The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts

by Alison Sherlock

  Amber found herself nodding enthusiastically. ‘I think it’s a great idea,’ she said. ‘I’m sure Josh can cope in your absence in the shop and keep an eye on Tilly as well. He’ll be pleased that you’ll be having a break. And mum’s going to be thrilled to see you.’

  ‘I did have one more idea,’ said Cathy, reaching across the table to hold Amber’s hand. ‘It’s a huge favour to ask. Could you help out in the shop whilst I’m away? It would only be for a month, I think.’

  Amber blinked at her. ‘A month?’

  ‘That would give me enough time to see Pete in Singapore before heading on to see your mum and dad,’ said Cathy.

  Amber was stunned. A whole month?

  ‘It’ll go really quickly, I’m sure,’ Cathy added. ‘Then you can leave as soon as I’m back.’

  Amber really wasn’t at all certain about the plans that had been suggested. But her godmother looked so happy that she found herself nodding her head in agreement.

  ‘OK,’ she said. ‘Of course.’

  As usual, she was sacrificing her own plans for everyone else. Except she had no plans, she reminded herself. And if anyone deserved a break, it was her godmother.

  ‘I knew you coming to see us would make everything better,’ said Cathy, squeezing her hand and smiling.

  Amber nodded and smiled as well. It was a sacrifice on her part, to be sure. However, she was certain it was the best thing for Cathy to get away for a while. She was less sure about being stuck in Cranbridge with Josh for another few weeks though. But, it wasn’t forever and surely the time would fly by?

  She just hoped Josh would be happy about her staying on.

  11

  Josh had spent most of the afternoon trying not to think about his mother’s appointment at the hospital.

  Grandma Tilly had also come into the shop in the middle of the afternoon looking concerned.

  ‘I didn’t want to be by myself today,’ she had told Josh.

  But they were both climbing the walls with worry about the results by the time Cathy finally called.

  However once he had passed on the good news, they had both waited for his mum to return, smiling in their joint relief.

  ‘I come bearing great news,’ said his mum, breaking into a wide smile when she finally came through the front door with Amber.

  ‘I can’t believe it’s all over,’ said Grandma Tilly, bursting into tears.

  His mum rushed over to draw Grandma Tilly into her arms. ‘Yes, Mum. They don’t even want to see me for another year. And, no offence after all the wonderful work that they’ve done, but I don’t particularly want to see them either!’

  She looked over her mother’s shoulder and stared at Josh. For a moment they locked eyes as they shared the relief of getting the all-clear from the hospital.

  Josh found himself slumping against the counter, the realisation of how worried he’d been washing over him. It was over. Finally they could all move on from her illness.

  But to what? That was almost a bigger fear than the cancer. But he wasn’t going to put a dampener on things at that moment when everyone was so relieved.

  ‘I have other good news,’ said his mum, glancing at Amber. ‘Well, it’s an idea actually.’

  ‘There’s room for more good news?’ said Tilly, bringing out her handkerchief and wiping her cheeks. ‘What else is there to come?’

  His mum looked at Josh. ‘I’ve talked it over with Amber and I want to go and see Pete in Singapore.’

  Josh was staggered. He’d only shared a brief conversation with Amber about his idea for his mum to have a holiday, but she appeared to have worked wonders.

  He looked at Amber, who gave him a small nod as if to confirm that it was indeed true.

  ‘I rang Pete after I talked to you,’ his mum continued. ‘He even wants to pay for the plane ticket over there.’

  Thank goodness, thought Josh because he didn’t really have any more spare money to play with. Of course, had he any savings, he would have spent them all on his mum. She deserved this.

  Tilly clapped her hands together. ‘Oh, what a splendid idea! I’d come with you if I had a passport.’

  ‘You can always apply and come with me,’ his mum suggested.

  But Grandma Tilly was shaking her head. ‘Oh no. I never enjoyed travelling on planes at the best of times. I couldn’t travel that far.’

  Josh was pleased for his mum, but his mind was reeling with the practicalities.

  ‘I know what you’re thinking,’ she said, looking at him. ‘You’re worried about the shop.’

