Three Amazing Things About You(68)

Maintaining a carefree smile was starting to make Hallie’s cheeks ache. As if sensing she was in need of comfort, Daley rested his soft paws on her chest and attempted to lick her face, but the oxygen tubing got in his way.

Christina raised her glass and clinked it against Bea’s. ‘If that happens,’ she said happily, ‘it’s a deal.’

As they left the VIP enclosure, Bea said, ‘Isn’t she lovely? I’m so glad we bumped into her. Honestly, sometimes these things happen out of the blue and you just think it’s like fate, it’s as if it was meant to be. I feel like a fairy godmother! Wouldn’t it be completely amazing if Luke and Christina end up getting back together and it’s all down to us?’

‘It would.’ Hallie was glad Bea was behind her, pushing her wheelchair across the bumpy ground. They were heading past the shopping village, making their way back to the car park. She put out her arm and pointed. ‘Five more minutes won’t make any difference, will it? Can we call in at that nice stall with the scarves before we go?’

The girl in the purple hat – Flo, that was her name – greeted them with delight. ‘Hello! I didn’t think you’d be back! Have you decided to buy the necklace?’

No. I have no man in my life, I’m destined to spend the rest of my days as a lonely spinster with nothing to look forward to other than misery and heartache, so I’ve decided the least I can do is treat myself to a ridiculously expensive scarf.

Wheeling herself over to the table where they fluttered from the branches of the silver tree, Hallie reached up and unfastened her scarf.

‘I’m going to have this one.’

‘Oh, I’m so glad. It’s perfect for you.’ Flo seemed genuinely pleased.

‘And we offered you a discount, didn’t we?’ The man who ran the stall took it from Hallie’s hands. ‘Said you could have it for sixty pounds?’

Hallie, already counting out the notes from her purse, said, ‘Seventy.’

‘No, you’re wrong. It was definitely sixty.’ The man in the black fedora winked and rang up the amount on the till.

‘Any luck with the royal-spotting?’ said Flo. ‘Did you get to see Prince Harry?’

‘No.’ Hallie’s smile was rueful. ‘Would have been fun, but it didn’t happen.’

‘His loss,’ Bea said cheerfully. ‘Anyway, we bumped into someone we hadn’t seen for a while, which was brilliant.’

Hmm, had it been brilliant? Hallie wasn’t so sure. Not that she could admit as much to Bea.

‘There you go.’ Flo handed her the scarf in one of the smart rope-handled bags. ‘Enjoy. And don’t just save it for special occasions. A scarf like that needs to be seen and admired. It’ll make you feel fabulous every time you wear it.’

‘Thanks.’ For a split second, Hallie felt emotional without even knowing why. The girl was right: something so lovely deserved to be worn often. Maybe by someone who went out to more places than she did, but never mind.

‘And make sure you come back and see us again next year,’ said the cheery man.

Weren’t people nice? Touched by his kindness, Hallie smiled and said, ‘I will.’

If I’m still here.





Chapter 30


It was six o’clock, the cross-country competition had been completed and people were starting to make their way home. Some were still in the shopping village, looking to buy last-minute items, but the crowds were thinning out now and the stallholders were beginning to pack up.

‘Right, quick, I need a present for my next-door neighbour.’ The middle-aged woman in the too-tight pink fleece was clearly in a hurry. ‘I forgot it’s her birthday, and she’ll be there when we get home. What have you got for around a tenner?’

‘Ooh . . .’ Flo scanned the items she’d been selling all day. ‘How about one of those mirrored photo frames?’

‘Too glitzy.’ The woman grimaced and shook her head. ‘She only likes boring things. Her house is kind of beige.’

‘Well, we have these.’ Holding up a notebook with an embossed cream cover and silver-edged pages, Flo said, ‘Beige enough?’

‘Not sure about the silver . . . Ah, that’ll do, I’ll have one of those.’ The woman had spotted a stack of pale grey tea towels on one of the tables. ‘Can you quickly gift-wrap it? Make it look a bit more expensive?’

‘Erm . . . maybe you want to check it first. There’s writing on it,’ Flo explained.

‘But I’m in a hurry.’ The woman was glancing at her watch.

‘Here, just take a look.’ Flo unfolded the tea towel and held it up. In big capitals it said: IF YOU CAN’T STAND THE HEAT . . .