Mac seemed okay, what little she knew of him at least, he was an ordinary sort of a man, no airs and graces about him.
She didn’t know why but June did feel a bit shy in his presence, maybe it was that she’d never worked with a man before, but every time he’d approached her desk to ask her a question or even if he only stood by her or glanced from the other side of the room, she could feel her face go a bright shade of red.
She’d hoped he didn’t notice.
Walking along the beach there was a tent. A two-man tent June thought, probably a couple sleeping on after a late night huddled together by the campfire of which there were still the remains of. It had been a beautiful moonlit night.
The sea softly rippled as if sneaking in so that it wouldn’t be noticed.
What was it that kept her here, it wasn’t as if she had family now with Nan and Pop having passed on, and they were the only family she’d known apart from her brief encounter with Valerie. Valerie, it had been months now and not a word since.
Although, she had left it up to her to make contact if she’d wanted to, June thought, and where did she leave that piece of paper with Valerie’s number on, as if she’d ever ring.
No it was something else, some sort of bond with the place that kept her here, she belonged here especially right here by the rippling sea she’d breath more easily, winter or summer it didn’t matter what the weather it was life giving, mind cleansing it held her there.
A stranger passed by and smiled, June now watching the locals gather to meet the fishing boats come in. It was far cheaper to buy the fish directly from the boats, fresher too.
“The shops would have three prices on it,” Walter used to say. She wondered about the stranger, was he attached, had he family in these parts children maybe, was he maybe carrying a heavy heart weighed down with the hurt and pain of loss.
Matt was never far from her thoughts.
“I’ve done an extra bit for your lodger,” June left the shepherd’s pie on the kitchen table wrapped in a tea towel.
“Be careful, the dish is very hot.”
“Aw, sure that young fella. He’s as good as any woman in the kitchen,” Walter smiled then with a loud sigh he continued,
“I will miss him when he goes.”
“He’s leaving?” June didn’t want to sound too interested.
“Yes. Indeed in I don’t know if he knows himself what he wants to do. Same fella doesn’t know is he coming or going. Youth, ’tis wasted on the young. Thanks June you’re a good girl.”
“Something smells good,” Matt appeared in the doorway, It was easier now to talk to him, the awkwardness had passed.
“So how’s your new boss treating you?” lifting the tea towel Matt took a sniff and smiled, “Yum.”
“He’s okay, takes a bit of getting used to not having Clodagh around, but it’s fine,” June turned to walk to the door.
Chapter Twenty-One
“Why don’t you stay for dinner, there’s plenty.”
Walter was setting the table for three as he winked at June. “I’m sure young Matt here would enjoy the company, he’s sick of listening to an old codger like me.”
They laughed and Matt pulled out a chair for June.
“Madam.”
“Poor Lily would be proud of that pie,” as Walter got up from the table carrying his plate that he had all but licked clean, he tousled June’s hair as he passed.
It put her in mind of the way Pop used to do that, at times she had almost found it annoying, but looking back it had carried a lot of affection. They weren’t the hugging and kissing type of people but there were little discreet signs of affection always a feeling of belonging and of course the unspoken but unconditional love.
“’Twould give a man an awful thirst though,” and with a wink full of devilment Walter was gone.
“Think he enjoyed that,” Matt looked after him as he pulled the door behind him and they both laughed.
“I’ll walk you back,” Matt folded the tea towel after drying the last plate.
“No, sure I’ll be fine. It’s only a stone’s throw,” June reached for her coat.
“I insist,” Matt held the door as she closed up her coat.
There was an autumn feel about the night as they walked slowly as if to get the most out of the short journey, they chatted as they went along.
“June, would it be okay if I asked you out one of the nights?”
Matt opened the gate of the cottage, “Just as friends maybe.”
June smiled, “That would be nice.”
Matt’s eyes lit up his feelings for June were the same as ever but he wasn’t sure if she felt the same.
These past few weeks they had become friends again but was that just because otherwise it would have been very awkward with him staying at Walter’s and June in and out of there all the time!
Perhaps he wasn’t sure, he had treated her badly and he still didn’t know why he had walked out like that without a word.
It was a rude thing to do, the height of ignorance, he thought to himself, childish behaviour she’d deserved better than that. Maybe she would give him a chance to make it up to her, maybe, who knows!
It was eight thirty, Matt would be picking her up at nine and June was like a teenager with butterflies waiting for her first date.
Did the dress make her look frumpy? What if he didn’t turn up? What if…?
The doorbell rang.
“I’m a bit early, I know. There’s no rush, thought we might go into town and get something to eat.” Matt looked so handsome he was wearing a new shirt at least she had never seen it on him before.
“You’re fine, I was ready anyway.”
Once in each other’s company the conversation became easy, the evening was relaxed and fun. June wondered if she should ask Matt in for tea, Matt wondered, if asked should he accept the offer!
