Page 93 of The Village of Lost and Found

Fun? How could she have fun when she was feeling so nervous? thought Lucy as she and Keith headed downstairs.

But as she opened up the back door, all thoughts of Tom were forgotten as she had the unpleasant experience of bumping straight into Gary, Molly’s ex-boyfriend.

‘What are you doing here?’ she snapped.

‘Picking up some clothes. Hey, what’s the rush?’ he said, reaching out to steady her. He then blew out an appreciative wolf whistle. ‘Wow. You look well sexy. I’d forgotten how great you look face to face.’

Lucy suddenly went still as an amazing idea popped into her head. ‘Face to face,’ she murmured. ‘That’s it. Up close and personal.’ Her mind was suddenly racing. That was what had been missing fromThe Cranbridge Times.

She was so busy getting excited about her idea that she didn’t realise Gary was pulling her towards him until she was in his arms. ‘Up close and personal, yeah,’ he said, his eyes gleaming as he leaned forward to kiss her.

Lucy gave a start before giving him a hearty shove, which catapulted him into the nearby dustbin. ‘Ewww! What are you doing?’ she shouted.

‘Up close and personal you said,’ he told her, looking confused as he struggled to stand up.

‘What’s going on?’ asked Molly, coming to stand next to her at the back door.

‘This creep just tried it on with me,’ said Lucy in disgust.

‘Right!’ said Molly, marching over to where Gary was now standing. ‘Get lost, scumbag!’ she shouted, before kneeing him in his most sensitive area.

Lucy looked down, amazed, at Gary, who had collapsed onto the floor in agony. Then Keith growled in a menacing fashion just in case Gary didn’t realise their true feelings towards him.

‘Talk about taking out the trash,’ said Molly, turning to Lucy with a smile. ‘Shouldn’t you be at the pub by now?’

‘Yes! Thanks, I’d better go,’ said Lucy, blowing her a kiss. ‘Will you be OK?’

‘Absolutely! See you later, Keith!’ called out Molly.

Lucy laughed and gave her a brief hug, thinking how much stronger and happier Molly was these days.

Then she rushed off to tell Tom about her big idea, the nerves all forgotten.

50

Tom had just ordered his Diet Coke at the bar of The Black Swan pub when he heard the front door open.

He turned his head and saw Lucy walking towards him with Keith alongside her. But it wasn’t the same Lucy he had seen about a half-hour previously. That Lucy had been splattered with white paint, wearing an old T-shirt and shorts.

The new Lucy was wearing a stunning purple halter-neck top which made her neck appear even longer, especially as her hair was swept up in some kind of messy bun. There was an awful lot of bare skin suddenly revealed. And then there were the legs. They must have been the same legs as before, but for some reason they seemed to go on forever.

‘Hi,’ she said, to both Tom and Belle, who was standing at the bar.

‘Hello,’ said Belle.

‘Hi,’ said Tom. Hearing his voice come out as some kind of croak, he cleared his throat. ‘What can I get you to drink?’

‘I’ll have a large white wine, please,’ she said. ‘I need it as I’ve just run into ghastly Gary.’

‘What now?’ asked Belle, looking cross.

‘It’s OK,’ Lucy told her. ‘Molly gave him a swift knee in his most vulnerable area. Honestly, it’s like she’s a completely different person!’

Belle handed over the glass of white wine. ‘Wow, well, good for Molly.’

‘Thanks,’ said Lucy before looking at Tom. ‘And you might need one too after you hear what I’m about to tell you.’

He raised his eyebrows in surprise. ‘OK,’ he said slowly, his mind racing.