Page 78 of The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts

‘Why don’t I bring the microwave downstairs?’ said Josh. ‘At least we can warm up some beans or soup.’

‘I’d rather have a chicken korma and all the trimmings, but fair enough, thanks,’ said Tom with a sigh.

‘Shall I make some for everyone?’ asked Amber.

Grandma Tilly nodded enthusiastically. ‘I can butter some bread.’

‘That would be great,’ said Tom. ‘Most of the team are still out and about. Kate’s apparently getting in everyone’s way and trying to interview people.’

‘I haven’t met her yet,’ said Amber.

‘She’s always out,’ said Tom, rolling his eyes. ‘I’ve told her that now’s not the time to bother people, but she’s that ambitious.’

‘Everyone who came in has been very worried,’ Amber told him.

Tom sighed. ‘Nothing we can do but hope for the best.’

Amber knew that it must be serious if Tom wasn’t joking any more.

Soon she was handing out beans on toast to Tom.

‘Haven’t pulled an all-nighter for many a year,’ he told them, sitting down on one of the benches. ‘Think it might be the time for one though.’

‘Us too,’ Josh told him. ‘We thought we’d better stay open in case anybody needs anything.’

‘You don’t have any boats back there, do you?’ asked Tom, pointing with his fork to the back room. ‘You seem to have everything else.’

Josh frowned. ‘Do you know what? I’ve got a feeling I saw one somewhere.’

‘Well, I think you’d better dig it out sharpish,’ said Tom.

Josh frowned. ‘I don’t think it’ll come to that.’

‘Nor do I, mate, but we should probably be prepared,’ said Tom between mouthfuls.

After everyone else had left, Amber helped Grandma Tilly upstairs.

‘We’ll keep the shop open as late as we can,’ Amber told her. ‘You get some rest.’

‘Will do,’ said Grandma Tilly, switching on the television once they were upstairs. ‘To be honest, I sleep that heavily that I’ll probably miss most of the excitement unfortunately.’

‘Lucky you,’ said Amber.

She was just hoping for absolutely no excitement at all and that the storm would miss Cranbridge completely.

32

After a bit of a rush early in the evening, the shop began to quieten down. In fact, it was too quiet. Without any customers, all that was left was the sound of the storm outside. Every time there was a huge gust of wind, Amber jumped nervously.

‘We need a distraction,’ said Josh. ‘Sitting here fretting isn’t helping.’

‘What about some music?’ Amber suggested. ‘I know I’ve seen a radio somewhere. I’ll go and find it. It’ll give me something to do.’

After a few moments, she came back in holding what Josh knew to be his dad’s old radio. Amber fiddled with the dial until she found a mellow pop music station and left it playing.

Josh stood in shock. How long had it been since there had been music in the shop?

Too long, he knew.