Felicity felt a little uneasy watching Meredith and Fraser disappear back behind the bar. Meredith seemed unaware of the possible friction between Allie and herself or maybe she’d just forgotten over time.
‘Why don’t you go out the back and catch up with her?’ Meredith suggested, passing the drinks over the bar.
Felicity hesitated and looked towards her mum. She’d no clue how Allie was going to react to her homecoming but she knew she was going to have to face her at some point. Maybe it would be better to slip out the back to see Allie for the first time without a group of lookers watching their every move. ‘Are you going to be okay?’ Felicity asked her mum.
‘Why wouldn’t I be okay? I’ve been drinking in this pub on my own for as long as I can remember,’ she said, with a small chuckle. ‘You go and see Allie, see how the land lies … try and put things right.’
Fraser nodded towards the oak door at the far end of the pub. ‘You know the way.’
Feeling apprehensive, Felicity clutched her drink and weaved her way through the villagers. The pub was full to the brim and despite the bad snowfall everyone seemed in good spirits. Felicity spotted Hamish from the village shop who tilted his flat cap and gave her a wave, and then she noticed Rory slipping in through the side door. As soon as he spotted her he stopped dead in his tracks. ‘Hey, Flick!’ He flashed her a grin. ‘You’re home! Welcome back.’
Rory hadn’t changed a bit. He was slim, clean shaven and his dark hair with a hint of auburn was still styled in the same way. His pale blue eyes glinted back at her.
‘I am indeed! How are you?’
‘Me … I’m good, same old, same old … working hard as usual. I’m sorry to hear about Bonnie.’ He quickly gave his condolences before carrying on, telling Felicity that all was good in the land of animals except for the snowy weather that was forecast for the next few days.
‘Have you seen Allie yet?’ he asked.
‘I’m just going through to the back now,’ Felicity answered, feeling her heart thump a little faster.
Rory must have noticed the uneasy look on Felicity’s face. ‘Don’t worry … we both know her bark’s worse than her bite. She’s actually missed you, you know.’
‘How would you know?’ Felicity narrowed her eyes at him.
‘Because we’ve talked about it … and she still talks about you a lot.’
‘We?’
Rory gave Felicity a grin.
‘You and Allie are together?’
He nodded. ‘Yes, just under twelve months now.’
Elated by the thought of them being together, Felicity couldn’t help but give Rory a quick hug. As teenagers, Felicity had teased Allie that they would make the perfect couple, but Rory had gone off to university while Allie had stayed in Heartcross working alongside her parents in the pub.
‘I always said you were made for each other.’ She grinned.
‘You did, that.’ Rory touched Felicity’s arm tentatively before spotting his parents at the bar.
Taking a deep breath, Felicity turned the wrought iron ring of the pub’s oak back door and stooped her head under the low frame, stepping down the stone steps into the pub’s living quarters. She could hear footsteps from the backyard and spotted Allie lugging wood in from the shed, placing the logs in large wicker baskets. The last time she’d seen Allie was the night she’d left Heartcross. Felicity truly regretted cutting out everyone from her life, but it had been the only way she could cope at the time. Standing there, she suddenly yearned for her old friendship. A friendship that had stood the test of time until she’d taken herself off to London.
Felicity took a deep breath before speaking. ‘Hey,’ she said softly, causing Allie to jump and spin round. ‘I didn’t mean to startle you.’
For a brief moment, Allie just stared at her which left Felicity unsure of what to say next.
‘You okay?’ added Felicity quickly.
‘I didn’t expect to see you … it’s been a while,’ Allie answered as she carried on throwing logs in to the basket and looked away.
Felicity walked towards her and leant against the door frame.
‘I’m back to see Mum after Grandma…’ Felicity’s voice faltered.
‘I’m sorry about Bonnie, we all are. Everyone really misses her.’ Allie’s tone was sincere and she softened for a moment.
‘Thanks, it’s a difficult time, especially for Mum.’
Feeling emotional, tears welled up in Felicity’s eyes and there was a distinctive wobble in her voice. They both stared at each other for a moment in an awkward silence.
Felicity was hoping that Allie would step forward with her arms open wide, but it wasn’t forthcoming. She knew she’d treated her friend appallingly in the past but she hadn’t been thinking about anyone else when she’d left Heartcross. Only about protecting herself.
‘Allie…’ Felicity took a breath. ‘I’m—’
‘Let’s not do this now,’ Allie interrupted. ‘There’s a pub full of hungry people, and I really need to help Mum behind the bar.’
Felicity nodded. ‘Soon?’
‘Soon.’
Allie carried one of the baskets of logs and Felicity grabbed the other before following Allie back through the oak door and into the pub. ‘Rory just told me you’re together. I always said you were a match made in heaven,’ said Felicity, trying to lighten the mood and make conversation.
Allie hitched a small smile on her face but didn’t say a word. Felicity could still feel a frosty tension between them. Allie wasn’t as forgiving as Isla.
‘You do make the perfect couple,’ Felicity continued.
They placed the wicker baskets on each side of the log fire. ‘Yes, we do. We all used to say the same about you and Fergus.’ Allie’s tone was curt.
Felicity did her best not to let it upset her, but she knew Allie was never going to be a pushover and let her back in like Isla.
‘I’ve seen Isla too … I didn’t realise she had another baby on the way.’ Felicity tried to soften the conversation.
‘Well and truly on the way, in fact it could arrive at any time,’ answered Allie, swooping up the empty glasses from the nearby table but not catching her eye.
Felicity swallowed and took a deep breath. ‘Isla’s suggested maybe we have a proper catch up … that’s if you’re free?’
Allie thought for a second. ‘We’ll see… tomorrow is my night off,’ she replied, giving Felicity a glimmer of hope.
Felicity watched as Allie spotted Rory and smiled before disappearing back behind the bar to serve the customers.
‘So, how is life in the big city? Single, married…?’ probed Rory as Felicity stood next to him at the bar.
Felicity let out a breath. ‘Very much single.’
‘Really?’ His eyes widened.
‘I know it’s hard to believe,’ joked Felicity, ‘but really.’
‘How’s the job?’ Rory perched on the stool and Felicity sat next to him.
‘That’s not going brilliant either,’ she admitted. ‘It’s all doom and gloom in the life of Felicity Simons.’
‘Really? Your mum seems to think everything is hunky