  I’m always worried about the shop, he thought but stayed silent.

  ‘Well, I’ve got good news on that too,’ his mum continued. ‘Amber has kindly agreed to stay on whilst I’m away.’

  Josh was stunned. He looked across at Amber, who was blushing furiously and not making eye contact with anyone.

  ‘Don’t you want to head on and see your parents?’ he asked, thinking it was too much of a sacrifice. Surely she didn’t want to hang around Cranbridge when she could be making a fresh start in New Zealand?

  But his mum beat her to the reply. ‘It’ll be a bit crowded, seeing as I’m hoping to hop on a plane when I’m over in Singapore and go and see them as well! Look, it’s all sorted. I’ll talk to Denise tonight when the time difference is a bit better. Amber’s offered to stay here and keep you both company and then she can leave when I return.’

  ‘I think it’s a marvellous idea,’ said Grandma Tilly, reaching out to squeeze Amber’s arm.

  Josh was trying to think of a downside, but his mind was reeling with the sheer amount of information he’d received in the past five minutes. Not least the fact that his mum was going to Singapore and New Zealand.

  ‘Well, it seems as if you’ve got it all figured out,’ he finally said.

  Mother and son locked eyes once more. He wanted to say more, but there were too many people around.

  ‘Well, this calls for a proper celebration,’ said Tilly.

  ‘I agree,’ his mum said. ‘Let’s go to the pub for a drink!’

  ‘Twice in one week? I’d better change my cardigan.’ Tilly smiled. ‘I can’t wear this old thing. Amber, be a dear and walk me back, would you? I feel a little unsteady after all this excitement.’

  ‘Of course,’ said Amber.

  As they left the shop, Josh thought that his remarkable grandmother was many things but not particularly subtle. But he was grateful for the chance to be alone with his mum for a moment.

  ‘I’m sorry to land all this on you,’ she told him as soon as it was just the two of them.

  ‘That’s OK,’ he said. ‘I’ve been trying to get you to go and see Pete for a long time.’

  ‘I know,’ she said, sighing heavily. ‘I just wasn’t ready, I guess. I needed to know that the damn stuff was gone for good before I could move on. Finally it feels as if I can have a clean break.’ She studied him. ‘You need one too, I think. From me.’

  He slumped down on the stool behind the counter. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘I’ve been so angry these past two years. I didn’t mean to take it out on you.’

  ‘I’m sorry too,’ she told him, coming over to stand on the other side of the counter. ‘I should have realised that it’s been all about me.’

  He shrugged his shoulders. ‘So it should. You were seriously ill.’

  ‘But we were both grieving,’ she said softly.

  There was a pause and the shop was silent for a while.

  ‘I miss Dad,’ he found himself saying.

  ‘Me too,’ his mum said, nodding.

  The silence stretched out between them, but for once it was comfortable.

  ‘I think it’s a good idea that you go and see Pete,’ he finally said. ‘Get a break from all this.’ He waved his arm around at the crowded shop.

  ‘About that,’ his mum began, taking a deep breath. ‘You said you’ve got some ideas about how to best update things around here. Well, pe
rhaps you could get on with all that whilst I’m away.’

  Josh looked up at his mum. ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘It’s time.’ She appeared to gulp back some tears. ‘I had a good chat with Amber at the hospital. I’ve been holding on to this place for so long, trying to keep it as it was in the past. But the past is just that, the past. I think we could all do with moving on.’

  ‘I don’t want to upset you by changing things too much,’ he told her.

  ‘I believe in you,’ his mum said. ‘You’ll do what’s right when the time comes.’ She hesitated before adding, ‘If you think it will save the shop, then do whatever you think necessary. It’s been in the family for so many years, I couldn’t bear it if we lost it like this.’

  It was then that he realised that she had always known how treacherous their financial situation was. But that the fear of her illness returning had stopped her from having the strength to face it.

  ‘I’m not sure what I can do to stop us from losing this place,’ he said.

  ‘Just do your best,’ she told him, with a soft smile. ‘That’s all you can do. Besides, I’m sure you grandmother will keep an eye on you.’

