Page 53 of The Village of Lost and Found

Lucy was amazed that she didn’t know any of this. But it certainly explained why he had an air of sadness about him.

‘I must say, I’m surprised he told you about the business,’ carried on Uncle Frank. ‘He must trust you.’

Lucy shrugged her shoulders. ‘I’d begun to get an idea this last week. Anyone could see it was struggling, even a fool like me.’

‘You’re no fool, Lucy Conway.’

They exchanged a soft smile.

‘So what happens next?’ asked Uncle Frank.

‘Tom and I are going to come up with a plan and see if it helps,’ she said. ‘Mainly Tom, of course. I don’t know anything about the newspaper business.’

‘But you know plenty about people, so don’t sell yourself short,’ said Uncle Frank. He smiled. ‘So you’re staying in Cranbridge for a while longer.’

She nodded. ‘Well, you’re not out of that boot yet and I figured I might be of some use here.’

‘You know I love having you here, seeing you every day,’ he told her.

‘Me too.’ She smiled gently at him.

‘It’s the highlight of my quiet day,’ he said.

Lucy frowned. ‘Are you bored, Uncle? I mean, at a bit of a loose end these days?’

‘A little since I retired,’ he admitted. ‘I meet Stanley every morning at the shop for a coffee, but we can’t stay there all day getting under Amber and Josh’s feet. And it’s not like there’s anywhere else to go.’

‘People do seem to need somewhere to gather,’ said Lucy. ‘What about the pub?’

Uncle Frank made a face. ‘Not unless you want gastro problems.’

She nodded. ‘No, I suppose not.’

‘Besides, not everyone is a drinker,’ he carried on. ‘A lot of people have young families or are single and don’t want to go in the pub by themselves.’

‘Well, we’ll have to work on that too,’ said Lucy.

‘I think you’ve got enough on your plate,’ said Uncle Frank, smiling at her. ‘But I’m pleased that you’re beginning to fit in here.’

She nodded. ‘I really am.’

And it was true. Even though she had been in the village for such a short time, it was beginning to feel like a place she could stay for a while longer. Perhaps even for the whole summer.

‘Job wise, I’m not sure what I can do to help,’ she said, once more her lack of confidence chipping away at her brief burst of happiness. ‘I mean, it’ll be mainly down to Tom. I don’t have any experience in organising anything.’

‘No, but you have your aunt’s enthusiasm.’ Uncle Frank smiled in memory. ‘She’d never run a shop before or organised a summer fete, but she managed it all. I think you have that gift too.’

‘The summer fete?’ she repeated.

‘Yes, right here in Cranbridge.’

‘Oh! I remember that,’ she said. She recalled hot summer days, lots of people milling about near the river and the smell of candyfloss in the air. They were happy memories of the three of them strolling along the packed Riverside Lane.

‘So what do you think?’ asked Uncle Frank. ‘Are you going to help Tom try to save the newspaper?’

‘Don’t you want a hand in this as well?’ she asked.

To her surprise, Uncle Frank shook his head. ‘Like I said, it’s a family business. I think I’ll leave it in your capable hands.’