d need to put in the bibliography at the back of the book. ‘If there ever is a book.’

Slamming her notebook shut, Helen looked at the stone in her hand. ‘This is ridiculous. I’m feeling sorry for myself and I don’t even know if I have anything to feel sorry about. Perhaps I’m making assumptions. Dylan’s only five, maybe he got it wrong – and even if he didn’t, Sue might want them to be a family, but that doesn’t mean Tom does.’ She focused on Dylan’s stone. But if them being together makes Dylan happy, then Tom will go back to Sue. He’d do anything to make his son happy. Helen’s throat closed in on itself. And so would I.

As if conjured by her thoughts, Helen heard the sound of running wellies across the gravel outside the storeroom. Hastily patting her damp eyes with a tissue, she saw a small round face peer around the door.

‘Dad said if you were busy, I should leave you alone. Are you busy, Helen?’

Helen’s heart melted on the spot. Even if she had been in the middle of the most productive writing session of all time, she’d have claimed otherwise. ‘I’m not, and as it happens, I wondered if you’d help me with something.’

‘Yes, please!’ Dylan ran on into the storeroom. ‘Oh, you’re holding my stone. Do you still love it?’

Helen glanced at her hand. She hadn’t realised she was still holding it. ‘I love it very much.’

Thirty-six

Tuesday April 7th

Shaun’s mouth dropped open as Thea led him into the drawing room. ‘That is a serious chocolate haul.’

‘Great, isn’t it?’ Thea smiled. ‘Helen and Dylan are in the garden, drawing up plans where to hide them.’

‘How many are being hidden at once?’

‘Two hundred, with Dylan on duty replacing the ones that have been found.’

‘He’ll love that.’

‘I suspect Helen’s secretly hoping the running around will wear him out so he falls asleep early. She hasn’t said anything, but I think Dylan being here twenty-four-seven is denting her alone time with Tom more than they expected.’

‘Hardly surprising.’ Shaun looped an arm around Thea’s waist. ‘So, what was it you wanted to talk about? You made it sound serious.’

Thea sat on the sofa and patted the seat next to her. ‘Will you promise to let me finish speaking before you get cross?’

Shaun’s forehead creased. ‘Why would I get cross?’

‘Because this concerns an email I received from Julian, and I would rather you didn’t jump to conclusions about him fancying me. Because he doesn’t.’

Looking far from reassured, Shaun said, ‘Go on then. What’s he done now?’

‘I’m not sure “done” is the right world. It’s what he’s