Barney shuffled uncomfortably in his chair, his focus on the model ship he’d had on the mantelpiece for as long as Harvey could remember.
‘He thinks he’s too old,’ said Harvey.
‘What a load of rubbish.’
‘This fall,’ Barney began, ‘it’s told me I’m not as young as I was. Talking of which, Tilly, doesn’t your friend Amber work at Aubrey House?’
‘That’s right, why?’ She scooped up the chunk of pickle that fell from between the slices of bread.
‘Could you ask her to pop a leaflet through the door? It’s high time I started investigating places more suitable than this.’
Tilly popped the last of her sandwich into her mouth and chewed thoughtfully. ‘This is all a bit much, isn’t it? No Wedding Dress Ball, moving out to a retirement home? Have I walked into the wrong house?’ She looked to Harvey. ‘What did you do with Barney?’
Harvey watched Barney pat her hand. ‘It’s time,’ was all he said before he noticed the maroon plastic container with a smaller turquoise one on top that she’d brought with her. ‘What are those over there?’
‘Oh, golly! I almost forgot about those.’ She leapt up and retrieved the containers from the table. ‘This is your dinner, tonight or another night. It’s chicken casserole plus a side of mashed potatoes.’
‘I’m being spoiled.’
‘Nothing more than you deserve, Barney. Now, should I put it all in the fridge or the freezer?’
‘The fridge is fine. I’ll have it tomorrow. Tonight it’s roast lamb – Benjamin is dropping it over before he starts the evening shift in the pub kitchen. Maybe I’ll have to go into hospital more often if I get treated like this.’
‘Don’t you go saying things like that. But I’m happy to help. Sorry I didn’t make it up to the hospital more than once, the shop has me busy.’
‘It’s not a problem. You all have lives, no need to concern yourselves with one that’s almost over.’
Harvey rolled his eyes at a surprised Tilly as he held the fridge door open for her to try to slot the containers in amongst what was already in there.
Another voice called through the open back door and this time it was Ashley, manager of the White Clover charity, recipients of the money raised from the Wedding Dress Ball every year. ‘How’s the patient?’ Hooked over her arm was a basket filled with muffins.
‘The patient is doing just fine and being fed very well.’ Barney eyed the latest offering.
‘They’re mini orange and poppyseed,’ Ashley smiled. Green eyes danced and her mahogany curls shook whenever she laughed. She was a jolly character, the sort of woman a charity needed working for them. Even when she wasn’t smiling she looked happy and when she spoke personality bubbled right out of her.‘Now, Barney, what’s this a little birdie tells me about you wanting to cancel the Wedding Dress Ball?’
Now Harvey was all ears. It was one thing him and Melissa nagging Barney about the ball, quite another for the locals to bend his ear about it. Perhaps this was what was going to do the trick, especially when Ashley had a vested interest.
‘It’s time I stopped, it’s too much for me,’ he told her. ‘Now, do me a favour. Over there in the bureau there’s a folder – if you could get it for me, please.’
Ashley did as she was asked and handed Barney the folder before telling Tilly and Harvey to help themselves to a muffin.
‘In here is everything I’ve organised,’ he told her, the folder on his lap. ‘There’s a list of everything that’ll need to be cancelled. There’s a list of who I’ve sold tickets to and I’m going to issue with a refund. Now, I’m sorry, I know this isn’t what you want for White Clover, but I’ve made my decision.’
‘Oh, Barney.’ Ashley put a hand over his. ‘It’s a shame for White Clover, but that’s not my main concern. You’re the priority here, and the whole idea of the ball must be overwhelming – I can see why it would be too much, especially after you’ve only just come home from hospital.’
Harvey wondered whether he and Melissa had been unfair to push Barney to change his mind.
‘Everyone’s main concern is you, Barney,’ Tilly added.
‘Do you need help to cancel things?’ Ashley offered, her practical side at the helm.
‘I couldn’t ask you to do that.’
‘Of course you could. But before I go ahead, I have an alternative suggestion.’
‘And what might that be?’ Barney asked.
‘Well, if it’s too much for you, why not let someone else take over the organising? It’s an event I’d like to see run for decades. It brings everyone together, people look forward to it all year.’
