So that’s that, then. Theo is leaving for London, and any stupid dreams I might have had of us getting together have been well and truly crushed. Worse, I can’t help the sneaking suspicion that I’m part of the reason he’s leaving.
I trail through the day, trying to put on a brave face, reminding myself every time I’m on the verge of tears that Dad is getting better and The Treehouse Café is turning out to be an amazing success. After missing the reporter that time because I was judging cakes in the WI tent, she finally caught up with me the other day, and there’s a story in today’s local newspaper all about the new café, with gorgeous photos of the treehouse.
When we close up the café later, I try calling Paloma but she’s either not there or on the phone already. I mooch around, watching a bit of TV and trying to eat something. Finally, at around seven, the doorbell goes and it’s Paloma.
‘Come on. We’re going out for that drink,’ she says bossily. ‘Get out of those sloppy trackies.’
I groan and shake my head. ‘I really don’t feel like it. Look, come in and I’ll open a bottle of wine and—’
‘No! We’re going out.’ She smiles. ‘Sorry. It’s just I think it would do you good. We can talk about Theo.’
Tears fill my eyes. I’m too weak to argue.
Fifteen minutes later, we’re in the pub and I’m swigging down wine like it’s going out of fashion, wishing she’d stop going on about Theo and how lovely he is. I mean, I already know that. Obviously. So why is she being so insensitive?
Then I realise it’s my fault for being too self-absorbed. Paloma’s only just discovered Theo’s her half-brother, for goodness’ sake. She’s perfectly entitled to chatter on and on about him, even if it is slowly driving me nuts.
The wine helps, though, making me more relaxed. And by the time we head home, more than three hours later, I’m actually feeling quite mellow.
Things will be fine. I’ll concentrate on making The Treehouse Café an even bigger success. Betty was even talking about approaching bus tour operators to see if they’d like a unique treehouse coffee stop for their holiday-maker clients. I think it’s a great idea …
All the same, as I trail up the stairs to bed, my heart feels like a lead weight. It will be impossible to stop thoughts of Theo sneaking into my head day and night, taking me unawares when I’m trying to concentrate on the café. And it’s not even as if I can banish him from my life and eventually get over him. As in out of sight, out of mind. Because as long as Paloma is my best friend, Theo is always going to be there.
My mobile goes. It’s Paloma and I pick up.
‘You’ve left a light on in the treehouse,’ she says, without preamble.
‘What?’
‘You need to go and switch it off. It’s a waste of electricity.’
I go to the window and peer out. ‘There’s no light on.’
‘Yes, there is. Keep looking.’
I stare out into the darkness, wondering what on earth she’s talking about because the treehouse is in pitch darkness.
And then the magic happens.
In the blink of an eye, The Treehouse Café is lit with hundreds of fairy lights, winking like stars against the black night sky.
I gasp. ‘Oh my God. It’s so beautiful. But how … who? Did you organise this?’
She chuckles. ‘It’s a gift from someone special. We called Jake and he came round to set it up. I had to get you out of the house tonight for as long as I could, but he finished just in time. I’m surprised you didn’t catch Jake’s van driving off.’
My heart starts beating very fast. ‘Where are you?’
‘By your garden gate, but I’m going home now.’
I pause, swallowing hard, trying not to get my hopes up. ‘Who’s the someone special?’
‘Go down and see. He’s waiting for you, beside The Treehouse Café.’ And she rings off.
With my legs feeling like jelly, I go downstairs and out through the back door, then I make my way slowly down the garden, heart beating crazily, hardly daring to hope …
When I reach the treehouse, a man steps out of the shadows to meet me and my heart lurches.
Theo.
He’s smiling at me with such warmth, my stomach flips over. ‘You said you wanted lights. So now you’ve got lights. Do you like them?’
My heart is bumping crazily. Just hearing his gorgeous voice is enough to make my whole body quiver. ‘I love them. They’re … just perfect.’
He bridges the gap between us, smoothing a lock of hair back from my face ever so gently, and a shiver of desire runs through me.
‘I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t interested in getting to know Olivia better,’ he murmurs. ‘Then I realised it was because you were in my head and I couldn’t even think of anyone else.’
I swallow hard. ‘Really?’ The single word comes out as a rather unattractive squeak but thankfully, he doesn’t seem to be turned off. On the contrary, he pulls me against him and I collapse weakly on his chest, my head spinning at his glorious scent and his nearness.
‘Are you going to work in London?’ I manage to ask, pulling away slightly but still mesmerised by his beautiful mouth.
‘Not any more.’
A feeling of utter relief courses through me. ‘What made you change your mind?’
‘Well, Paloma came to see me. My half-sister.’ He chuckles, still clearly amazed at the discovery. ‘She said I had a choice. I could either live in the past, dwelling on all the bad things that had happened to me and thinking I was cursed. Or I could do the sensible thing and be brave enough to walk into my future with hope.’
‘And what did you decide to do?’ I stop breathing, waiting for his reply.
He smiles and pulls me against him again, and my heart melts as he gazes into my
