Tea For Two: Hazel Falls

By Sophie O'Neil

"You have my heart and my love until the falls run dry and stars burn out."

 

Five years on from the death of her husband, Rosie firmly believed she'd live out the rest of her days in her small Welsh village serving afternoon teas in her tearoom. She'd fallen madly and deeply in love twice in her forty-two years, and had them both ripped away from her. She was done with it. She had her friends, her tearoom and her garden and everything was good, she'd even overcome the sadness of never being able to have children.

 

But the eerily familiar stranger grinning back at her one fall afternoon would quickly shake up her life and rip apart everything she believed. Could this man really be her first love back in town, fifteen years after he broke her young heart under the waterfall? Could she ever get over her anger and forgive him for running away to the bright lights of the city and leaving her behind?

 

Bryn is back to Penbodlen, the small hometown he once found claustrophobic, to get his affairs in order. The last person he wanted to bump in to was Rosie, the only true love of his life and the one he had compared all other women to. But here she was, even more beautiful that she had been back then and she was single.

 

Fate has thrown them back together and the sparks fly instantly. But is the timing finally right? How will they feel when they find out about the little keepsake of their night of passion in Rosie's growing belly? Can they both find the courage to give this second chance at love a go?

 

Tea For Two is an interconnected stand alone small town romance. It is the first book in the Hazel Falls series set in the fictional Welsh Village of Penbodlen. Some of the characters pop up in each other's stories, it is a small town after all, so it's more fun to read in order, with no risk of spoilers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sophie O'Neil
• Release date: Jun 3, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201870669

Book preview

Sophie O’Neil

Tea For Two

Copyright © 2022 by Sophie O’Neil

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

Sophie O’Neil asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book and on its cover are trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publishers and the book are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book.

First edition

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Dedicated to all the cups of coffee that saw me through,

of which there were many

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Epilogue

Coming Soon!

Dictionary

About the Author

Chapter One

Chapter Separator

Rosie stepped out of the Tearoom and took a deep cleansing breath. The afternoon air was crisp and fresh. Exactly what she needed to cool down after the lunchtime rush. The main street of Penbodlen was quiet, the long stretch of stores leading up and down the valley still closed for lunch. In the distance, a group of brightly colored walking jackets milled around a bus in the village carpark.

A light breeze sent a pile of early fall leaves scuttling along the sidewalk. One caught on the side of her leg and she reached down, grasping it by its stem. The leaf was still a pale green at its center, but the frayed edges were already turning a deep umber. Fall was her favorite time of year, when the mountainsides turned to fire with the changing of the leaves before the dark and dreary mists of winter fell over the valley. She twirled the leaf; the colors making a kaleidoscope in the air, then let the wind catch it and send it on its way dancing along the road with its friends.

Won’t be long before the trees all turn. I can’t wait to see the colors this year. Rosie looked up to find a tall dark haired man smiling at her. She was sure she didn’t know him, yet why did he look so familiar? He must have been about her age but she just couldn’t pinpoint him. She opened her mouth to speak as he continued.

Hello Rosie Hughes. He said, holding out his hand. She took it. Who was he? And why did he use her maiden name? He smirked, revealing two dimples, then the light caught a small scar under his left eye.

Bryn? Bryn Preece? She was still holding his hand as the memories flooded back. Of course it was. This man stood before her could be no one other than him.

Her blood ran cold as she remembered that last day under the waterfall. She gasped and pulled back her hand. What was he doing here? Why couldn’t he have just stayed away?

What are you doing back here? You left fifteen years ago. You never came back when they were alive, so I definitely didn’t think we’d ever see you back here after your parents passed away. adding, with a softer, less bitter tone, It was so sudden. I was very sorry to hear about the accident. They were both such lovely people.

Yes, they were lovely people. He said solemnly. He cleared his throat and straightened up before speaking again That’s the main reason I’m here, actually. Their house. I’d had it rented out since they passed, but now the last tenants have gone, I think it’s finally time. I’m here to get the paperwork all sorted and get it on the market. He looked up at the signage above her head.

Rosie’s Tearoom. He read aloud, grinning as he cupped his hands to the glass and peered inside. You own this place, Rosie? It looks amazing. He flashed her an impressed look and a nod. Something stirred deep in her heart. Why did she still crave his approval? She shouldn’t care what this man thought anymore. It made her angry that she still wanted to please him.

Yes, when they closed the sewing factory, Jack and I put together our redundancy money and bought the store. It’s been eight years and I am still going strong.

Jack?

Jack Evans? He lived just down in Mellten, past the tracks? We were married for thirteen years.

Oh. his voice sounded sad and resigned Were?

He passed away five years ago. Cancer. But we were happy to the end. And this place? She ran her hand down the newly painted door frame wistfully This place and my customers have kept me going through it all.

They stood in silence. It wasn’t an awkward silence. Even after fifteen years, she wasn’t sure anything could ever be awkward between them. She should hate him, after everything he did to her she should despise even the sight of him. But she couldn’t, and she didn’t. Her heart ached looking into those pale blue eyes and accepted the inevitable.

Why don’t you come in? Have some tea and some of Mammy’s lemon drizzle? His eyes lit up. She remembered even as a small boy he would always be the first in line for a slice of her lemon drizzle cake and Mammy would always make it the thickest one. Unless you were on your way somewhere? You could call in on your way home? We don’t close until five. Bryn glanced back up the street at the old clock hanging outside of the bank. Her heart sank. He must have other plans. But then he grinned.

"That sounds perfect. I’m not in any rush and I would love a slice of Auntie Lydia’s lemon drizzle with a cup