Love in Spring BoxSet

by Jenny Lane

  ‘You don’t sound very hopeful.’

  He shrugged. ‘Firstly, it’s the wrong time of the year and, secondly, the gift shop is looking tired these days and doesn’t attract many customers. Of course, Peggy Munn, who runs it, must be over eighty. I can’t imagine how the place pays.’

  ‘Are you telling me Mrs Munn still works there? Her late husband, Ron, was a great friend of my Uncle Hugh’s.’

  ‘Yes, I’ve gathered Ron was quite a character. Look, why don’t you come with me? Then you can find out if Rose has sold anything.’

  ‘OK, just to say hello. I’ve got a list of things to do, and I’ve promised to be back around lunch time, although it’s all prepared.’

  ***

  Peggy Munn’s face creased into a smile as they entered the shop.

  ‘Well, what a surprise! It’s Sophie Burnett, isn’t it? Rose told me on the phone you were staying with her. It’s lovely to see you again — and Mr Ellison too. So what can I do for the pair of you?’

  Sophie crossed to the counter and took Peggy’s gnarled hand.

  ‘Oh, I’ve just called in to say hello, and to see if there’ve been any sales for Aunt Rose recently.’

  ‘Likewise, for myself,’ Keir added, ‘although I should think it’s highly improbable with all this bad weather.’

  Peggy bent down and took a couple of worn notebooks from a shelf under the counter. She thumbed through the top one and shook her head, white curls bobbing, and then picked up the second.

  ‘I’m sorry, but there’s been nothing since the middle of last week, unless wait a minute, I seem to remember ...’

  Peggy disappeared beneath the counter again, and Sophie and Keir exchanged amused glances. This time she emerged holding some dog-eared scraps of paper.

  ‘My son stood in for me for a couple of hours and wrote everything on here.’

  They waited patiently as she scrutinised the writing. ‘Oh my goodness. He’s got such appalling handwriting!’

  She passed the paper across to Keir and together he and Sophie managed to decipher the scrawl, deciding that Keir had sold a vase and two pendants whilst Aunt Rose had sold three sets of dolls’ house furniture.

  Another customer entered the shop just then and Sophie took the opportunity to take a look round. It was like an Aladdin’s cave, she decided, brimming with knick-knacks ranging from tiny pottery animals, to select pieces of china and glass for the more discerning eye. There was, however, a slight air of neglect these days. Sophie supposed the elderly lady couldn’t keep abreast of all that was needed.

  Keir’s ceramics and Aunt Rose’s dolls’ house furniture were displayed in a glass cabinet. Sophie loved the vibrant colours of Keir’s work — rich purple and turquoise, apple green and cerise.

  As they left the shop, Sophie carefully stowed the envelope containing Aunt Rose’s cash in her handbag and Keir placed his in his wallet.

  ‘There’s something I’d like to run past you. I could do with a coffee and I’m sure you could too, so shall we meet back here in around twenty minutes?’

  Sophie agreed, feeling a little thrill of pleasure that he’d asked her to join him, but wondering what on earth he could want to discuss with her.

  Having completed her tasks, she arrived back at the gift shop just as Keir came round the comer. Taking her arm, he steered her into a small cafe which was at the side of a bakers. It was warm and welcoming and there was a wonderful aroma of spicy buns and newly baked bread.

  ‘Sit yourself down. I’ll get these,’ he told her, and she found a corner table and looked about her at the bright walls adorned with flower prints and the oak beams and the original fireplace which now sported a gas fire with leaping flames. She didn’t remember there being a teashop here before.

  Sophie watched Keir as he stood chatting for a moment to the girl at the counter thinking again what an attractive man he was. He’d got a charming personality too and obviously fitted well into the village community.

  He’d certainly won Aunt Rose’s vote and it was comforting to know that she had such a caring neighbour living nearby.

  Keir came across with the coffee and a couple of the spicy buns. She reached for her purse, but he waived the offer aside.

  ‘No, this is on me. As I’ve said, I want to sound you out about something.’

  ‘What’s that?’ she asked curiously, reaching for a napkin.

  ‘What do you make of the gift shop?’

