Page 20 of A Summer Wedding at Pennycress Inn
‘Nope, not sneaking up, just coming in search of coffee.’ Murray shrugged before bending and retrieving the pen. Straightening his back, he inspected the end, twisting it round in his fingers. ‘What’s this ever done to you?’
‘Oi!’ Snatching the pen back from him, Ellie tucked it in her notebook and closed the book firmly, crossing her arms over the top. What gave him the right to comment on her habits or belongings, for that matter? He’d lost that right years ago.
‘Have you got a couple of minutes? We could have that chat now?’ Murray locked eyes with her.
Sighing, Ellie turned away and pointed towards her laptop, the screen blinking back at her as it awoke. That was the first thing she needed to buy with her first profits – a new laptop. She’d had to leave her new fast one with Melissa when she’d left All Things Love as it had been owned by the company, and this one must be at least seven years old. If not older. ‘I’m just about to?—’
‘Damn.’ Murray cursed under his breath as his mobile rang out. Rolling his eyes, he mouthed an apology before heading back outside.
Letting out a sigh of relief, Ellie leaned back against her chair. When was he going to get the hint that she didn’t want to speak to him? What did he want her to even say? That she forgave him for running out on her? That she understood why he chose to move countries to help his dad when his dad had never even sent him a birthday card, let alone made the journey across the ocean to see him? The only times Murray had ever even seen his father had been when his own mum and stepdad had made the trip across the ocean to see him. And yet, Murray had made Ellie’s relationship with him feel so inconsequential, so small, that it had taken her months to get to the point of being able to face the world, to even think that finding love again might be quite nice.
And now here he was, wanting ‘to talk’ as though nothing had happened, as though he hadn’t broken her heart?
Twisting in her chair, she watched as he leaned against the railings of the decking and chuckled down the phone. It was a stark contrast to the Murray she’d run into when she’d got the flat tyre. What was going on with him?
One thing was certain, however, it didn’t appear as though he was going to give up trying to have this chat with her anytime soon. And now that Laura had kindly insisted she should work out of Pennycress’s kitchen, Ellie had the distinct feeling she was going to run out of excuses to talk with him.
Pushing her chair back, she stood up and walked the few short steps to the kitchen area before switching the kettle on and filling the cafetière. If she took him out a coffee and spoke with him for ten minutes, then perhaps they’d both be able to get on with their own jobs rather than her trying to hide from him.
Yes, and there was no time like the present. She glanced behind her out of the French doors and watched as Murray tapped his toe against a stack of decking planks, a wide grin spread across his face. It was good to see him smiling. She wasn’t sure she had since she’d first laid eyes on him a few days ago. From the little she’d seen of him, he’d been chatty enough to Laura, Jackson and Nicola, but in general he’d had a sullen, withdrawn look about him, much like she’d first seen when he’d taken that call after yelling at her for parking in front of his gate.
She felt a twinge in the pit of her stomach, and she resisted the urge to wonder who was making him smile like that. It didn’t matter. It was of no concern to her. At all.
Pulling two mugs from the mug tree at the back of the work surface, she poured the coffee, watching the dark bitter liquid fill one mug after the other. Was she ready for this? Was she ready to have a frank conversation with the man who had broken her heart, spun her very world?
No, but she never would be. She needed to, though. For her own sake, and probably Murray’s too, she needed to talk to him, to clear the air, if that was possible. And now that Laura knew about her and Murray’s history, she’d likely begin picking up on the animosity between them, the sidelong glances, the awkward silences, and that wouldn’t be fair on Laura. Especially when they were planning what would be the best day of her life.
Ellie owed it to her career and her new business to talk to Murray. Yes, it was just one of those pesky tasks you had to get over and done with before moving on. For the good of her business.
Not being able to delay any further, she picked up the mugs and carried them through the kitchen, grateful she could now see Murray had ended his call and was tucking his mobile back into his carpenter’s belt.
13
Leaning one elbow against the handle of the door, Ellie pushed the door open.
‘Here, let me help you with that.’ Hurrying forward, Murray opened the door fully and held it for her.
‘Thank you.’ Stepping away, she waited until he’d closed the door again before brandishing one of the mugs. ‘You wanted coffee?’
‘For me? Oh, thank you.’ A slight smile played on his lips, the dimple in his left cheek appearing, as he took the mug.
Walking across the decking towards the railing, Ellie looked out across the garden. Pockets of purple mixed with flower beds bursting with pinks, oranges and yellows, and Ellie was certain more flowers had blossomed since she’d last stepped foot outside. The garden was crammed with life, from the plants which had been lovingly tended to by Jill, to the birds who busied themselves flittering from the large willow tree to one of the hedges lining the back of the garden and back again. Even a cat lay sprawled lazily in the sun next to the patio. And it was only June, she couldn’t imagine how wonderful it would look for the wedding day in August.
‘Eleanor?’
She felt Murray’s presence as he came to stand next to her, his elbows resting on the railing close to hers. ‘Yes?’
‘Is this a good time to talk?’ His voice was tentative, as though he was expecting her to dart back inside at the mere mention of ‘talking’, and who could blame him? She’d made herself scarce every time prior. Every single time.
Nodding, she took a deep breath and turned to face him, her hip leaning against the wooden railing. ‘We might as well. I mean, we’ve both found ourselves working here at Pennycress Inn, so we might as well clear the air, as you put it before.’
‘That’s right.’ Twisting to face her too, he rested his coffee mug on the top railing.
There was a long pause. What was she supposed to say now? It had been his idea to talk, so why wasn’t he talking? She’d had a million questions for him, a million things she’d wanted to ask him about. About their break-up, about his life since, and above all what had possessed him to move to Meadowfield after all these years but now he was standing right here next to her, now she had the opportunity to ask all of those questions, she couldn’t even begin to form the words.
Ellie lifted her coffee mug to her lips, her mouth suddenly dry.
Mirroring her move, he then lowered his mug again and chuckled.
