Island Girl Book 2

CHANGES

"You seem very bright and cheery this morning," Teresa remarked speculatively, as she watched Alison transferring the scones that had not long come out of the oven, onto a tray, so they could put them out on the display cabinet out front in the bakery.

"Yes, I guess I am," Alison replied smiling, "But then I have a very good reason to be cheerful if you must know.

"Oh?" Teresa eyed her questioningly, making Alison laugh, "You probably won't give me any peace till I tell you," she realised.

"Well if you don't want to tell me, I guess I can live with it," Teresa replied easily, then hesitated for a moment before probing, "But why do I have a feeling its to do with Paul?"

Alison grinned, "I guess it doesn't take much detective work to figure that out."

"No not really, considering you're always smiling when you are thinking of him," Teresa chuckled, "I suppose he was on the phone to you again last night. He has been as regular as clockwork, every night these last few weeks, if I am right?"

"Yes," Alison smiled, momentarily abandoning her task, thinking about it, "And last night, when he phoned, he told me some really good news, so I am a wee bit excited this morning, hoping it can happen" she then confessed

"Really?" Teresa's eyebrows rose in anticipation, waiting for Alison to fill her in on the details.

"Well it turns out he might be able to get a free weekend soon, and he is hoping he can come back here to spend it with me," she informed her employer, her brown eyes dancing with happiness at the possibility. "His divorce will be finalized this week at long last, so that has put him in a good mood as well,"

"Hmm, well it seems things are working out for him the way he wants, Teresa remarked, " But I am just wondering where exactly you will fit into his future plans" she then pondered idly, "The odd weekend coming to visit you here, is not exactly a good foundations for your relationship; not that its any of by business," she hurriedly put in, "But still as your friend, I worry about you."

"I know you do," Alison replied understandingly, "But we have both agreed to take things one day at a time, and not worry too much about the future yet. After all, it's still early days,"

"I see," Teresa said, "Well I guess that's all you can do for the moment, as long as you know what you are doing. Though I don't know what your gran would make of it all." she then sighed.

"She would probably have been worrying and fretting about me" Alison replied looking a little wistful.

As time had passed, she was finding it a little easier to speak about her Grandmother, without being overwhelmed by the loss. Though there were still times she found it hard, when the loss unexpectedly crept up on her, because of some small reminder.

But she was learning to deal with it. She was just glad to have Paul for a distraction, so that she didn't dwell on it as much.

He had kept to his word, faithfully keeping in contact with her over the phone, and even the odd letter, even though he admitted he was not one for letter writing. But he had gone out of the way, and found the time to do it, which she found very touching.

So when she was feeling particularly down or lonely, she would take them out and read them Just touching the paper he had written on made her feel she still had some physical contact with him

At first it had been really hard when he had gone, and she all she was left with were the memories.

Just walking past Harvey's cottage was a bittersweet experience: all she could recall the good times they had there, but it was also a reminder how much she missed him as well.