“Thanks Matt, I had a lovely time,” June opened the gate, she was about to ask him in for tea it was after all the courteous thing to do when Matt put his arms around her and kissed her on the lips.
His eyes filled with tears, “I’m sorry June, I shouldn’t have,” and he turned to go.
“Matt,” June called after him and as he turned ’round she ran to his arms and they kissed so hard that her lips were throbbing after they stopped. The look on Matt’s face left no reason for words, they’re hearts had spoken.
Chapter Twenty-Two
It was early for the postman but as the card came through the letterbox, June brought her toast with her to see whom it was from.
“Aw, it’s Clodagh,” she smiled as she read the card aloud.
Matt sitting back in Pop’s chair admired her silhouette in the light of the window. Although, she’d always had a sweet tooth and never denied herself a treat, June had the figure of a model, Matt thought, although not one to flaunt it she could give any of those film stars a run for their money.
“Sounds like she’s happy,” Matt listened as June went on, “she’s got her own place, it’s a different world out there, she says. Oh! Matt wasn’t she great to go.”
Reaching for her as she passed him by, Matt took June in his arms and held her.
June giggled as Matt held her tighter when she tried to get up, “So what are your plans?”
Matt wondered was she asking about the day ahead or his future plans. “Only Walter was saying you were talking about moving on, was saying how he’d miss the company,” she continued, “And would you miss me June?” Matt had his serious face on now.
June wanted to make light of the moment, “A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do,” she smiled.
“I’m late, better run. The keys on the hall table,” and she was gone out of the door.
Matt wanted her to say that she would miss him terribly and that he should stay. Maybe he was wrong, maybe they were just friends, but last night!
Malcolm Me Phearson seemed to June like a man with a lot on his mind, as she watched him take
stock of the shelves before going to the wholesalers she wondered about his life before he’d taken over the post office.
Was he finding the village life boring? Was he missing the city life he was used to?
It was hard to tell, any conversation they’d had was work related so far and she wasn’t one to pry.
“I’ll be off then, get ahead of the traffic,” he winked at June and was on his way unaware of her thoughts as she watched him go.
He was a very handsome man and not short of a bob or two either, she thought to herself.
“Awful weather out there, goodness I near blew over the quay,” Mrs Carey had come through the door puffing and panting, “Wouldn’t put a bucket out,” she toddled around the grocery shelves talking to her companion, a young boy, Most likely her grandson, June thought, as she went round.
“Would want a second pension with the prices they charge these days, daylight robbery.”
“Can I help you there Mrs Carey?” June looked over the counter as Mrs Carey replied, “No lovey, I’m grand. I have my little helper today. Sure I’ll be only home and I’ll think of something else I suppose,” walking towards the counter she smiled at June, “A head like a sieve I have.”
She went on to talk about her grandson and reading between the lines June could tell she wasn’t overly excited about his visit, sounded like he had been a spot of bother.
June had a fear of spiders, Pop used to pick them up and bring them outside, she would scream at the sight of one and watch it until Pop came to take it away just in case she’d lose sight of it.
They moved so fast, if there was one thing worse than a spider in the room it was a missing spider in the room and she wouldn’t sleep, she would spend the night watching the walls.
Chapter Twenty-Three
There was no Pop now to call on, she would have to perform the task herself and there wouldn’t be any handling or anything like that, it would be squashed and drowned in the toilet, just to be sure to be sure!
June felt a bit of a spring clean coming on, although a couple of seasons too late for a spring clean, by now Nan would be cleaning out the cupboards to make room for the Christmas cakes and puddings that would be baked in the weeks ahead.
She’d always started her Christmas baking in November.
How did those cupboards and drawers get so full of junk. Nan would never have accumulated so much she would bin the lot. Having filled two big black bags with old bits and pieces, June thought, It is time for a cuppa.
She picked up a couple of bits of paper she must have dropped on the way to the bin.
“Wondered where that had got to,” she smiled as she read Valerie’s number and put the piece of paper in her purse, “Never know.”
Drinking her coffee, she wondered about Valerie, not enough to ring that number but just what she’d been up to and whether she had ever thought of her.
“Do you think that everyone has a destiny,” as they lay in each other’s arms Matt spoke gently. The night was fierce outside of the window but with the fire blazing and the scent of the candles the only chill was the one that June felt in her heart at that moment.
“When I went home, June I applied for an American visa,” Matt continued in a soft voice, “Rang Mam today and she told me I had post,” there was a silence for a moment.
June thought back to when she’d asked Matt to follow his dreams, to do it for her.
Why was it so hard to say it now, she knew this couldn’t last, what kind of fool falls in love twice knowing the day would come when they would have to part.
“I think,” trying not to choke on her emotion June continued.
“I think given the chance, one should follow their dreams and find their destiny, even if.”
Matt held her close, “Shh, let’s not,” he kissed her and with tears in his eyes, “Come with me June.”
