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With the day looming emptily before her, Seren decided to try to get herself out of the fug she was in by paying Aunt Nelly a visit. She hadn’t seen the old lady for a while, mainly because firstly she’d been too busy, then since being sent home from work on Saturday she had been too ashamed. She’d spent all of yesterday lounging around the house feeling incredibly sorry for herself, and wishing Christmas was out of the way so she’d have a date for her meeting with HR. Once she’d attended that, she’d know for certain where she stood. Seren had a fair idea already, but until she was officially informed that she was being sacked for gross misconduct, she harboured the faint hope she’d have a reprieve.
In between obsessing over how her relationship with Daniel had gone so very wrong and wondering what he was doing now and whether he had given her any thought at all since he’d dumped her, she tried to decide what to do about the van. The sensible thing would be to sell it – hopefully for a high enough price so she and her dad could recoup the money they’d spent on it. Then she could at least replenish her depleted savings. Which weren’t as depleted as they should have been because she still hadn’t received Tobias’s invoice, but once she’d paid him what she owed him her bank account would be empty.
She felt she didn’t have any choice other than to persuade her dad to sell Dippy: she needed the money because it might be all she’d have to live on for quite some time if she failed to get another job quickly.
It was ironic, considering she’d spent most of Sunday (before Daniel had dropped his bombshell) on the internet, sending off emails to various organisers inquiring whether they had any slots for a stall in their market, and she’d even sent one to the organisers of the Winter Wonderland after her dad had persuaded her that being sacked might be the best thing to happen to her, career-wise. But her heart wasn’t in it anymore. Daniel dumping her had been a blow to her heart, her confidence, and her belief in herself.
Not only that, whenever she set eyes on the blasted van, she’d always be reminded of him. She’d never forget him (no one forgot their first true love) but she didn’t need the memory of him thrust into her face each time she looked out of the living room window and saw the van parked in the street.
With a sigh, she realised she’d have to contact all her lovely suppliers and—
Damn it! If she pulled out of the final event she was booked in for tomorrow, she’d be letting them down. They’d trusted her with their stock and had given it to her in good faith, and she felt an obligation to do the best she could for them – which meant manning her travelling gift shop for one last time.
Dragging her feet, Seren walked into the foyer of Aunt Nelly’s care home and pressed the buzzer, giving the receptionist a wave as she waited for her to unlock the door.
‘Nelly is in the day room,’ she told Seren. ‘Having a read. The mobile library came yesterday, and she’s had her nose in a book ever since. Talking about mobile whatnots, your gift shop was a roaring success and many of the residents have asked if you’ll be visiting us again in the new year. Cissy wants to buy a couple of little wedding things for her granddaughter’s nuptials, and Dot has three birthdays, one after the other.’
‘Oh, I’m… I haven’t decided yet,’ Seren said, caught on the hop. ‘I’ll let you know.’
‘Brilliant. Thanks.’
Seren scuttled off, wishing she’d never set eyes on the blimmin’ mobile library. If it hadn’t appeared when it had, Seren would never have thought about a travelling shop and she wouldn’t be in the mess she was in now.
Spotting Nelly huddled in a corner with an open book held up to her face, Seren went over to her and gave the old lady a kiss on the cheek.
‘Seren, my darling girl, how lovely to see you. Fetch us a cuppa, then come and sit down.’ Nelly closed the book and put it on a nearby table.
Seren blinked when she saw the title –Effective Business Practices for Entrepreneurs. She’d been expecting a whodunnit, or one of those medical romances her aunt loved so much.
‘What on earth are you reading that for?’ she asked.
‘For you. So I know what I’m talking about when you ask for my help. Get the tea, there’s a good girl, before I die of thirst. I might not want to be on this earth any longer, but I’d prefer to go quietly in my sleep and not because my great-niece couldn’t be bothered to bring me a cuppa.’
Seren muttered ‘For goodness’ sake,’ under her breath, but went to do as she was asked.
‘I heard that,’ Nelly called after her.
When Seren returned with the drinks, Nelly was on her feet and peering out of the window, holding onto the sill as her head turned this way and that. ‘Where’s the van?’
‘Outside the house.’
‘What’s it doing there? You’re not going to sell much if you leave it at home. Frequency and recency are important, my book says, if you want to build your brand. You’ve got to drive it; let people get used to seeing it around.’
‘I don’t want people to get used to seeing it. I want Dad to sell it. I’ve got one more market to attend, then that’s it; no more van.’
‘It’s not just a travellingChristmasgift shop,’ Nelly said, shuffling slowly back to her chair and letting Seren help her into it. Seren moved the walker out of the way, earning herself a sharp look. ‘Make sure you put it where I can see it,’ her aunt snapped, ‘otherwise someone will filch it. They’ll steal anything they can get their hands on. Someone nicked my glasses the other day.’
‘Dad said you thought they’d been stolen but when he asked about them, the duty manager told him you’d left them in the dining room.’
Nelly scowled at her. ‘Pass me my tea.’
Seren obliged, then straightened her shoulders as she prepared to share her news, but Nelly got in first by saying, ‘You can’t sell the van. I won’t let you.’
Keeping her tone as gentle as she could, Seren said, ‘I know I don’t technically own it, but Dad bought the van forme. He’ll sell it if I ask him to.’
‘Hedidn’t buy it.Idid. And I’m not selling.’
Seren opened her mouth. Closed it. Then opened it again, but no words came out.