  Josh took a deep breath and stood up. ‘One more throw of the dice then,’ he said.

  His mum’s smile grew wider. ‘Now you sound just like your dad.’

  ‘Good,’ he said, trying to sound stronger than he felt. ‘We could do with a bit of his nerve and self-belief around here.’

  ‘Yes, I think we could,’ his mum replied, nodding. ‘But we have you, which is even better, I think.’ She stepped forward and they hugged each other.

  ‘I’m so pleased it’s all gone,’ he murmured into her shoulder.

  There were tears in his mum’s eyes when she finally stepped back to look at him. ‘Me too. And now we have Amber to help us as well,’ she said, reaching out to stroke down a stray lock of his hair.

  ‘Are you sure that she really wants to stay on here?’ he asked.

  ‘She assures me that she does,’ said his mum.

  Josh wasn’t so sure about that. Amber seemed happy to please everyone but herself. It touched his heart that she was doing this for his mother, but to sacrifice herself to be stuck in Cranbridge for another month was really pushing it, he thought.

  ‘She’s got a real eye for design,’ his mum added, glancing over at the front of the shop. ‘Those windows are lovely. Maybe she can do something with all this as well.’

  Josh laughed. ‘That’s a bit of a tough ask, to be honest, Mum.’

  ‘Come on,’ she said, giving him a nudge. ‘Let’s lock up early and meet them both out in the lane. No one else is coming in today.’

  After he had drawn the locks across on the front door and flipped the sign over to read Closed, they weaved their way through the shop.

  ‘I haven’t wanted to leave you alone, but you’re ready,’ said his mum over her shoulder to him. ‘And you’ve got a partner in Amber.’

  Josh gave the shop one last glance. He wasn’t sure what either of them could do to make a real difference to the shop’s income, but in a small way he was grateful that he wasn’t facing it alone. And he realised that he was actually a tiny bit glad that Amber was going to stay on in Cranbridge, if only for the next four weeks.

  12

  ‘It’s just for a month.’

  Amber looked out at the river, which was flowing much faster that morning after some heavy overnight rain. She adjusted the mobile which she was holding up to her ear and looked up at the grey sky. More rain was forecast that day. At that moment, the sunny skies of a New Zealand summer seemed even more appealing than before.

  ‘And anyway, you can’t stay with us at the moment,’ her mum carried on. ‘Now that Cathy’s coming over to stay for a couple of weeks, the spare bedroom will be taken. You don’t want to sleep on the sofa at your age. Gosh, I’ve still got so much to sort before she arrives. We’ve barely unpacked yet and the sheep haven’t even arrived yet.’

  Despite her panic, there was excitement in her mum’s voice and Amber realised just how thrilled she was about Cathy’s visit.

  It had only been a couple of days after her hospital appointment, but Cathy’s airline ticket to Singapore had been booked for later that afternoon. As it was still during the school term, Josh’s brother Pete had managed to find his mum a last-minute single-way ticket at a heavily discounted price.

  ‘Cathy’s left her flight open-ended in case she wants to stay out here a bit longer,’ carried on her mum.

  ‘As long as I arrive in time to decorate the Christmas tree,’ said Amber, thinking that Cathy’s holiday was suddenly sounding a lot longer than a month. So much for spending some quality time with her godmother. But she knew she was just being selfish because this trip would be just what Cathy needed.

  ‘Oh, I don’t want to think about Christmas at the moment,’ said her mum. ‘How am I going to roast a turkey in this summer heat? And your father is so busy with the farm that I barely see him.’

  ‘Maybe we can do a barbecue instead,’ said Amber. ‘You’ve got to go with the flow now that you’re not in England any more.’

  ‘Don’t remind me,’ muttered her mum.

  There was a short silence. ‘Is everything OK over there?’ asked Amber.

  ‘Of course! Now, what was I saying? Oh yes, do you think Cathy would like the pink or the pale blue duvet cover? She’ll be shattered from the long journey anyway.’

