Page 107 of The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts

‘I’m a journalist,’ said Kate, giving her a sneering once-over. ‘I have to ask the difficult questions.’

‘Not in my shop, you don’t,’ Amber told her. ‘I think you should leave.’

Kate looked surprised. ‘Yourshop?’ she said.

‘I’m standing behind the till, aren’t I?’ Amber replied, filled with anger. ‘So I get to choose who stays and who gets thrown out of here. You do not get to upset anyone in here. And by the way, you can drop the sneering attitude about me working here. Because I’ve decided that I’m good at designing. That’s why I was headhunted for in New York. And, yes, I might only work in this shop, but I like it. In fact, I love it. I love Cranbridge. And I love Josh too!’

There was a sudden silence filled only with Amber’s deep breaths as she struggled to keep control.

She flinched as Kate suddenly laughed and opened her mouth to speak. Amber prepared herself for the mocking cruelty that she had been so used to.

But it never came.

Kate gave a start as her arm was suddenly held by Tom, who had appeared nearby.

‘I heard everything,’ he said, his voice for once cold and hard. ‘Including your harassment of these nice ladies. Go back to the office, pack up your things and don’t come back. You’re sacked.’

Kate snatched her arm away from his hold. ‘I’ve had a job offer anyway,’ she told him. ‘London. Far away from this grotty little village and your miserable little paper.’

Then she swept out of the door without looking back.

‘I didn’t mean to cause any trouble,’ said Brenda, who had remained silent throughout the whole confrontation.

‘You didn’t,’ Tom said, anxious to reassure her. ‘I’m sorry if she upset you.’

‘Thank you,’ said Brenda, turning to giving Amber a watery smile as well. ‘And thanks to you too. There’s so much that I can’t face at the moment.’

‘That’s OK,’ said Amber. ‘Please don’t be upset. Enjoy the fair.’

‘Thanks. I will.’

After Brenda had left, Amber was finally able to let her smile slip. She sank shakily down onto the stool behind the counter.

Well, she had actually done it. She had faced up to Kate at last. She wouldn’t allow herself to be bullied any more. She was a strong, independent woman. Just look at what she and Josh had managed to achieve together. And that was what it was all about, she realised. Being together.

She suddenly stood up and looked at Tom in shock.

‘Go,’ said Tom softly.

Amber nodded at him and rushed towards the front door, where she nearly ran down Belle who was about to come in.

‘I hope you’re still on for that drink tonight,’ said Belle.

‘I need you to keep an eye on the shop!’ said Amber, brushing past her.

‘Hey! What’s going on?’ asked Belle.

‘I need to see a man about a tractor!’ shouted Amber over her shoulder as she hurtled down the steps and out onto the lane.

45

Amber’s immediate problem with trying to find Josh was that Riverside Lane was packed with people.

She looked across the crowd but couldn’t see him at all.

But she did suddenly see Cathy, looking suntanned and smiling as she walked up to Amber with Grandma Tilly alongside.

‘Hello!’ she said, sweeping Amber into one of her bear hugs.