Christie Barlow - Love Heart Lane

Felicity took a deep breath before speaking. ‘Hey,’ she said softly, causing Allie to jump and spin round. ‘I didn’t mean to startle you.’

For a brief moment, Allie just stared at her which left Felicity unsure of what to say next.

‘You okay?’ added Felicity quickly.

‘I didn’t expect to see you … it’s been a while,’ Allie answered as she carried on throwing logs in to the basket and looked away.

Felicity walked towards her and leant against the door frame.

‘I’m back to see Mum after Grandma…’ Felicity’s voice faltered.

‘I’m sorry about Bonnie, we all are. Everyone really misses her.’ Allie’s tone was sincere and she softened for a moment.

‘Thanks, it’s a difficult time, especially for Mum.’

Feeling emotional, tears welled up in Felicity’s eyes and there was a distinctive wobble in her voice. They both stared at each other for a moment in an awkward silence.

Felicity was hoping that Allie would step forward with her arms open wide, but it wasn’t forthcoming. She knew she’d treated her friend appallingly in the past but she hadn’t been thinking about anyone else when she’d left Heartcross. Only about protecting herself.

‘Allie…’ Felicity took a breath. ‘I’m—’

‘Let’s not do this now,’ Allie interrupted. ‘There’s a pub full of hungry people, and I really need to help Mum behind the bar.’

Felicity nodded. ‘Soon?’

‘Soon.’

Allie carried one of the baskets of logs and Felicity grabbed the other before following Allie back through the oak door and into the pub. ‘Rory just told me you’re together. I always said you were a match made in heaven,’ said Felicity, trying to lighten the mood and make conversation.

Allie hitched a small smile on her face but didn’t say a word. Felicity could still feel a frosty tension between them. Allie wasn’t as forgiving as Isla.

‘You do make the perfect couple,’ Felicity continued.

They placed the wicker baskets on each side of the log fire. ‘Yes, we do. We all used to say the same about you and Fergus.’ Allie’s tone was curt.

Felicity did her best not to let it upset her, but she knew Allie was never going to be a pushover and let her back in like Isla.

‘I’ve seen Isla too … I didn’t realise she had another baby on the way.’ Felicity tried to soften the conversation.

‘Well and truly on the way, in fact it could arrive at any time,’ answered Allie, swooping up the empty glasses from the nearby table but not catching her eye.

Felicity swallowed and took a deep breath. ‘Isla’s suggested maybe we have a proper catch up … that’s if you’re free?’

Allie thought for a second. ‘We’ll see… tomorrow is my night off,’ she replied, giving Felicity a glimmer of hope.

Felicity watched as Allie spotted Rory and smiled before disappearing back behind the bar to serve the customers.

‘So, how is life in the big city? Single, married…?’ probed Rory as Felicity stood next to him at the bar.

Felicity let out a breath. ‘Very much single.’

‘Really?’ His eyes widened.

‘I know it’s hard to believe,’ joked Felicity, ‘but really.’

‘How’s the job?’ Rory perched on the stool and Felicity sat next to him.

‘That’s not going brilliant either,’ she admitted. ‘It’s all doom and gloom in the life of Felicity Simons.’

‘Really? Your mum seems to think everything is hunky dory, working so hard that you couldn’t even have time off over Christmas.’

Instantly Felicity felt guilty once more. ‘That’s what I’d like her to think.’ She took a swooping glance over towards her mum who was chatting away to Rory’s parents, Stuart and Alana, at the other end of the bar.

‘The department store where I work has been sold to a company that has new ideas and seems more interested in making money than any sort of decent customer service. Let’s just say I don’t exactly gel with the new boss.’

‘One of those “let’s stamp my mark and change everything” types?’ asked Rory. ‘What do you think you are going to do about it?’

‘I’ve absolutely no idea,’ she sighed. ‘Going into work these days has had all the fun squeezed out of it. Time for a change I suppose … but I need to work out what that change is. How’s life at the practice?’ asked Felicity, taking a swig of her drink.

‘Good, really good. How long are you around for?’

‘A couple of weeks.’

‘Plenty of time to catch up then,’ he said, touching her gently on the shoulder.

Felicity had always liked Rory. He was such a kind-hearted person, always there with a smile on his face – someone who would do anything for anyone. She took a moment to think about Fergus. Allie had a good man in Rory and she knew that she’d always had a good man in Fergus. If only…

Starting to feel peckish, Felicity glanced over her shoulder and noticed a queue forming at the end of the long trestle table. At that very moment, Allie rang the bell behind the bar and shouted, ‘Help yourself to food!’

Within seconds, the lids of the aluminium pots were removed and the villagers began to spoon vast amounts of good wholesome food into their bowls.

Rona was near the front of queue. She made her way over to Felicity, offering her a bowl of chilli that Felicity gladly took from her mum’s hand.

By now, Rory had joined Allie and they were chatting with some of the other locals who were staring out of the window to the white street. The snow was still falling thick and fast. Felicity sat by the window and watched the flakes as she ate the delicious food. There was something very romantic about the first fall of snow.

She remembered a time when she had been woken up by the sound of a thud on her window pane. Thinking that a bird had flown into her window, she’d jumped out of bed only to find that snow had fallen through the night, and there standing in her garden was Fergus grinning up at her. He’d built the biggest snowman she’d ever set eyes on and was throwing snowballs at her window. They’d spent the day sledging on Heartcross Hill along with the rest of the villagers. It had been such fun and that was when she’d realised how strongly she was attracted to him. He was her ideal man and she’d fallen hook, line and sinker for Fergus Campbell.

‘Penny for them?’ asked Rona, who sat down next to Felicity and took a fleeting glance outside at the freshly fallen snow.

‘Ah, it’s nothing,’ Felicity replied, although she didn’t sound convincing. She didn’t want to admit how she’d messed up her life by running away to the big smoke, but sitting in the pub for the first time in a long time she realised she missed the familiarity of this place and the people who lived here.

She knew her time in London was nearly up and that she was falling out of love with the place. It had served a purpose at a time she needed it most but now she needed to make some tough decisions about her job and her life.

Rona didn’t press her daughter. She took the hint and changed the subject, but not before saying, ‘You know where I am if you want to talk.’

‘Thanks Mum,’ Felicity said, taking a sip of her drink.

Considering the number of villagers standing around, they were all relatively quiet while eating their food.

Felicity felt a slight draught as the pub door swung open. She didn’t realise she’d let out a long shuddering sigh, until Rona looked up. ‘You okay?’

Felicity didn’t answer and Rona followed her daughter’s gaze. Aggie Campbell had just walked into the pub.

Aggie hadn’t changed a bit over the years. A thin woman, around five foot five, she had a slim build and long dark hair. She was dressed casually in jeans, a tweed jacket with a neck scarf, and she stamped her snow boots on the mat and took off her gloves before rubbing her hands together. Both Fraser and Meredith shouted a warm welcome over the bar to her.