  As her mum carried on chatting about how much she had to do, Amber focused on the view. Autumn was rushing in with a vengeance as the leaves changed from cool greens and sunny yellows to rich oranges, fiery reds and earthy browns. There were worse places to be, she considered, other than a pretty village in the countryside.

  Of course, New York had Central Park, which had been lovely in the various seasons. But having grown up in mostly country villages, the constant hum of the traffic and sirens had always slightly unsettled her. So Cranbridge’s peace was welcome, if still a little eerie in its emptiness.

  Perhaps the peace and quiet would give her time to plan what her future held, thought Amber. She could decide what the next chapter of her life would be once she left the village.

  As she turned on the spot to face Cranbridge Stores, her positivity faltered somewhat. It was, and there was no other word she could think of to describe it, quite a depressing shop. So muddled, so full, the air felt musty and sad.

  But, like her mum said, it was just for another month. Hopefully.

  And Cathy was so excited about her upcoming holiday that she didn’t have the heart to say anything about not wanting to stay. In fact, the last couple of days had been spent in such a whirlwind, with Cathy giddier than Amber had ever seen.

  It had all been swiftly arranged that Cathy was going to stay with Josh’s brother, Pete, and then on to see Amber’s parents in New Zealand for a while.

  ‘It makes sense seeing as I’m already halfway across the world in Singapore,’ she said, beaming. ‘I’ve got lots of shopping in those markets to do whilst I’m out there though.’

  ‘Not too much!’ protested Josh, even though he was smiling. ‘We don’t have room for anything else in the shop!’

  Amber thought he was far more attractive when he smiled rather than when he was in default grumpy mode.

  Cathy giggled and gave Amber a wink. Amber thought that the fresh air and seeing her youngest son and then her best friend would do her godmother the world of good. Cathy had even been talking about taking a dip in the Pacific Ocean and heading up into the mountains.

  But, in addition, getting the all-clear from the hospital seemed to have opened Cathy’s eyes up to a whole world of possibilities at home as well as on holiday.

  ‘At least it’ll give you both a chance to tidy up the shop a bit once I’m out of your way,’ she had told them the previous evening as the three of them ate their dinner in the flat.

  Amber had looked surprised as she’d turned to Josh. ‘I’m sure we
could think of something,’ she’d said slowly.

  Josh had appeared to take a deep breath before speaking. ‘Even if we have to rearrange most of the shop?’ he’d said in a soft tone.

  The silence rang out for a while as Cathy looked at her son. Finally, and to his obvious relief, she had nodded her head. ‘I don’t see why not.’

  Josh’s mouth had dropped open and he’d looked at Amber for confirmation. But she was feeling as stunned as he was. Having been so adamant for so long that no changes were to be made to the shop, the last thing she had been expecting was for Cathy to have a complete change of heart.

  Cathy had looked over at Amber, her face suddenly worried. ‘What do you think?’

  Amber had flicked a quick look at Josh. ‘I think that it’s a good idea,’ she’d said tentatively. ‘Much like getting new clothes for your holiday. Everyone and everything needs a refresh every once in a while. Even the shop.’

  ‘Well then,’ Cathy had said with a firm nod, turning to look at her son, ‘I’ll give you both carte blanche whilst I’m away.’

  Josh had laughed. ‘Are you sure about that?’

  His mum had reached out and squeezed his arm. ‘Quite sure,’ she’d told him. ‘I trust you. You won’t let me down.’

  Amber had watched as mother and son exchanged a tender look before Cathy straightened up. ‘Now, I’ve been thinking that I may need another suitcase to take with me,’ she’d said.

  ‘For more clothes?’ Josh had said, still smiling as he raised his eyebrows in mock surprise.

  Cathy had been rushing around packing up the new clothes that she had treated herself to in Aldwych town.

  ‘It’s only Primark,’ Cathy had said the previous afternoon, bundling the massive brown paper bag quickly out of sight.

  Not only had Cathy picked up a few different clothes, she had also dyed her hair and treated herself to a haircut. She was suddenly looking a lot younger than she had appeared until recently and Amber had found herself realising that Cathy was still only in her mid-fifties.