Page 9 of The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts

Amber shrugged her shoulders, rereading the email from the airline. ‘They’ve offered reimbursement, but I just want my clothes. They’ve promised that they’re tracking them down and will send on my cases as soon as they find them.’

‘Well, I’m sure they’ll turn up soon,’ said Cathy. ‘If you need any toiletries, I’ve got lots upstairs and you can always help yourself to whatever you find in the shop. In the meantime, you’re welcome to borrow my clothes. I know they’re probably a bit old-fashioned compared to what you’re used to.’

‘Thank you, that’ll be fine,’ said Amber, anxious to reassure her.

There was no denying that her illness had taken its toll on her godmother. The once vibrant woman had an air of sadness about her.

Amber glanced through to the back room where Josh was unpacking some boxes. She wondered where on earth he was going to place any new stock, let alone bring in any customers to buy them.

‘I guess it’s always this quiet on a Monday?’ asked Amber, hoping her question didn’t offend.

Cathy gave her a sad smile. ‘It’s quietened down a bit since that massive supermarket opened up five miles away. Most people shop there instead.’

‘What a shame,’ said Amber.

‘I didn’t really take any notice at the time when it opened,’ Cathy told her. ‘It was just after I lost Todd. I was too grief-stricken to even think about competition and profit lines. But Josh was worried from the first moment he heard about it.’

And possibly with good reason, thought Amber.

‘Do many people live in the village?’ she asked, wondering about the local customer base.

‘About 500 in Cranbridge itself,’ said Cathy. ‘And a couple of hundred more in the tiny hamlets beyond that. There’s Cranley, of course. That’s slightly bigger. That’s where Willow Tree Hall is. You know, the stately home? That seems to be getting in a whole load of visitors these days. They’ve diversified, of course.’

‘In what way?’ asked Amber, wondering whether they could take any ideas from a more successful business

‘They’ve got their own cider press now,’ Cathy told her. ‘So they’re bottling and selling local cider. There’s a tea room as well that’s just opened. And they hold a monthly market. I took Mum there last month as a treat and there was such a diverse range of stuff to buy.’

‘Maybe Cranbridge could do something similar,’ suggested Amber.

She inwardly gave herself a little shake. She didn’t need to get involved as she was leaving for New Zealand hopefully in a few days.

‘I’m not sure who would be up for that kind of challenge,’ said Cathy, frowning. ‘A market would be a big thing to organise. Anyway, we like things the way they are. My father had the shop laid out differently, of course. But Todd liked it like this and so that’s how it should be. How it’s always worked. Things will change for the better, you’ll see.’

The trouble was that Amber couldn’t see how business could pick up with the shop being so overcrowded and unappealing. But it appeared to be Cathy’s lifeline to her late husband and Amber could understand how she wanted everything to remain the same.

‘Let me go and check that I put a blanket on your bed,’ said Cathy, standing up suddenly. ‘I don’t want you feeling cold overnight.’

‘Please don’t go to any trouble,’ said Amber.

Secretly, the jet lag was kicking in and she longed to lie down and go to sleep, but she hadn’t the heart to tell her godmother.

Cathy disappeared into the back room and up the stairs. Amber glanced the same way and realised that Josh had disappeared as well.

For the first time, she was alone in the shop. For a moment, she daydreamed how she would change the look and feel of the place if it were hers. The oak beams would stay, of course. But it would be so much prettier. Warmer. Some fairy lights here and there.

Then she shook herself out of her reverie. Owning and running a shop had never been a dream of hers. Besides, she had no talent for that kind of thing. She was just a window dresser. That was all.

She had figured that nobody would come in so when the bell above the front door jingled, she was somewhat amazed.

She hesitated before standing up, glancing once more at the back of the shop, but Josh and Cathy were still nowhere in sight.

‘Good afternoon,’ said an elderly gentleman, as he weaved his way through the shop. ‘I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Stanley.’

‘Hi. I’m Amber,’ she told him, a bit surprised at having to introduce herself to a complete stranger.

‘Well, it’s nice to have some young blood around here,’ said Stanley, his grey eyes twinkling as he smiled at her.

‘So, what does that make me?’ drawled Josh, as he came back into the shop carrying a box. ‘Part of the fixtures and fittings?’