‘How do you do.’ The girl had twinkling blue eyes and fair hair and seemed very pleasant.

Thankfully Holly was saved from having to speak to her when Richard commented, ‘I, er … heard that you’d left the hospital. I trust you’re enjoying your new post?’

‘Yes, I …’ Holly had been about to tell him that she had returned to live at home but thinking better of it she merely said, ‘I’m enjoying it very much.’ As their eyes locked Holly felt herself begin to panic. If she didn’t get away from him very soon she knew that she might make a fool of herself and break down.

‘Well, er … it’s been very nice to see you, but I have an appointment so I really must get on. Goodbye, Richard, Melissa.’ She turned and moved quickly away, tears pricking the back of her eyes. She was sure she could feel his eyes burning into her back but she didn’t turn once. It was only when she was a safe distance away and she was sure they wouldn’t be able to see her that she sagged against a wall, taking deep breaths.

As she was standing there an old lady with a basket of heather on her arm approached her. ‘Buy a sprig of ’eather from an old lady an’ bring yerself luck, dearie?’

Holly gulped and fumbled in her bag then pushing a number of coins towards the woman she took the sprig of heather from her. The old woman stared at her solemnly for a moment then said quietly, ‘I see a period of great hardship ahead fer you, me beauty. But never fear, you’ll come through it. You’re lovin’ an’ givin’ an’ one day you’ll be together forever with the love of your life.’ She turned and shuffled away then as Holly smiled wryly. What a load of rubbish, she thought. I wonder what she’d say if she knew that the love of my life was my own brother? She moved on but the day was ruined for her now.

Miss May and the women in the shop were delighted to see her and after leaving the shop in the capable hands of Miss May’s sister, who was now happily living in the flat that Holly and Ivy had once shared, Holly took her old employer out to lunch.

‘Do you miss living in London?’ Miss May asked as they sat drinking coffee following the meal.

‘I miss you but not particularly living here,’ Holly admitted. ‘Although I will admit it was strange when I first went home, getting used to the peace and quiet again.’

Miss May laughed. Having always lived in the capital she had never known anything but hustle and bustle. ‘And what happened with that nice young doctor you were seeing?’

Holly’s heart fluttered as if a little bird was trapped in her chest. ‘Oh, we decided we didn’t suit,’ she answered vaguely.