Page 108 of The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts

Amber was momentarily caught off guard as she let herself be enveloped into her godmother’s warm embrace.

‘Hello,’ she managed to croak back, suddenly finding the emotion of the past couple of weeks catching up with her.

Cathy finally stepped back and held her at arm’s-length. ‘Hey! Whatever’s the matter?’

‘Nothing,’ said Amber, brushing away a tear as she smiled at her. ‘I’m just pleased to see you.’

‘Well, if you’re pleased to see me, then I can’t imagine what your next reaction will be,’ said Cathy, pointing over her shoulder.

Amber spun around and was amazed to discover her parents standing directly behind her.

‘Mum!’ she cried out in shock. ‘Dad! What are you doing here?’

‘Darling, we’ve missed you so much,’ said her mum, rushing forward to hug her.

Amber stood in shock as they both embraced her.

‘But I’m flying out to join you tomorrow,’ Amber told them, once she had recovered her voice.

‘I know,’ said her dad, looking guilty. ‘I did tell your mother that we ought to have warned you.’

‘We just thought it would be a nice surprise,’ said her mum.

‘I don’t understand,’ said Amber, feeling very confused. Surprise was an understatement, she thought.

‘Our little adventure didn’t quite work out for us,’ said her dad.

‘Why am I not surprised?’ murmured Amber.

Her mum sighed. ‘The truth is, darling, that we missed our home too much. It turns out that whilst New Zealand is a lovely, wonderful country, it’s just not here. Your father missed his garden. I missed my Cathy. Once she arrived to stay with us, we realised all that we’d given up.’

Amber tried to take it all in. ‘So you’re moving back to England?’

‘That’s the surprise,’ Cathy told her. ‘They’re moving to the village to live.’

‘Sometimes dreams aren’t quite what you imagine, are they?’ said her dad.

‘No,’ said Amber. ‘They’re really not.’

‘Isn’t it marvellous?’ said Cathy. ‘We haven’t told Josh yet. Do you know where he is? I’d love to see him.’

Amber stared back at Cathy. Perhaps there might just be a different way for her now. As her dad had said, dreams weren’t always the way you imagine.

‘Wait right there!’ she told them all, before stepping forward to give both her parents, Grandma Tilly and Cathy a kiss on the cheek. ‘I’ll go and find him!’

She had faced down her bully. Now she needed to be brave once more.

She knew what needed to be said. She just hoped Josh wanted to hear it.

Josh checked his phone again. It was very strange that he had yet to hear from his mum when she had landed a few hours ago. He hoped she hadn’t had an accident on the way home.

He was just about to dial her number when he saw Amber rushing towards him across the pedestrian bridge. She looked very worried and serious, which made him even more concerned.

He told Mike that he would be back in a while and left the pub to meet Amber on the bridge.

She had a strange look on her face as they drew near to each other and he became even more worried.

‘Have you heard from Mum?’ he asked.