Page 25 of The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts

Amber was stunned as she remembered Josh’s words from earlier. ‘You want to go and see Mum?’

‘I miss her so much. And Pete too. I thought I could go to Singapore and then on to New Zealand. What do you think? I feel the need to spread my wings a bit.’

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.