Page 8 of The Winter Bride

‘Don’t get worrying about that, I’ll sort it,’ Monty reassured her as they reached the shop door and banged on it.

Susan unlocked the door and let them in. ‘Oh, I’m so sorry you’ve had to come home to this.’ There was a catch in her voice. ‘I had the window dressed beautifully with two of the more expensive gowns, and I could hardly wait for you to see it. And then late last night I had a knock on the door from a policeman who knows you owned the shop to tell me this had happened. Levi came round to board it up, but I haven’t contacted anyone about replacing the glass yet. I wasn’t sure what you’d want me to do.’

‘Do they have any idea who might have done it? And have they taken any stock?’ Annie asked.

Susan shook her head. ‘No, whoever it was threw a brick through the window then dragged the two mannequins out into the road and ripped the gowns off them. I’m afraid the gowns are ruined but I did manage to save the mannequins. I hope you don’t mind but I was so worried about them coming back that I stayed here on your settee with the poker in my hand for the rest of the night. I’m so very sorry!’

‘Don’t be, it’s not your fault,’ Annie told her. Luckily it appeared that the rest of the shop was untouched, and Susan had made a fine job of cleaning up the broken glass.

‘You go on upstairs and have a cup of tea,’ Monty told them. This was definitely not the homecoming he’d hoped for. ‘I’m going to go round to the glaziers and get them to come and measure the window up. I doubt they’ll have a piece of glass that big in stock, though, so it’s doubtful they’ll be able to repair it today. You might have to delay the shop opening.’

‘I know,’ Annie muttered miserably. She’d been so looking forward to it. Deep down she was wondering if this might have been some sort of revenge tactic from Reggie.

‘And you say you have no idea who it might have been?’ Annie asked as she and Susan went into the kitchen to put the kettle on.

Susan shrugged. ‘No. It could just have been a bunch of young vandals or a drunk after the pubs shut. Whoever it was there’s very little chance of the police catching them now.’

Annie nodded in agreement as she prepared the teapot and the cups and saucers, wishing they were still in Margate. But despite this setback, as the day wore on her mood improved and she started feeling defiant. If it was Reggie let him do his worst; there was no way she would let him beat her. Admittedly having to delay the shop opening was a disappointment but things could have been far worse. She might have had all her stock destroyed rather than just the shop window and two gowns.

‘I wonder if we shouldn’t get a dog. You know, a guard dog that could sleep in the kitchen at night. That way he’d let us know if anyone tried to get in,’ Monty said thoughtfully later that night when they were sitting in their small lounge enjoying a last drink before bed.

The glaziers had ordered the glass and would be coming to fit it the following Tuesday, so all being well Annie would be able to open the shop later in the week.

‘I suppose it’s a thought,’ she said. ‘But aren’t guard dogs rather vicious?’

He chuckled. ‘I don’t mean get a great beast of a dog. It could be small, so long as it barks if there’s a disturbance.’

‘Hmm, I’ll give it some thought,’ she said, but Monty could see she wasn’t too keen on the idea so he didn’t press it.

‘I suppose I ought to go and see Mother tomorrow now that I’m home. I shall be back at work on Monday,’ he said unenthusiastically. He had returned to the accountancy firm where he had worked before the war. ‘Would you like to come with me?’

Annie shook her head. ‘I won’t this time if you don’t mind. I ought to go an’, sorry – and – see Levi and Peggy. I can take them the little presents we got for them.’

‘As you wish.’ He grinned with a wicked little twinkle in his eye. ‘But now, Mrs Taylor-Lloyd, I rather think it’s our bedtime.’

Annie laughed. She still couldn’t get used to being called by her married name. ‘Very well. And I thought we might go round to the circus to see Barney and Mercy on Sunday to see how their wedding went.’

‘Good idea.’ He placed his mug down and held his hand out to her and side by side they went to their bedroom.

The following day, while Monty went to visit his mother, Annie went to see Peggy and Levi in the cottage.

‘Why, if it ain’t the old married woman,’ Peggy teased warmly. ‘How’s married life suitin’ yer, pet?’

‘It’s suiting me very well. And the hotel was amazing, thank you, Levi. And thanks for going and boarding up the shop window as well.’

He frowned. ‘It were no trouble at all, although I were heart sore that you’d ’ave to come ’ome to that. I wish I could get me ’ands on whoever did it. Me an’ Peggy ’ave got our thoughts on who it might ’ave been but it’s provin’ it that’s the problem.’

‘I wouldn’t mind betting you’re thinking of the same person I am,’ she said gravely. ‘But anyway, enough about that. It could have been worse. Here, we got you a little gift each. It’s nothing much.’ She handed Levi a new pipe and a pouch of tobacco, then handed Peggy her gift. It was a beautiful cream wool shawl, so fine and delicate that it looked almost like lace. Peggy was thrilled with it and put it about her shoulders straight away.

‘Oh, it’s beautiful but much too pretty to wear ’ceptin’ fer special occasions,’ she declared as she admired it in the mirror over the mantelpiece.

‘Now tell me how Barney’s wedding went?’ Annie said.

Peggy smiled. ‘Eeh, Mercy is a pretty little thing, an’ they both looked as pleased as Punch. I reckon them pair will be fine together.’

‘Did they have a reception?’ Annie asked

Peggy shook her head. ‘Not as such, although we were invited back to her dad’s trailer for drinks an’ a piece o’ cake. It were a very quiet affair.’