  She wrinkled her brow. ‘How do you mean — what do I make of it? It’s roughly the same as it’s always been perhaps a little more cluttered and a little dustier.’

  He nodded. ‘Exactly what other people have said. Don’t you think it could do with a bit of a makeover?’

  Sophie frowned. ‘But then it wouldn’t be the same, would it? And that’s what people like — continuity. Anyway, I’m not sure if Peggy Munn could afford it.’

  ‘Mmm, but at the moment it seems more like the old curiosity shop some of that stuff must have been knocking around for decades.’

  ‘But if that’s what keeps Mrs Munn busy and happy, why should it matter to us?’ Sophie asked sharply.

  ‘That’s not really any way to run a business, is it?’ he chided gently.

  ‘Oh, I see, you’re thinking of how it affects you and your work, is that it?’ He met her grey eyes steadily with his own brown ones — the colour of sherry, she decided again.

  ‘Well, obviously I’ve got a vested interest and so has Rose, together with a few other people in the area. Fortunately, the gift shop’s not my only outlet, but if it were, I’d be very concerned.’

  ‘But if Mrs Munn is good enough to display your goods then surely you shouldn’t complain,’ she said feeling a little prickle of anger rising in her as she sprang to the defence of the elderly lady.

  Keir had the grace to bow his head, but not before she’d seen the twinkle in his eyes.

  ‘Have I said something amusing?’ she demanded, stirring her coffee vigorously.

  ‘Well, no it’s just that you sound a little like the head of department at the school where I work. Seriously though, Sophie, we are in the twenty-first century, so we’ve got to move with the times.’

  Her cheeks turned pink. ‘If you say so. Well, you know what, Keir? You could always take your stuff out of the shop, if it doesn’t suit you, and display it somewhere else.’

  Much to Sophie’s surprise, he meekly agreed with her. ‘It might come to that, but I like Mrs Munn and she doesn’t ask for too much commission. I suspect she waives it all together for Rose.’

  ‘Actually, Aunt Rose sometimes helps out in the shop on a voluntary basis, but, anyway, I doubt if her dolls’ house furniture sells for the sort of prices your ceramics do,’ Sophie pointed out.

  ‘True,’ he conceded and put a hand over hers. The contact was electric, sending a little shiver quivering along her spine. This man was seriously attractive, but she wasn’t looking for a romantic entanglement so soon after parting from Brett.

  Anyway, a man with Keir’s charm and looks must surely be involved with someone already. She pulled herself together with an effort.

  ‘I like your pottery,’ she told him sincerely. ‘The colours are wonderful.’

  ‘Thank you — are you into ceramics?’ he asked with interest.

  ‘I don’t know much about making pottery, but I do appreciate it. I certainly know what I like when I see it,’ she said. ‘My father took me to exhibitions and galleries from quite an early age.’

  Keir told her about a recent exhibition he’d been to in London. He was an interesting man to talk to and Sophie felt herself relaxing in his company. The time passed pleasantly until, suddenly catching sight of the clock above the counter, she shot to her feet.

  ‘Thanks so much for coffee, but I’ve got a couple more things to do now and Aunt Rose will wonder where I’ve got to.’

  ***

  ‘Well, you two look as if you’ve had a busy morning,’ Aunt Rose told them, as they e
ntered the kitchen.

  ‘Sorry if we’re a bit late, Rose,’ Keir said setting down the shopping bag he was carrying. ‘It was easier to take the Range Rover and I have to confess we sneaked into the cafe for a coffee.’

  Aunt Rose’s eyes twinkled. ‘Did you now? Then it’s just as well I wasn’t waiting for those groceries, wasn’t it? Actually, I’ve had a visitor whilst you’ve been out. Mavis Briggs popped by to see how I was getting along. She says it’s like a palace upstairs, thanks to you, Sophie. You obviously take after your mother for keeping things spick and span. Anyway, she made me a cuppa and we’ve had a good long natter setting the country to rights as usual.’

  Keir stayed just long enough to fill Rose in with what was happening at the gift shop, refused lunch graciously and left.

  ‘I take it you two are getting along all right then?’ Aunt Rose said casually. ‘Oh, Keir’s very pleasant company.’

