Chapter Thirteen

‘ Y ou'd better get going, Debbie, sweetheart, or you're going to be late for your big date tonight.' Florrie placed her cup of tea down on the table and began stacking the playing cards.

‘But we've not finished our game, Nan.' Debbie frowned. She'd come straight over to her nan's once the bakery had closed and, after chatting and reminiscing for an hour, her nan had suggested they get the playing cards out. Just like they used to when she'd stayed before.

‘The cards will still be here tomorrow.' Florrie smiled as she held her hand out for the cards Debbie was holding. ‘And later in the week we can have a game with Bertie and his children.'

‘Bertie is coming?' Debbie passed the cards over. She hadn't seen her cousin since... she couldn't even remember. The last time she'd seen him had been around the same time she'd last seen her nan. He'd travelled up with their nan on one of her visits. ‘And he has children? How many?'

‘Two. Both girls.' Standing up, Florrie pulled a school photo from where it was stuck to the fridge with a sunflower magnet. ‘Here they are.'

Carefully taking the photo, Debbie looked down at the two children in red school uniforms. Looking back up at her nan, she sighed. ‘I've missed so much.'

‘You have a lot of catching up to do. We both do, but now we're blessed to have these few weeks together, possibly more if you take me up on my offer, and I plan on asking you about every little detail of your life, past and present.' Florrie chuckled.

‘I want to know all about what you've been up to as well.' Debbie passed the photo back to her nan and watched her gently stick it back to the fridge before sitting down again.

‘I want to make the most of our time together, with you in the bay. Now I've got you back in my life, I really can't imagine you going again.' Florrie shook her head sadly.

Scrunching up her nose, Debbie looked across the table. ‘Maybe I don't have to.'

‘maybe you don't have to what, sweetheart?'

‘Leave. Maybe I don't need to leave when my volunteering position comes to an end. I've been thinking a lot about what you suggested, about me staying around a little longer.'

‘In the bay? And you'll move in here, like I suggested?'

Debbie nodded. ‘If you don't mind, that is?'

‘Oh, sweetheart, mind! I'd love it.' Standing up. Florrie waited until Debbie had stood up too before pulling her into a hug.

‘Great.'

Leaning back, Florrie tapped her arm. ‘But now, you need to go and meet that chap of yours for dinner before you're late.'

‘That chap of mine?' Debbie laughed. ‘This is our first date; I don't think he's mine quite yet.'

‘Go on, be off with you and enjoy yourself.' Florrie led the way to the front door and held it open for her. ‘Don't do anything I wouldn't do.'

‘Haha, I won't. See you tomorrow, Nan.' After kissing her on the cheek, Debbie turned and walked through the small garden to the cobbles of the lane.

‘Bye, sweetheart.' Florrie waved before closing the door.

Hugging herself around the middle, Debbie smiled. The time she'd spent with her nan since connecting with her again had felt just as it always had, as if no time at all had passed. At the road, she checked both ways before crossing and walking towards the pub door. Just as she was about to pull it open, she heard Richie's voice behind her.

‘Hey, over here.'

Turning, she looked around the small pub courtyard before she spotted him sitting at one of the wooden tables, a wicker picnic basket placed on top. She walked over and stood in front of him, her hands clasped together in front of her, unsure if she should hug him, kiss him, or what. ‘Hi.'

‘Hi, yourself.' Standing up, Richie closed the gap between them and drew her into a hug. Wrapping her arms around him, she pulled him closer before looking up at him. ‘We're having a picnic then?'

‘Did you think I was going to make you sit at the end of the bar and eat whilst I served?' He chuckled.

She shrugged, still in his embrace. ‘Maybe.'

Leaning back, he tucked his finger beneath her chin and gently tilted her to face him. ‘May I?'

Running the tip of her tongue over her lips, she nodded and closed her eyes as she felt Richie's lips upon hers. This was really happening!