Holding on to Bluebell Lodge by Rachel Bowdler

Author:Rachel Bowdler
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: contemporary romance, lesbian romance, queer romance, lgbt romance, lesfic
Publisher: Rachel Bowdler
Published: 2022-01-21T00:00:00+00:00

“DOESN’T THIS PLACE make you feel claustrophobic?” Willow shuddered as they settled at a small table in the St Agnes Bakery’s courtyard, chair legs scraping against stone. The cold metal cut straight through Mags's clothes, making her legs and rear colder than she would have liked. “It feels like a little toy village that some kid tried to cram as many houses and shops as possible into.”

Mags couldn’t help but chuckle, though Willow had a point. St Agnes was nothing more than a cluster of old, lopsided buildings once you veered away from the coast. At present, they sat between the bakery and a cottage while other fair-weather tourists and villagers ate brunch in the small space around them. Even at the height of summer, it was much more peaceful by the sea.

“I’ve never known any different,” Mags admitted. “I’ve lived here my whole life. Besides, you’ve been hiding yourself away for too long up on that cliff. All this human contact and change of surroundings is bound to come as a shock.”

Willow only hummed skeptically and took a sip of her hot tea. The mug looked too big in her dainty hands, though it was the right size for Mags. The daylight served as a veil from the truth of how close they had been in the blackout, but she still felt that strange electricity sparking between them with their fingers only inches away from each other. Something had changed between them. Mags wasn’t sure if it was for the better.

Mags had wanted to kiss Willow in the darkness.

Before Mags could overthink it, Vera emerged from the threshold of the bakery, waving away a drooping set of decorative pansies hanging above as she did. In her other hand, she expertly carried a tray with two plates on it, a scone for each of them, and set it down between them. “There you go. Two cream teas with jam and clotted cream.”

“Thank you, Vera.” The old woman had been serving Mags her lunches for about as long as she had been alive. Mags cast an appreciative smile up at her as she took a scone for herself.

“Wait, this is a cream tea?” A crease formed between Willow’s brows as she eyed the food and the teapot between them. “I thought it was just a cup of tea... y’know, with cream.”

“Oh, heavens.” Vera gasped, hand rising to her forehead in shock. Mags tried to stifle a laugh as she spread her jam onto the bottom half of her scone, halfway between shame and pity. “Who is this friend of yours, Mags, and why on Earth hasn’t she ever had a cream tea before?”

“This is Willow. She took over the lodge from my grandmother. Clearly, she’s been living a very sheltered life up there.”

A blush blossomed across Willow’s cheeks, but her lips spread with a small smile as she finally took the scone. “I don’t come to town all that often.”

“Well, that’s no excuse,” Vera replied. “If you haven’t tried one of my cream teas, you haven’t lived.

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