  Sophie thought she detected a gleam in Aunt Rose’s eyes and hoped she was mistaken. Sophie wasn’t ready for a new relationship yet. She was still recovering from Brett and feeling emotionally bruised. But, she had to admit Keir was a very attractive man and it would be good to have him as a friend with no strings attached.

  Sophie wondered if she ought to make any comment about the gift shop, but decided to be cautious. She handed Aunt Rose the envelope containing her earnings.

  Aunt Rose looked inside and sighed. ‘Thank you, dear. I’m afraid there’s not much left over these days after I’ve covered the cost of the materials, but after all, I suppose it is only a hobby, and it’s better than me sitting twiddling my thumbs, isn’t it? Now, Mavis Briggs has put that meat pie in the oven for me, so if you could just pop the veg on we can still eat fairly early. What’s it like out?’

  ‘Cold, but crisp underfoot. There’s still a bit of ice and snow around.’

  Sophie busied herself at the cooker and then put the shopping away under Aunt Rose’s directions.

  ‘I’ve had a bit of a body blow,’ the old lady said quietly. ‘I know I ought to have seen it coming, but I’ve been shutting my mind to it, hoping it wouldn’t happen any time soon.’

  Sophie spun round from the cooker. ‘Whatever’s happened, Aunt Rose? Are you ill?’ she asked in alarm.

  ‘No, dear, it’s nothing like that. I probably haven’t told you about the plans for the disused chapel just off the high street?’

  Sophie wrinkled her brow. ‘I don’t think so.’

  ‘No, well, I suppose I’ve been burying my head in the sand, hoping it might all come to nothing. Anyway, it seems they’re forging ahead with converting it into a craft centre. There have been ongoing discussions about what to do with the building since way before Hugh died. It’s been quite controversial and thrown up a number of issues, such as whether it’s right to use a chapel for that sort of project.’

  ‘Really. I’m surprised Keir didn’t mention it.’ Sophie said, taken aback.

  ‘Perhaps he didn’t like to. After all, he must realise how strongly some of us older folk feel about it. Of course, looking at it from Keir’s point of view, I can quite see that it might be a better outlet for his wares, and he’d have space to work there too. It’s understandable that the incomers can’t have the same feelings for Peggy Munn’s as those of us who’ve lived in Penbridge all our lives.’

  Sophie felt indignant on Aunt Rose’s behalf. She wondered if Keir had been sounding her out before telling her about the craft centre. Sophie had made her feelings plain when he’d mentioned the shortcomings of the gift shop and so that was probably why he hadn’t filled her in.

  He’d probably been getting round to it and changed his mind, realising he wasn’t likely to get Sophie on his side over this.

  ‘There’s been a great deal of discussion and some opposition,’ Aunt Rose continued. ‘Some people wanted the old chapel to be used for a restaurant or a more permanent home for the farmers’ market. Someone even suggested turning it into a small heritage centre, but the craft centre was top of the list.

  ‘It had all gone quiet recently, so Mavis and I hoped it might have been shelved, but I suppose things have just been at a bit of a stand-still over Christmas and New Year. Anyway, now it seems there’s a grant available to say nothing of a substantial donation from an anonymous benefactor, so it’s all going to happen — more’s the pity!’

  Seeing Aunt Rose was visibly upset, Sophie checked the vegetables and came to sit beside her for a moment and tried to comfort her.

  ‘Of course, it will probably finish Peggy Munn’s business if this craft centre takes off, and I couldn’t afford to put my stuff anywhere else. Besides, Peggy and I have built up a good relationship over the years.’

  Sophie patted Rose’s hand. ‘Oh, but surely it won’t come to that, I mean folk know what they like and Mrs Munn’s shop has been going for donkey’s years.’

  ‘That’s the problem,’ Aunt Rose said gloomily. ‘It’s all change these days. Peggy owns the building that the shop’s in, and I can’t see her giving up without a struggle, but it’ll have a knock-on effect with the likes of myself — you mark my words.’

  Sophie sympathised with the elderly lady, realising she was probably right.

