The Garden on Holly Street Part Two

by Megan Attley

Genres: Coming of Age; Women's Fiction; Contemporary Romance

Synopsis

Sometimes you have to dig a little deeper to get the life you want . . . Part Two of the feel-good series The Garden on Holly Street . After deciding to tend to the garden on Holly Street, Abby has had some shocking news from her ex. Just when she felt like she was settling into Willow Court, he comes along and pushes her backwards again. Being with Gav is so awfully familiar, something she's dreaded and craved in equal measure. As he asks her for help, she faces a decision - should she sew seedlings for her past? Or for her future? Meanwhile, Ernie is left to babysit himself with his dad away again. Sometimes he quite likes it because he can make the flat a playground. But a playground is only so much fun when you're by yourself. He doesn't really think about what would happen if something went wrong - until something does go very wrong. Disturbed from his peace and quiet again, Arthur goes to tell the boy to keep the noise down. But as he hears a whimpering coming from inside the flat, he begins to worry - what's happened to Ernie? And how can Arthur help him? As their lives intersect, what will the residents of Willow Court choose to be for each other? And will the sudden appearance of a handsome gardener be just the distraction Abby needs? Fans of Cathy Bramley, Holly Hepburn, Heidi Swain and Kirsty Greenwood will love The Garden on Holly Street.

Release date: April 18, 2019

Publisher: Orion

Print pages: 92

Sample

Abby stared at Gavin, wondering how it had come about that he was standing at her front door at gone ten thirty on a Friday night.

‘Belinda is what?’

‘I said… she’s pregnant.’

‘I thought you did.’

‘Abby, I need to come in. Please?’

‘Abby glanced behind her as if searching for inspiration, but this was really up to her. Part of her didn’t want to let him in; this was her space, her Gavin-free sanctuary and she was worried that allowing him to enter would taint her new home. But another quick assessment of his haggard – yet familiar – face and the desperation in his eyes pushed the worries aside. ‘I guess so. Come in.’

She stepped back, then watched as he walked into the hallway, his head turning from side to side as he looked around. Gavin’s tall, muscular frame in her new flat was something she’d never thought she’d see; something she hadn’t wanted to see if she was honest, and he was as incongruous there in that moment as a snowman would have been. But at least a snowman would have melted, then she could have cleaned it up with a mop and bucket and carried on. She had a feeling that Gavin’s presence would not be so easy to eradicate.

‘Do you want a drink?’

He turned and nodded. ‘Please.’

‘I have wine, or there might be a beer in the fridge left over from…’ She bit her lip. It seemed wrong to tell him about the flat-warming party. But why? ‘From when I had some people round.’ She raised her chin. She wouldn’t apologise for having a new life now, a life where she had parties and entertained without Gavin. Not that Gavin had ever wanted to entertain anyway.

‘Beer would be great.’ His lips turned up slightly at the corners then quickly returned to a thin line.

‘OK… uh… Go on through to the lounge and I’ll be there in a moment.’

Abby hurried along the hallway to her bedroom, shut the door behind her and leant against it. She was wearing her pyjamas – Gavin clearly wanted a serious conversation and it wasn’t exactly attire she’d be comfortable having one in – so she changed into a pair of jeans and a black V-neck top. She stood in front of the mirror, ran a brush through her hair. Casual but not scruffy. She hoped it said: Yes, I’m dressed and look good but I’m not making an effort for you. She placed her brush back on the dressing table then applied a slick of pink lip gloss to her slightly fuller than usual lips – a result of the lip plumper incident from earlier that day.

Well, it would have to do and it wasn’t as if she wanted Gavin to fancy her, was it? She just wanted to look good so he’d realise what he’d given up.

No! She didn’t care what he thought.

Well… just a bit. It wouldn’t hurt her confidence if he thought she looked good. Especially in light of the fact that he’d moved on so quickly with big boobs Belinda.

Now she was being petty.

But a baby! He was having a baby with that woman…

She shook her head at her reflection, took a deep breath then opened the bedroom door.

OK. She could do this. She really could.

Couldn’t she?

In the lounge, Abby was surprised to see Gavin settled on her sofa – one arm over the back – and his long denim-clad legs spread out in a fashion that suggested he’d made himself at home. His light grey T-shirt was stretched over his broad shoulders, showing off his toned abs and slim hips, emphasised by his low slung jeans. Even though he didn’t look his usual polished self, he still looked good. With that physique, it would be hard not to. Irritation bubbled in the pit of Abby’s stomach and she bit the inside of her cheek for a moment to steady herself.