A moment in time locked in her heart forever.
“Can I leave these with you,” Malcolm handed June a box of Christmas decorations. Was it that time of year again?
June thought back to the last time she’d taken down that box with Clodagh, the laughs they had putting up the decorations, “If you’ll just have a look through them June, and see if any need replacing or updating,” he smiled.
Haven’t a clue about these things, June took the box and thought to herself, they’re not the only things needing updating around here. Earlier she had opened the drawer in her desk and the handle came away in her hand.
The window remained half opened and half closed because it was stuck that way since God knows how long and there was an empty flowerpot left beneath the radiator taking the leak. Malcolm didn’t seem to take any interest in the decor, was he just biding his time, would he sell up eventually and make a killing.
June found an angel in the box, Clodagh had been given a present of it for the top of the tree, she was sad suddenly thinking back on the last year. So much had changed so many had moved on, including Matt.
She still missed him but it had been for the best, nothing could ever come of it but that didn’t stop her wondering, what if he had been the love of her life? What if she’d never feel that love again? What if she’d gone with him?
But it was Matt’s dream not hers!
Chapter Twenty-Four
Christmas bonus week wasn’t far off, a busy week at the post office with all the pensioners collecting their bonus.
Many leaving it at the post office to pay off what they owed for bits and pieces they would get on tab.
Malcolm struggled to open the door, both hands loaded with supplies, including new Christmas decorations.
“Might as well push the boat out,” he looked very pleased with himself, “might make a start this evening after closing that’s if you can spare an hour?”
June smiled, “’Course, no trouble at all.”
Doors closed, June started to dust around. No point decorating over the dust, she thought to herself.
Mac went up on the stepladder as she handed him the tinsel.
“Not bad for an amateur,” he stood back to look when he’d finished, “Thirsty work though, will you join me for a drink or is there somewhere you have to be? I have already taken up enough of your time.”
“No, that would be nice,” June reached for her coat and Malcolm switched off the lights. They strolled along the quay to Tilly’s, the nearest stop not the fanciest of pubs but okay for a drink. He was quite good company, June thought, quite chatty but kept his own business to himself.
There was still another side to him she felt, one he would drift off to every now and then, a sad side!
“Guess we don’t really know a lot about each other,” as if to read her thoughts Malcolm looked at June enquiringly. “Oh! There isn’t much to know,” she started to feel uneasy, “This is me this is my world,” she wanted to know more about him why wouldn’t she ask. She would ask.
It was just making conversation after all.
“It must be a big change for you, I mean the village life when you’ve been brought up in the city.”
He sighed, “Yes, a very big change,” his thoughts drifted and his expression changed, “My mother came from these parts,” he shook his head and smiled, “bit more complicated than that, but I won’t bore you with the details. Let’s just say curiosity brought me to these parts initially. Can I get you another drink?”
As he walked to the bar, June watched him, his expensive suit enveloping his muscular body. If she wasn’t interested in his background before, she certainly was now, there was definitely something interesting lurking there!
As June searched her bag for the keys of the post office, she promised herself she would clean out that bag the next chance she’d get.
“Morning,” Malcolm reached over her shoulder to open the door.
“Hi, never can find anything in this bag.”
He smiled but as he put the key in the door he stumbled.
The door was already opened, he looked at June i
n disbelief.
“I did lock it, didn’t I?” and walking slowly through the door his worst fears were realised. He walked hurried towards the locked drawer beneath the counter, the lock had been broken and the drawer emptied.
“I left the money for the Christmas bonus’s there.”
June was dumbfounded, “What?” She felt for him, in all of her time working there the post office had never before been broken into. Why would he leave so much money lying around, they had only ever left small change in that drawer.
“How much,” June was afraid to ask.
“Oh! Why didn’t I take it with me? I’m so stupid.”
June looked around in shock, whoever had done this knew where to look. Nothing else had been disturbed.
“We’d better call the guards. Let’s not touch anything. I’ll go to Tilly’s and ring.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
She ran to the pub down by the quay, although not open for business at this hour she knew Matilda lived over the pub and she would let her use the phone.
Probably would have been okay to use the phone in the post office, she thought to herself, but better to leave things as they were, she arrived at Tilly’s breathless.
In thinking about the events of the day later while having a long soak in the bath, June thought of something.
She had been wracking her brain to see if she could remember anyone strange coming into the post office in the few days previous. The guards had taken fingerprints but said it was likely to be someone well known to them who would know their routine.
It was something Mrs Carey had said the few days before that made her think. She’d come into the post office as usual huffing and puffing but she wasn’t alone yesterday. She’d had her grandson with her, Rory she had called him, had gotten into a bit of bother at school and was staying with his nan for the few days he’d been suspended for.
She didn’t go into detail but June had thought at that moment that there was more to tell, she’d gone on to say she would be in the next few days to collect her Christmas bonus.
One Chance Page 5