The Oddest Little Flower Shop: A sweet, uplifting romcom by Beth Good

Author:Beth Good [Good, Beth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thimblerig Books
Published: 2023-07-19T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

Gideon was reluctant to sit down with this woman and discuss what he’d read in those letters last night. He had a strong suspicion she would become upset once she learnt what he’d discovered. However, before he could suggest that she took them away to look at on her own – the coward’s way out, he admitted to himself, but less traumatic than having to see her face change as they were reading those letters together – he was saved by the bell. Literally, as his mobile rang.

Checking the number, he told her apologetically, ‘It’s work calling me. They only ring if it’s an emergency. Do you mind if I take this?’

‘Of course not.’ Penny began to rinse off the plates in the sink, turning her back on him. He might not know her well, but he could tell that his reluctance had sown seeds of doubt in her mind about the treasure trove of letters. But he couldn’t help it.

He liked her, that was the problem. And because he liked her, he couldn’t bear the thought of seeing her hurt. Ridiculous, really. He had only just met the woman. But perhaps Franklin had been right all those years ago, when he was growing up and his godfather had warned him, ‘You’re too soft for your own good, my boy. Girls will take advantage of you. You need to harden up before someone makes you unhappy.’

Well, he had hardened up over the years. Mainly courtesy of several dead-end relationships that had left him shy of even making friends with women again. Indeed, the friendly approach always seemed to end in disaster. Maybe he was too soft. But right now, the important thing was to avoid hurting Penny, who had put much store by her unknown grandmother’s love life and would be horribly disillusioned when she found out some of the facts surrounding that elderly lady’s thought processes. Of course, the truth of those letters couldn’t be hidden from her forever. But he still felt unprepared for the possibility that she might burst into tears…

Hurriedly, he stepped into the hall, closing the kitchen door behind him, and answered his mobile. ‘Gideon here,’ he said, and recognised the receptionist’s voice on the other end. She sounded harassed. ‘What’s up, Sandra?’

‘I’m really sorry, and I know it’s your day off, and you haven’t had a full day off work in ages, but –’

His mouth quirked in a wry smile. ‘But something has come up. It’s an emergency and I’m needed at the surgery. Am I close?’

‘You’re a mind reader. I don’t know how you do it.’ Sandra’s voice dripped with sarcasm.

‘Give me the details.’

‘Breech presentation up at Jolliet’s dairy farm. The farmer needs you there straight away. Are you available?’

Gideon grimaced. Still, it was a useful excuse to avoid breaking the bad news to Penny.

‘Unfortunately, yes. I’ll be on my way in a few minutes.’

Ringing off, he headed back into the kitchen.

Penny had finished loading the dishes and cutlery in the dishwasher and was washing her hands at the sink.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.