Page 65 of The Village of Lost and Found

Uncle Frank had finished writing up a couple of pieces of local news for Tom, so when he had professed to be at a loose end, Lucy had given him the task of sorting out a pile of paperwork.

‘And you can do that sitting down,’ she’d said, nodding at his boot.

‘Can I indeed?’ he’d said. But his hazel eyes had twinkled with good humour.

As well as Uncle Frank, Stanley and Grandma Tilly were lending a hand to clear up as well. Lucy had lost count of the many batches of papers that she had carried out to her car to be taken to the recycling depot.

But as everyone worked, the chatter and gossip filled the air and the atmosphere had become more social. It was in stark comparison to when Lucy had come to the office for the interview and found the place almost silent, apart from the phone ringing.

‘I must say, it’s nice to spend a bit of time with you all,’ said Stanley as he shuffled some papers. ‘I do get a bit lonesome in my bungalow sometimes.’

‘Don’t you and Uncle Frank still meet up for a coffee every day?’ asked Lucy who was nearby.

‘Of course,’ said Uncle Frank.

‘It’s lovely in the shop now and the benches outside are so handy,’ added Stanley. ‘But you can’t spend too much time in there. Too many people coming and going these days and we don’t want to disrupt Josh and Amber’s hard work.’

‘What about a day trip out somewhere?’ asked Lucy. ‘Once Uncle Frank’s foot is mended obviously.’

‘We’ve had the odd trip out in the past,’ said Uncle Frank.

‘But they’ve cut the bus timetable into Aldwych town, so we’re a bit stuck these days,’ Stanley told her.

‘And there’s no Uber out here unfortunately,’ said Grandma Tilly, to Lucy’s surprise.

‘Lucy?’ called out Molly from her desk. ‘Have you got a moment?’

Lucy walked over to stand next to her.

‘I just need you to check that this reads OK,’ said Molly, pointing at her computer screen.

Instead, Lucy looked at Molly. ‘I’m sure it’ll be fine,’ she said. ‘You know what Tom told you. He trusts you.’

Molly sighed. ‘Yes, but I don’t trust me. Just have a look at it for me please.’

Lucy rolled her eyes and glanced at the screen, quickly reading the post. ‘It’s great,’ she said, nodding her head. ‘Save Our Village,’ she read out loud.

‘It’s disgraceful that they’re thinking of putting that awful quarry next to our village,’ said Grandma Tilly from nearby.

‘We should start up a petition,’ said Stanley.

‘We need something even louder than that,’ said Grandma Tilly, sounding stern. ‘I’ve been talking to my Women’s Institute ladies and we’re planning to have a rally outside the council offices!’

‘Well, that might get us a few headlines,’ said Uncle Frank, giving Lucy a wink.

‘Headlines?’ said Tom, heading out of his office.

‘Tilly and her WI ladies are planning a protest rally,’ Lucy told him.

‘My mother was a suffragette, you know,’ carried on Grandma Tilly. ‘I wonder if I should bring some handcuffs and lock myself to the railings.’

Tom broke into a grin. ‘Now that would definitely get a few people’s attention.’

‘Where would you find handcuffs?’ asked Stanley, looking perplexed.

Grandma Tilly gave him a cheeky smile. ‘Ask me no questions and I’ll tell you no lies,’ she said, with a giggle. ‘Besides, you can get anything on Amazon these days.’

Tom looked bemused. ‘Well, I think on that note, I’d better go on a coffee run before you make me blush,’ he said, with a wink.