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‘I’m working on that, Val.’
‘Well come in. Let’s get that wash on. You’ve got at least a couple of loads there.’
Holly bent down and picked up her dirty clothes and bedding, which she had stuffed into two black bin liners. Once inside, calm trickled over her like a warm shower. She used to stay with Val and Len as a child when her parents were away or out for the evening. Val lived at the end of a 1930’s cul-de-sac sprouting from the village green. Her family had been in the house since it was built and Val had been born there. Unlike the other cul-de-sacs,The Laurelswas untouched by incomers.
‘Are you after tea or coffee?’ Val called as she went to the kitchen.
‘Coffee.’ Holly followed with her bags.
‘That’s good news, I knows if you’re drinking coffee, you’re in a good mood – tea’s for when you’re sad.’
‘I wouldn’t say good mood. Maybe a determined mood.’ Holly dumped the black bags on the floor. ‘I’m having issues with Tom.’
Val shook her head and muttered as Holly told her about her meeting with Jill. As soon as the first load was in the machine, they moved to the sitting room to drink their coffee accompanied by the delicious lemon drizzle. The extra slice was left for Len who was out at a bowls match. Holly filled Val in on the rest of her week, and spent a lot more time talking about Mitch and the farmers’ market.
Val sat in her chair animated. ‘You know what, love? It’d be great if there was a joint Loveland-Booth thing after all that nonsense that’s been going on for years.’
‘What was it all about, exactly?’
Val paused. ‘Only a load of old silliness. Arguments over land and what have you. Anyway, we don’t need to bother with all that. What’s happened to Sidney Booth, anyway? I heard he was poorly.’
‘Yes, really poorly. He’s practically skin and bone these days, poor man. Mitch has taken over the management of the farm, so the family can decide whether it’s viable to keep it when Sidney passes. That’s why he’s exploring additional income streams. Because as things stand, the farm isn’t making a profit. But back to Sidney – he’s wholly dependent on his carer now. Her name’s Magda, I met her the other day.’ Holly paused. ‘And I spoke to Sidney but he was quite rude. Magda said he’s usually rather sweet. Wouldn’t it be good if he could come to the farmers’ market?’
Val snorted. ‘I don’t think that one will be coming anywhere near your place – ever.’
Holly opened her mouth to press her for more details, but Val looked towards the door. ‘The first wash’s nearly done.’ She started to get out of her chair as the thundering from the kitchen ended and the machine made a large clicking noise. She was nearly to standing when she swayed and plopped back down into the chair again.
‘Are you okay?’ Holly stood up.
‘Just a bit dizzy, love. Usual aches and pains. I’m old. Nothing out of the ordinary.’
‘Maybe you need to see the doctor?’
‘Nonsense, I’m eighty-two, love. It’s old age.’
‘You stay put. I’ll sort it.’ Holly noticed Val wincing.I really need to get her to the surgery,she thought.
Holly removed the clothes from the machine and transferred them to Val’s tumble dryer. She much preferred her clothes to dry in the wind, but rain was forecast and there was no way it would dry in time.
Back in the lounge, Holly told Val about Mitch losing his wife in an accident. But Val had already heard about it.
‘Jaz was right when she said I’d never make a Miss Marple,’ Holly said.‘I always seemed to be the last to know about the local news.’
Val filled her in on some village gossip about the antiques auction house but Holly zoned out, eventually drifting off to sleep on the sofa.
Waking later, Holly found her clothes and bedlinen had been cleaned, dried and folded into neat piles. After a quick chat with Len, who was wolfing down his cake, she thanked Val for her help with the washing and headed home.
It wasthe weekend and Jaz was back in town. Holly rapped on her apartment door which swung open and Jaz pulled her in for a hug.
‘Whoa, let me in first,’ Holly laughed.
‘I’m so pleased to be back. It’s nice helping the guys and all, but I don’t want to be away forever. I really don’t.’
Jaz took Holly by the hand and dragged her inside. Upon Jaz’s white breakfast bar was a huge glass of white wine.
Holly raised her eyebrows. ‘It’s only ten.’
‘I know. Not good is it? I don’t know what to do. I love the job title,National Training Manager, but I don’t like living out of a suitcase, even if it is a Louis Vuitton.’ She took a sip of her wine. ‘I want my old life back, battling for sales with my boys.’
