‘There was this one man, but he was horrible, fooled me at first.’ She inhaled loudly, making Beth turn. ‘Glad that’s over.’ She flapped her green cloth at the pane. ‘Some right nasty people out there. Whatever happened with you and Spencer, just know his heart isn’t bad. He just keeps it under lock and key.’
Beth could understand why, if her own heartache was anything to go by. She went to speak, but someone was at the door, waggling a carrier bag. She quickly opened it to say hello.
‘Just dropping off some long-life milk,’ said the man, handing her the bag.
‘Thank you so much.’ She waved, then headed straight to the storage room to unpack the bag.
‘Alice, that labouring job still on the board?’ said a deep voice, causing Beth to poke her nose around the door frame to see who had entered.
Alice pulled down a card, passing it to a young man. ‘Here you go. Best of luck.’
The door closed and Beth came out to take a sip of tea. ‘Come and sit for a bit. You can turn the chair around so you’re not leaning on the back.’
Alice did, reaching for a biscuit. ‘I’m looking forward to lunch already. Said I’d eat with Nan later.’
‘Can your nan really see into the future?’
‘Well, she’s hardly ever wrong.’
Beth wondered what her own future held. Just for a moment back at Spencer’s, she was starting to see a clear picture, but now it was just haze. ‘Has she told you what’s in yours?’
Alice’s laugh was muffled around the rim of her cup. ‘She won’t say much about me. Told me the fella I went with was a rotten egg, but I had to find that out for myself the hard way, as you do. ’Part from that, she can be tight-lipped when it comes to her own.’
‘Do you have any plans?’
‘I’m looking into opening my own B & B. A home and business for Benny and me. I often help out up the road at the Seaview, and the lady who owns the place, Mabel, has taught me all I need to know.’
‘Oh, that was nice of her.’
Alice smiled warmly. ‘Yeah, well, she’s like family to me.’
‘It’s nice how close you all are around here.’
Alice nudged her elbow. ‘Ah, it’s all about choosing the right circle for yourself. Makes all the difference.’
‘I’ve never really been much of a circle person. I guess mine is small.’
‘Got us lot now, don’t forget.’
Beth appreciated the kindness she had found in Port Berry, and Alice was right, having such a positive circle had made such a difference in many ways.
‘What are your plans, Beth?’
Sorting her flat, she figured. Going back to work after maternity leave was over. Looking for a new job. One that gave her more time with her son. Now it was put to her, she felt perhaps she should plan ahead, but with Spencer not talking to her, not much mattered.
‘Ah, like that, is it?’ added Alice, as Beth still hadn’t answered.
Beth shrugged. ‘I’ve never been much of a dreamer. I guess my future will be similar to my past, with Archie added into the mix.’
‘It’s not about dreaming. Change happens all by itself as life moves forward, but we can control some parts. Look at me, I live with my mum, nan, and nephew above a newsagents. It’s a bit of a squash, so I plan to move out, and having a home that’s a business kills two birds with one stone. Ooh, that’s kind of a horrible saying.’ Alice frowned. ‘Anyway, my point is, planning isn’t dreaming. It’s figuring out how to get from A to B.’
‘I guess I just need to really figure out what my B is.’
Alice grinned. ‘I’ll hit you with the interview question.’
‘What’s that?’
‘Beth Horton. Where do you see yourself five years from now?’ Alice said in a sharp high-pitched tone.