  Aunt Rose opened the cutlery drawer and began to set the table. ‘Although my dolls’ house furniture doesn’t pay much, as I’ve told you, it does help out with the bills. I’ve got to have some decorating done this year. I like to keep this place looking nice and then there’s a fence to replace. These things don’t come cheap. Actually Sophie, I had been promised a little something from Hugh’s estate when he died, but it didn’t come to fruition. You see there was this rather curious letter left for me with Hugh’s will.’

  Sophie nodded. ‘My parents received one too and well, like you’ve said, nothing came of it.’

  ‘Yes, Hugh was very fond of your parents and I felt sure he would have remembered them in some way. Of course, once Erica came on the scene things radically changed, but, judging from the date, those letters were written long before then. Whoever would have thought he would have married again at his age and someone young enough to be his daughter!’

  ‘I suppose she’s quite a wealthy woman now,’ Sophie said carefully, picking up the vibes. It was evident that there was no love lost between Aunt Rose and Erica.

  Aunt Rose sniffed. ‘If that’s a polite way of saying she’s the merry widow, well yes, she is. Hugh was heavily involved in charitable work and was always very generous, but Erica could twist him round her little finger, and I know he would have provided well for her. Let’s have our lunch now before it’s ruined and afterwards you can take a look at that letter I received from Hugh’s solicitor.’

  ***

  Aunt Rose hunted in her workbox, brought out a letter and handed it to Sophie.

  ‘Are you sure you want me to read this?’

  Aunt Rose nodded and Sophie removed the sheet of paper from the envelope. It was roughly the same letter as the one her parents had received and equally as puzzling.

  Dear Rose,

  You will find I’ve already remembered you and left you something of value, but you will need to think about this very carefully.

  Much love,

  Hugh

  Rose frowned. ‘I’m wondering if Hugh wasn’t quite himself when he wrote that. Whatever can it mean?’

  Sophie shook her head. ‘My parents are as mystified as you are, and think pretty much the same thing. They’ve had gifts from Hugh over the years, but nothing that was particularly valuable. It’s all a bit of a mystery, isn’t it?’

  Rose turned her head away and there was a catch in her voice when she spoke.

  ‘Of course, none of us expected Hugh to die so suddenly. He’d been in good health or so we thought, and then he had that massive heart attack. I suppose there’s a possibility he hadn’t got round to giving us those gifts, whatever they were. Oh, well, I suppose we’ll never know now,’ she said wistfully.

  Chapter Three

>   A couple of days later Sophie was able to take Aunt Rose to see the nurse. After the pace of working in a town, Penbridge appeared amazingly sleepy. It seemed that Rose knew several people in the surgery and assured Sophie she’d be fine if Sophie would like to go off and collect the library books that had been reserved for her.

  Reaching the end of the road, Sophie decided she must have taken a wrong turning. She was hesitating when someone tapped her on the shoulder.

  Startled, she spun round to find Keir smiling down at her. ‘Off on more errands?’

  ‘I’m supposed to be going to the library whilst Aunt Rose is at the surgery seeing the nurse, but I appear to be lost,’ she admitted, feeling ridiculously pleased to see him.

  ‘Well, you’re getting warm. If you backtrack and take the turning on your right, you’ll come straight to it. Tell you what, why don’t I come with you? It’s not too much out of my way.’

  ‘Oh, there’s no need,’ she assured him, but he ignored this and set off at such a pace that she had difficulty keeping up with him. ‘Could you slow down a bit?’ she asked, breathlessly. ‘We’re not in for a race.’

  He grinned and took her arm casually. ‘Sorry I forgot you’re a city girl and I take walloping big strides. How long are you planning to stay with Rose?’

  ‘I’ve no idea,’ she assured him truthfully.

  He gave her a searching look from those brown eyes, so that she wanted to turn away from his scrutiny, wondering what he was thinking. She was tempted to ask Keir what had brought him to Penbridge but suspected he wouldn’t be forthcoming.

  ‘Well, I must press on — can you find your own way back?’

  She nodded, but found herself wishing he would stay. She had to admit she enjoyed his company.

  It was warm inside the library and there was a friendly atmosphere. Everyone appeared to know everyone else. The librarian, chirpy and blonde, looked at her with a smile of recognition. ‘Sophie Burnett! Long time no see!’