A Taste of Home by Heidi Swain (the beginning after the end read novel TXT) 📕

are feeling completely redundant our dear Fliss, both Marco and I know only too well that we wouldn’t be managing at all if you hadn’t done such an amazing job in setting everything up. You have established something wonderful and unique for Nonna and us to carry on with and for our guests to enjoy. We will always be grateful for the wonderful legacy you have left us.

More tears fell as I clicked on the attachment and an image of Nonna, Alessandro and Marco standing together and smiling out at me filled the screen. They were in the orchard, under the very tree where I had read Mum’s life-changing letter.

I wondered if Marco had remembered the significance of the spot or if it was just a coincidence. Without meaning to, I let out a little sob.

‘Fliss,’ said a voice behind me and a whole bundle of tissues appeared over my shoulder. ‘Take these.’

I quickly grasped them and noisily blew my nose.

‘Thank you,’ I croaked, turning to find Eliot, of all people, standing right behind me.

‘Oh Fliss,’ he said again, having taken in the state of my face. ‘What on earth’s happened?’

He dragged over a chair and sat beside me, shielding me from the curious looks of the other library users.

‘Nothing bad,’ I said, shaking my head.

‘Well, thank goodness for that,’ he smiled. ‘Although if this is how you react to good news…’

I found my lips curving into a smile. I supposed my reaction was a bit extreme, but I couldn’t have lessened it if I’d tried.

‘This is the Rossis,’ I said, nodding at the screen, ‘who I lived with in Puglia. My darling Nonna, her son Alessandro and grandson, Marco.’

Eliot leant further in.

‘No wonder you’re crying,’ he tutted. ‘Fancy leaving behind a hunk like that.’

‘Don’t be silly,’ I said, beginning to feel better. ‘Marco’s like a brother to me. Or did you mean Alessandro?’

Eliot looked relieved that I had made a joke.

‘The silver fox of course,’ he grinned. ‘Seriously though, don’t let Bec see this. Marco is just her type.’

‘Is he?’ I asked, looking at the screen with fresh eyes.

‘She’d fall into a dead faint if she caught sight of him.’

I mopped up the last of my tears, wiping away the final traces of mascara and shut down the email.

‘Feeling better now?’ Eliot asked.

‘Yes,’ I said. ‘Sorry.’

‘Don’t apologise,’ he said wheeling his chair closer still and putting an arm around my shoulders. ‘I can’t even begin to imagine how you’re managing to cope so well with everything you’ve got going on in your life right now, Fliss.’

‘It has been a bit full-on recently,’ I conceded.

‘A bit,’ he smiled.

‘All right, more than a bit.’

‘And you know, I’d do anything I could to help you, don’t you?’

He leant in and softly kissed my cheek and I felt my heart start to clamour. If I turned my face, just the slightest bit, our lips would be just millimetres apart. It would be stupid to do it, but I was going to. I was powerless to resist and if I leant in just a little further still…

‘Is everything all right over here?’ came a voice behind us. ‘Eliot?’

‘Yes,’ he said, clearing his throat, backing his chair away and taking his luscious, soft lips with him. ‘Thank you, Miriam. Everything’s fine.’

Everything was not fine thanks to Miriam’s interruption. I was pretty certain Grandad’s friend wouldn’t have ruined the moment on purpose, but then I came to and realised that Miriam had actually just saved my bacon and stopped me making a gargantuan gaffe.

‘Thanks for the tissues,’ I said to Eliot, reaching for my bag. ‘I’ll see you later.’

I didn’t give him the chance to say anything further. I dashed out of the door and went straight back to Bella’s. I needed that date with Anthony more than ever now and I was going to look my very best for it, whatever the cost. The shock of what I’d almost just done ensured I was dry-eyed by the time I burst back into the boutique.

‘You’ve changed your mind,’ Bella beamed, not noticing my red-rimmed eyes. ‘I knew you would.’

In fact, she’d been so sure, that she’d got everything boxed, wrapped and in a bag and she’d applied a generous discount, along with a very pretty hair slide.

‘You’re going to absolutely knock their socks off,’ she winked once the transaction was complete and she handed over the bags.

‘I certainly hope so,’ I told her, feeling determined.

Grandad was waiting next to the Land Rover when I finally got back to the market square.

‘Sorry I’ve taken so long,’ I puffed.

‘You’re fine,’ he said. ‘I haven’t been finished all that long. Are you all right? You look a bit flustered.’

‘I’m okay,’ I insisted. ‘Just a bit hot from all the rushing about, that’s all.’

‘Do you need more time? I didn’t realise you had so much to do.’

‘No, I’m sorted now. Did you get everything done that you wanted?’

‘Oh yes,’ he said. ‘All sewn up at the solicitors and the bank manager was sympathetic too. He wouldn’t extend the overdraft, but in view of the new contract, he was happy to give us until the end of the year to start making a dent in it.’

‘That’s wonderful news,’ I practically cheered.

‘He’s also looking forward to finding out what your big ideas are too,’ Grandad smiled. ‘So, I hope you’ve been giving them some thought, my girl.’

‘Don’t worry,’ I grinned. ‘I have.’

‘That’s all right then,’ he nodded. ‘And I bumped into Eliot too.’

‘Oh, did you?’ I casually asked, as I opened the back door of the Land Rover and carefully placed my bags inside. ‘I bet he wanted to know how you’d got here, didn’t he?’

‘He did and I told him.’

‘What did he say to that?’

‘After the success of the hospital appointment, he said he thought it was no bad thing that I was upping the activity and stretching a bit more and that the apple crate was just the thing.’

‘Well, that’s all right then,’ I nodded. ‘I always knew it would