Page 13 of The Village of Lost and Found

‘Actually I think the TV is making me feel worse,’ said Molly, with a groan. She really did look very pale.

Lucy stood up. ‘Look, why don’t you go and lie down. I’ve got to finish unpacking, otherwise I’ll never get sorted. Plus I need to call Uncle Frank to make sure he’s OK,’ she added.

‘I think you’re right,’ said Molly.

‘Well, thanks again for dinner,’ said Lucy when she reached her bedroom door. ‘I’ll say goodnight in case I don’t bump into you later.’

‘Goodnight,’ said Molly. ‘Sweet dreams.’

‘Hope you feel better in the morning,’ said Lucy.

She closed the bedroom door behind her and sank against it. Despite Molly’s friendliness, her words had hit hard. Everyone was talking about her? So she was now the topic of the gossip in the village as well?

Lucy blinked away the tears as she opened up the next suitcase to unpack. It was obvious that Cranbridge was going to be yet another place that she didn’t fit in.

7

Lucy awoke with a start.

The morning sunlight was streaming through a gap in the curtains, highlighting all the parrots on the wallpaper staring down at her. It took her a while to realise that she was in the apartment in Cranbridge and not in some kind of zoo.

She reached for her phone and was shocked to see that it was almost nine o’clock in the morning. Lucy groaned. She was late. Why on earth hadn’t she set her alarm?

She rushed around her bedroom, grabbing smart navy trousers and a silky pale T-shirt before quickly putting on her make-up and then rushing out of her room.

She realised that the door to Molly’s bedroom was slightly ajar and peered in.

Molly was still lying down in bed.

‘Morning,’ whispered Lucy. ‘Are you awake?’

‘Hi,’ groaned Molly. ‘Ugh. I feel awful.’

‘Poor you. Migraine?’

‘Terrible,’ Molly told her.

‘Can I get you anything?’ asked Lucy.

‘Thanks, but I just need to lie here in the dark,’ said Molly. ‘Can you tell Tom that I’m off sick today.’

‘Of course,’ said Lucy. ‘I’ll pop in and check on you later, OK?’

‘Thanks.’

Lucy headed downstairs before hesitating by the internal door into the office. She thought about unbolting it, but then decided against that, wondering if it would be unprofessional. So she went out of the back door and down the lane. As she quickly walked past the front of The Cranbridge Stores, she glanced up as a pretty woman around her age was sweeping the wooden veranda.

‘Good morning,’ said the woman cheerfully.

Lucy said hi in return but carried on towards the front door of the shop next door which had been converted into the offices forThe Cranbridge Times. Her stomach rumbled in protest at the lack of food, but breakfast would have to wait.

Lucy pushed the door and went inside.

‘Good morning,’ Tom said. ‘Did you get stuck in the rush-hour traffic?’

It wasn’t a good start, thought Lucy. He was already assuming that she was lazy.

‘Sorry. I overslept,’ she told him. ‘It won’t happen again.’