𝙸𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙴𝙽𝙳 || Original Story

seventeen | soup part i

Edgar had insisted on staying all day at the shop, declining my offer for him to go home and change. He'd been a massive help and I was very grateful for him giving up his time.

Admittedly (and rather embarrassingly), I was distracted at times because Edgar was exponentially more handsome when wearing a suit. I had to control myself to stop being imposing and obvious and to stop staring before somebody noticed.

But I think somebody began to catch on.

During the late afternoon, I was outside the shop watering the flowers that were on display there when I was approached by Joanne Richardson- one of the village's most popular residents- who had a big beam on her face.

"Good afternoon, Mrs Richardson," I greeted.

"Afternoon, Katelyn," she replied, then gesturing to Edgar, who was tying some more ribbons around small bouquets of flowers whilst there weren't any customers around.

"Who's that handsome lad?" She asked with a smirk.

"His name is Edgar Bailey. He's from London."

"He lives here now?"

I nodded.

"I haven't seen him around."

"That's because he stays at home mostly," I explained, moving over to the other side of the shop to water the hanging baskets. "He's the one who took on Old Farm."

"Goodness," Mrs Richardson exclaimed. "He's a determined fellow, then, hmm?"

"I'd say so."

"Well, I expect to be seeing you both together more often."

Confused, I stared at her. "I'm sorry?"

"Katelyn, darling, you know more about Mr Bailey than me and you know how much I love my gossip. That's the sign of a man who doesn't go about telling everyone his life story and his business- it's a man who trusts few and prefers the shadows to the limelight. He's worth knowing, I can tell."

My puzzled expression turned into a smile. "Well, I hope you're right, Mrs Richardson."

"I always am, dear," she uttered with a wink. "I think I'll go and buy some begonias and perhaps have a natter."

"Be my guest," I chuckled, watching her enter the shop and make her way over to the potted plants section.

I closed the shop slightly earlier that evening (when Mrs Richardson realised that she'd be chatting for rather a long while), which meant having just the right amount of time to get to my parent's house.