Page 6 of The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts

‘Singapore,’ said Cathy in a wistful tone. ‘He’s got a beautiful flat apparently.’

‘Have you been out to visit him?’

Cathy’s smile faded slightly. ‘Chance would be a fine thing. Anyway, there’s so much to do here, with the shop and everything.’ She hesitated. ‘Now that it’s just us.’

Amber nodded. She knew that Cathy had been widowed only a few years previously. Along with the cancer, it had obviously been an incredibly tough time. But none of that had prepared her for the sheer chaos and mess of the shop downstairs. It was all a stark contrast to the glamour and organisation of a huge department store like Saks Fifth Avenue.

Cathy appeared to pull herself together. ‘Anyway, I’ll let you get out of those wet clothes. The bathroom’s just across the hall. You’re welcome to have a shower. I’m sure you must be desperate after the long flight. Help yourself to my shower gel and whatever you need. Take your time. Come and find us in the kitchen when you’re changed. We’ll get the kettle on.’

Amber took the clothes and towel into the bathroom, which had a Victorian bath with an overhead shower. Like the rest of the flat, it was both homely and stylish, with its tiny seaside motifs on the tiles and pictures.

She was grateful to peel off her wet clothes and enjoyed the hot shower, which brought warmth back to her cold skin.

Afterwards, she slipped on the leggings that Cathy had given her. They were a bit short, but she supposed people would assume that they were cropped. The jumper fitted her a bit better and at least it went down to her thighs. Despite the style being a little old on her, she was grateful for the leggings and jumper, which made her feel a bit warmer.

She left the wet clothes drying on the towel rail in the bathroom and headed back down the short hallway, following the sound of Cathy and Grandma Tilly chatting.

‘There you are,’ said Grandma Tilly, beaming up at her from the table where they were both sitting. ‘Tea or coffee?’

‘Coffee please,’ Amber told her.

‘Sit yourself down,’ said Cathy, who had leapt up. ‘I’ll make it. Are you hungry? Would you like a sandwich?’

Amber shook her head as she sat down. ‘I had breakfast on the plane, thanks.’

‘At least have a biscuit,’ said Grandma Tilly, pushing the plate across to her.

‘Thanks.’ Amber reached out and chose a biscuit coated in thick chocolate.

‘Doesn’t she look like Denise when she was Amber’s age?’ Cathy’s question was directed at Grandma Tilly, who nodded.

‘Oh yes. Spitting image of her, apart from the blonde hair.’

‘Well, Denise did try peroxide once, don’t you remember?’ Cathy smiled in memory. ‘Had to cut most of her hair off after that as it was snapping off. In a right state, she was.’

‘My mum?’ Amber was stunned. ‘With bleached hair?’ She had only known her mum with her naturally coloured brown hair.

Cathy placed a mug of coffee in front of Amber. ‘It looked ghastly! But you’ve got your father’s colouring, so the blonde suits you, thank goodness.’

‘You’ll be sleeping in my old bedroom,’ said Grandma Tilly. ‘It’s got the best view as it’s at the front.’

‘Sounds lovely,’ said Amber.

‘Josh is opposite you and I’m only next door in the double bedroom,’ said Cathy. ‘So you’ve got company whilst you’re here.’

Amber wasn’t so sure that Josh would want her in such close proximity after their dunking in the river earlier.

‘It’s a lovely room,’ carried on Grandma Tilly, in a sort of daze. ‘I do miss the view.’

‘But not the stairs, eh?’ said Cathy, in a bright tone. ‘And your bungalow is lovely and you can see the river from your lounge window.’

Tilly nodded, although Amber thought that the accompanying smile was a little forced.

‘You might not like my flowery wallpaper though,’ said Grandma Tilly.

‘I’m sure it’ll be fine,’ Amber told her, thinking back to the shabby room she had rented in New York.

‘Perhaps Josh can give it a lick of paint to cheer it up whilst Amber stays with us,’ said Cathy. ‘I’ll have a word with him.’