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Chapter 2
Still wearing her nursery uniform of cargos, T-shirt and fleece, Holly hurried into the market place in Wells. She was met by the sound of metal clanging and canvas flapping, as the mid-week traders dismantled their stalls. The day darkened and Holly gazed upwards to see a charcoal cloud roll over the sun. Sighing, she saw the Cathedral ahead which dominated the scene, dwarfing the neighbouring shops. It stood only yards from the Town Hall. She was nearly there. Coming towards her across the cobbled expanse was Val who’d worked part-time at the nursery café since it opened. She was the closest Holly had ever had to a granny, her own grandmothers having died before she was born. Val ambled from side to side towards her wearing a pale blue coat with a yellow headscarf that covered most of her grey hair. She had a pained expression on her face as she carried a bag in each hand. Reaching Holly, she let out a slow groan. Holly leaned forward kissing Val on the cheek before stepping back and smiling down at her.
‘That’s some breeze. No sign of summer then. Still wearing a vest, me,’ Val said in her broad Somerset accent as she looked down, chin to chest.
‘I see you’ve been shopping.’ Holly glanced at her watch.I haven’t much time.Val was difficult to stop once in conversation.
‘They sells it off at silly prices, late in the day. The veg that is,’ Val said smiling. ‘What’s that there?’ She nodded at Holly’s folio.
‘It’s the watercolour,’ she said lifting the folio. ‘Remember? The competition?’
‘Oh yes, love. Anyway you heard anything of your Tom?’ Val dumped her bags on the cobbles and put her hand up to her mouth and coughed as if she was preparing herself for a speech.
‘No.’ Holly swallowed and bit her bottom lip. ‘It’s only been two weeks, the break’s for a month, remember?’
‘He shouldn’t need no break, or time to think. What’s got into him? I’ve never seen such a change in a person.’ Val shook her head. ‘A girl like you. Me and Len had both boys by the time we was your age.’ She gestured over her shoulder with her thumb. ‘That one needs to grow up. How old is he now? Thirty-five?’
Holly opened her mouth, but Val continued.
‘You gave him some place to live. Some place to work. Some place to keep his stuff. Time to himself, when you was working every hour God sends while he went off doing whatever he pleased. Like them trips to Newquay.’
Holly’s shoulders dipped. ‘He hasn’t been away surfing since autumn – you know that. He’s been working hard at the hot tub business.’
‘And now he needs a separation just as his own thing’s taking off?’ Val shook her head.
‘It’s not a separation.’
Val glanced behind her then back at Holly. ‘I need to warn you, love. I just seen –’
‘Can’t stop. Sorry, the competition deadline. It’s in ten minutes.’ Holly took Val’s hand. ‘We’ll catch up tomorrow, though. I promise.’ She kissed her on the cheek and dashed off.
Holly’s boots slipped on the cobbles, she hoped the final remnants of soil would wear off by the time she reached the Town Hall. Making for the shop-lined perimeter of the market where the pavement was slabbed, she glanced back watching Val shaking her head as she lugged her bags towards the bus stop. Holly sighed as a large plop of rain fell on her head, she knew she should have offered Val a lift back to the village. Another raindrop hit her, followed by another.That’s all I need,she thought.
Taking shelter from the downpour under a bakery canopy, she zipped up her fleece. The sweet aroma of bread and cake drifted out of the shop, but did nothing for her appetite.I couldn’t even manage a slice of that, she thought,staring through the window at her favourite treat – lemon drizzle cake. It was only a matter of yards to the Town Hall, so she decided to make arun for it.
Holly stepped away from the shelter, running a few paces then stopped. There he was – Tom, wearing his trademark ‘smart but casual’. She smiled and filled her lungs assuming he must have popped back. Lifting her arm to wave, she stopped mid-air.Who’s that?she thought.
A young woman was at Tom’s side, wearing a long purple coat with a scarf, a kaleidoscope of pinks, with hair similar to her own, flaying around in the breeze. Holly lowered her arm and looked down at her muddy cargos. Lifting her head to the sound of laughter, she saw Tom grappling with a folded umbrella as his companion giggled at his side. Rain dripped from Holly’s eyebrows, as she watched Tom guide the girl to shelter in a shop doorway with an arm around her waist, smiling the smile which she herself had not witnessed for months.
Holly took a sharp intake of breath. ‘No!’ she gasped – her voice sucked away by the wind. The skin on her face burned. Her heart pounded. Tom had pulled the woman close for a lingering kiss.
The cool rain pelted down, mixing with the hot tears streaming from her eyes, as she remained fixed to the spot, watching Tom as he opened the umbrella. Seeing them walk in her direction she ducked her head, dashing into the nearest shop. The bell shrilled as the door slammed behind her. Standing motionless she clutched her folio to her chest.
‘Oh hi, Holly darling, looking for something special?’ asked Nina, the owner of the ‘Something Special’ boutique.
Holly lifted her head, her heart beating at pace as she viewed the rows of silk, lace and taffeta, all in varying shades of white.Of all the blinking shops,she thought. Nina was not her favourite person, they’d always clashed since meeting at college and more recently at the breakfast networking meetings she had attended with Tom. A local councillor, Nina was always right and always seemed to know everyone’s personal business.
Nina flicked her long dark hair over her shoulder then peered down her nose at Holly’s feet.
‘I er …’ Holly glanced at the mud-tinged puddle forming around her boots, then up at Nina’s enhanced pout.
Nina glanced over Holly’s shoulder and her face softened with a smile. ‘Ooh, I can see your gorgeous Tom out there.’ She gave a short wave towards the window. ‘You’re not renewing your vows already are you?’ Nina pointed to a wedding dress displayed in the window. ‘You only got married last year.’ Then brought both hands to her cheeks. ‘Oh, my goodness. Is that your younger sister? She’s beautiful.’
‘You know I don’t have a sister.’If there are aliens up there, please beam me up, Holly thought.
Nina glance at her then back at the window. ‘You’re so alike, it’s uncanny.’ She placed one hand on her chest.
Holly turned towards the window. A light from the display shone on her face and all she could see clearly was her own reflection in the pane. Her hair – flat to her head. Her mouth – downturned. Her eyes – puffy. As she squinted, into focus came the perfectly-made-up face of Tom’s friend. Stray tendrils blowing across her smooth heart-shaped face with a perfect selfie smile. Turning her head a few degrees, Holly saw Tom as he raked a hand through his hair and his eyes widened as they locked into her gaze. Holly’s eyes misted over gradually bringing her reflection back into focus – until she was again, staring into her own eyes.
