Page 32 of The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts

The silence stretched out for a beat whilst Josh struggled with his inner turmoil. Finally he sighed. ‘Maybe it’s time it went.’

‘But I understand that it has huge sentimental value to both you and your mum?’ said Amber.

‘More to me than Mum, to be honest,’ he lied, his heart feeling heavy. ‘But we can’t move back there. I thought I could get it dragged out the front of the shop.’

‘What’s wrong with the back door?’ said Amber, looking a little alarmed.

‘When I replaced the doors back there, I thought we could do with a single one. So we’ve blocked up the rest of it with the bricks.’ He rolled his eyes. ‘I didn’t think about the tractor at the time.’ He looked at the front door. ‘So that’s the only entrance with double doors and the only way we’ll be able to get it out of here.’

‘And then what will you do with it?’ she asked.

‘I don’t know,’ he said, in all honesty. ‘Drive it around the shop and leave it outside in the back lane until Mum gets home. Perhaps I can persuade her to sell it.’

Amber bit her lip, frowning in worry. ‘It seems a bit drastic,’ she told him.

‘It’s like you said,’ he told her. ‘We need the space. We’ll have to clear a bit in here first, of course. There’s some stuff that we’ll need to get rid of to make space. It’s like some kind of puzzle, but we’ll work it out.’

He had been semi-joking, but his heart almost broke with the thought of his dad’s beloved tractor being sold. It wasn’t much, but it had been such a big part of their lives for so long. But he had to be honest with himself. It was in the way and, anyway, if the shop was going to get repossessed by the bank, it would still need to be moved out.

The sooner the better, he thought. Like a plaster needing to be ripped off, the tractor had to go. He just hoped the remaining scar left behind on his heart wouldn’t be too deep.

14

Keeping her promise to Cathy to look out for Grandma Tilly, Amber walked up Riverside Lane to visit her.

She was anxious to keep out of Josh’s way whilst he worked out what could be done with the shop anyway. After all, it was his responsibility and she would probably just get in the way.

The weather had turned a little and Amber was glad that her suitcases had arrived as she was able to pull on her black parka coat to keep out the rain and cold wind.

As she walked, she noted that nobody was around. Stanley and Frank had been the only customers in the shop so far that day.

‘Good morning,’ she said, as Tilly opened the front door.

‘There’s a welcome face,’ said Tilly beaming. ‘Good morning to you too. Come on in.’

Amber followed Tilly into the bungalow. To her surprise, the kitchen table was piled up with boxes.

‘What’s all this?’ asked Amber, as she took off her coat.

‘I’m still sorting out from my move,’ said Tilly, flicking on the kettle. ‘Those boxes had been piled up in the corner of the bedroom and I nearly tripped over them this morning. I thought perhaps you could put them on top of the wardrobe for me.’

‘Of course,’ said Amber, peering inside one of the open boxes. ‘Are they all photo albums?’

Tilly nodded. ‘Oh yes. Some are years old. Would you like to have a look at a couple? If you have the time, of course. I know you and my grandson are busy in the shop.’

Amber heard Tilly’s soft sigh as she poured out their coffee.

‘I’ve got plenty of time,’ Amber told her. ‘Shall I pick out a couple of albums and take them into the lounge?’

Tilly smiled again. ‘That sounds like a plan. I’ll find some biscuits.’

Once they had settled down on the armchairs in the lounge, Amber opened up the first photo album. It was full of photographs from when Josh and his brother were young boys.

‘How sweet,’ said Amber, showing Tilly a photograph of the boys paddling in the river. ‘Is that Cranbridge?’

‘Yes,’ said Tilly. ‘They always used to visit us every summer. Then when my husband passed away, they all moved in.’ She smiled to herself. ‘The flat was suddenly full of life, shouting and laughter. I do miss those times.’

Amber thought that the bungalow was perhaps even quieter than the shop these days.