Page 102 of The Village Inn of Secret Dream

But still, they were just joking as friends, as they’d always done. Maybe she was too late. Maybe they’d missed their moment. Maybe their stolen kisses had been just that. A fleeting moment in time when they’d both needed each other and now the time had passed. He obviously wasn’t interested in her that way. She was just a friend to him.

Perhaps he would even revert back to type now that he seemed like the old Pete. Perhaps she would have to witness another long line of girlfriends arriving before being dismissed after a short time.

But she really wasn’t sure her heart could cope. Because now she finally knew how she felt about him. It was love, pure and simple. And it made her just as miserable as she had expected it to.

54

‘That’s such a lovely top,’ said Molly, looking at Belle’s green long-sleeved top appreciatively.

‘Yeah, you look great,’ said Lucy.

A week after the reopening and with the restaurant up and running and almost full every night, Belle was finally able to meet the girls for a catch-up.

Once more they were upstairs in Amber’s apartment where they could relax and chat in peace.

‘Thanks,’ said Belle, feeling pleased at the compliments.

It had become a habit to wear a different, brighter top or even one of the skirts each day. Customers in the inn had commented on it, even asking where she had bought them from. She was pleased that her grandmother’s clothes were finally getting the recognition they deserved.

And, unexpectedly, the compliments made her feel better about herself as well.

‘Where are your aunt and uncle?’ asked Amber.

‘In the Far East,’ Belle told her. ‘They loved the Great Barrier Reef.’

She showed them the photos that they’d sent, pleased that they were still looking so happy and in love.

‘They look ten years younger,’ said Lucy.

‘Did you tell them about the restaurant?’ asked Molly. ‘You’re the talk of the village and the newspaper too. Everyone is raving about the food.’

‘You’re going to be so busy at the Christmas fete this weekend,’ said Amber. ‘Us too.’

‘It’s going to be freezing if this weather doesn’t warm up,’ said Lucy.

‘But so pretty,’ said Molly, with a smile. ‘Christmas and snow go together like, I don’t know, something!’

‘Mistletoe and wine?’ said Amber.

‘Christmas trees and fairy lights?’ said Molly.

‘Belle and Pete?’ said Lucy, with a grin.

Belle could feel her three friends smiling as they watched her, but the only emotion she could muster was heartbreak.

‘It’s no use,’ she told them, with a soft sigh. ‘It’s not going to happen.’

‘Why not?’ asked Amber.

‘Because we had our chance three years ago,’ she said, finally opening up the last of her secrets.

Her friends were stunned for a brief second before exploding with questions for her.

‘When?’ asked Amber.

‘How?’ asked Lucy.

‘What happened?’ asked Molly.