Page 71 of The Village of Lost and Found

Molly burst into tears.

‘We probably need to work on the crying thing as well,’ said Lucy, putting her arm around Molly and drawing her in for a hug.

Over Molly’s shoulder, she looked at Amber and Belle, who were both nodding their approval.

‘You’re all so tough,’ said Molly, with a sniff.

‘Nonsense,’ said Amber. ‘Look at me. I only managed to finally find some confidence when I came here.’

‘Yes, but you fell in love,’ said Molly, with a sigh. ‘It was all so romantic. Maybe the same will happen to you,’ she added, looking over at Lucy.

Lucy made a face. ‘With my history with men? I doubt it,’ she said.

‘What about Del?’ said Amber, tapping her chin in thought. ‘He’s single.’

‘Dodgy Del?’ Belle rolled her eyes. ‘Are you mad? He’s all right for some knock-off saucepans but not for a relationship.’

‘Listen, if I was going to fall for anyone around here,’ Lucy began. ‘It would be…’

‘We know,’ said Molly, with a gleam in her eyes. ‘Your handsome farmer Henry. When’s your next date?’

Lucy’s smile was in danger of becoming rictus on her face. But it hadn’t been Henry she had thought of being in a relationship with… It was Tom.

Later on, as she got dressed into her pyjamas, she dug out the sweatshirt that was hidden underneath her pillow. It was the sweatshirt that Tom had taken off when he had spent the night in the apartment after getting drunk. The sweatshirt that she had yet to return to him.

She found herself breathing in his spicy aftershave that she could still smell on the material. She was being ridiculous and she was never ridiculous.

But when she curled up asleep, she was still holding the sweatshirt close to her heart.

39

It was Saturday morning and there seemed to be a buzz in the air, thought Lucy.

Everyone was talking about the latest copy ofThe Cranbridge Times, which had been published the previous day. Stop The Quarry! it said in huge letters on the front cover, which she had just stuck onto the front window of the newspaper office with some Sellotape.

She stood outside and looked at it. It was certainly eye-catching and should be spotted by anyone going into the shop next door. Not that Josh and Amber weren’t doing their bit. As Lucy headed inside to pick up some fruit, she saw that they had stuck a copy of the front cover on the front door, as well as placing a stack of newspapers next to the till.

She picked up some strawberries and bananas to snack on before heading over to where Amber was behind the till.

‘Hello,’ said Amber.

‘Hi,’ said Lucy. ‘That was good fun last night.’ And it was true. She was really starting to enjoy the company of Molly, Amber and Belle.

A small frown crossed Amber’s face. ‘Shame about Molly though. We’ll have to organise something special for her birthday next Saturday.’

‘Does it have to include Gary?’ asked Lucy with a grimace.

‘Let’s hope not,’ said Amber, shaking her head.

‘How’s the newspaper sales going?’ asked Lucy.

‘Really well,’ said Amber, her face lighting up. ‘Everyone’s talking about the quarry. Grandma Tilly is determined to have some kind of protest outside the council offices on Wednesday when they meet to discuss it.’

‘Is she still threatening to chain herself to the railings?’ asked Lucy with a giggle.

‘She won’t tell me what her and her friends from the Women’s Institute are planning,’ said Amber, leaning forward to whisper. ‘Apparently they had a food fight at Willow Tree Hall a year or two ago and one of the councillors got completely splattered with all their cakes!’

‘Crikey!’ said Lucy, her eyes wide. ‘I’d better plan on going along with them in case Uncle Frank ends up in a police cell or something.’