‘Here.’ She held out the beer she’d grabbed from the fridge.

‘Thanks.’

She eyed the spot next to Gavin on the sofa but decided to take the chair instead. Before she sat down, she picked up her wine glass, clutching it in front of her as if it could protect her.

‘So…’ She gave him the floor.

‘Oh, Abby.’ He released a long sigh. ‘How did we get here?’

As he sipped his beer, Abby dug the nails of her free hand into her palm. How could he even ask that? She was assuming the question was rhetorical, because if it wasn’t, what did he want? A rendition of ‘Cry Me a River’ by Justin Timberlake? She could do that… Ah, Justin. Hot, caring, devoted husband and father. So unlike Gavin.

‘Abby?’

‘Yes?’

‘You were staring into space.’

‘Was I? Sorry.’

Not sorry. Not at all.

‘I asked how we got here.’

‘I thought it was rhetorical.’

‘It was what?’

She sighed inwardly. ‘Never mind, Gav. I don’t mean to be rude but…what are you doing here?’

‘I needed to see you. To talk to you.’ He lowered his eyes to his beer bottle and ran his long fingers over the condensation, moving them up and down. The motion was hypnotic, transporting Abby back to happier times when they’d sat like this, times when they’d fallen into bed, laughing and kissing, surrendering to their feelings for each other. Times before their relationship turned sour, before she saw Gavin for who he really was and before he hurt her. A long time ago. She had moved on and that was a good thing, so why didn’t it feel good right now?

‘I miss you, Abby.’ The last words were barely audible, so quiet that Abby wondered if she’d imagined them, heard what her subconscious wanted to hear.

‘No. This can’t happen. Tell me what you said when you first arrived.’

He shuffled forwards on the sofa, as if trying to bridge the gap between them. Abby moved further back into her chair and crossed her legs.

‘I don’t… I don’t know how to explain. I want to be honest but I also want to just enjoy being here with you.’

‘Gav, don’t be ridiculous. You told me your girl— your… whatever, Belinda is… that she’s pregnant. Is it yours?’

He met her gaze and his eyes widened a fraction. She saw him seize on the opportunity for freedom and his tone changed when he replied, suggesting a sense of relief. ‘You know… It might not be. I’m not entirely sure it is, to be honest. It could well be someone else’s.’

‘Gavin, if it’s your baby you have to accept responsibility for it. Did you get Belinda pregnant?’ She delivered the question curtly.

He shrugged causing the irritation that had started in her belly to rise to her chest.

‘I don’t know. I might have.’

‘Did you have sex without using protection?’

He nodded.

‘You knobhead.’

And he was! A complete and utter knobhead. Why the bloody hell had he come here? It wasn’t what she needed and it was so unfair. Her eyes stung with tears, brought on by anger and sadness, but she refused to allow them to fall.

‘I know, Abby. I’ve made such a mess of things.’

Abby took a large slug of wine and braced herself. It was going to be a long night.

Drinks refreshed and the urge to go outside for a smoke suppressed – just – Abby returned to the lounge. Gavin looked up from his mobile and smiled pleasantly at her, as if he was here for a social visit and not to ruin the world she had built for herself. He tucked his mobile into his pocket then patted the sofa next to him.

‘Come sit here, Abs.’

She looked at the space he’d patted, then at the chair. One was safe and sensible, the other an emotional and physical time bomb.

‘I don’t think I—’

‘Please, Abby. You’re so far away on the chair and this is so difficult. We’re friends, aren’t we?’

‘We were. At least I thought we’d be able to be civil, until you moved Belinda into our house before I’d even closed the garden gate behind me.’

He shook his head. ‘You’ll always be my friend. I can’t bear to think of you not being in my life anymore.’

‘You… can’t…’ She ground her teeth together. It had always been about him, and still was by the sound of it. And yet… She had missed him in some ways. Not many, granted, because he had been a total idiot, but she’d been with him for such a long time and it had been strange not seeing him every day, not hearing him around the house, knowing that she wouldn’t hear his key in the lock as the evenings wore on. Was it normal to miss someone like this? Was it wrong?

She passed him a fresh bottle of beer then l. . .