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She turned her face towards the sun that flickered through the trees and closed her eyes “I hope” She sed hard “I hope that you aren’t too disappointed inthis I’m sure if you were here that you would like Josh He can be very funny and sweet” She stood and brushed so to dinner with Josh’s parents and I’ you with me In my heart” She touched each stone in turn “I love you both,” she whispered, before turning away from them

She sniffed, wiped her eyes and straightened her shoulders It was tie into her only other dress It was time to head to the castle and meet Josh’s parents

Helen didn’t knohat she’d expected of Josh’s fiancée, but Caroline Patterson wasn’t it She was tall, slender, with golden hair cut into a sleek bob that skimmed her shoulders Her dress was plain, but pretty and, by the looks of it, an original piece from the fifties It sat at mid-calf, just above dainty flat pumps She didn’t have any jewellery on, and barely any makeup

Josh had walked her into the kitchen, holding her hand as though he was clinging on to a prize Maybe he was Josh stepped forward He put an arhtly before relaxing into his touch

“Mom, Dad, this is my fiancée Caroline, this is Andrew and Helen”

Caroline held out her hand to Helen She ht she saw a flicker of insecurity in Caroline’s eyes before she turned to Andrew

“Pleased to meet you” Caroline held out her hand

“I don’t think so” Andrew folded his arms

“Dad,” Josh said in a tone Helen hadn’t heard before It made the hairs on her neck stand to attention

For a moment Caroline stood there, hand untaken in“I understand You’re angry You don’t know me and you don’t trust me If I were in your position I’d be livid too”

And Helen felt herself give the girl a genuine smile

“Sit here” Josh put a hand on Caroline’s arm while he scowled at his dad

Josh sat at the head of the table with Caroline by his side Helen was on the other side of Josh, facing Caroline While Andrew sat like a disgruntled king at the other end of the table

“This is pretty” Caroline smoothed her hand on the white linen tablecloth

“Don’t get any ideas” Josh had a mischievous twinkle in his eye “I hired the pub to cater”