Page 9 of The Village of Lost and Found

As Del scrolled through his phone, Tom wondered what Lucy’s story was.

When he had first realised that she was the woman pictured on the front of the tabloids, he had been quite shocked. She didn’t look like the shameless, fame-seeking woman from the headlines at all. She had said that she hadn’t known that Jamie Watkins was still married. Was she lying? He didn’t know why but his gut instinct was to believe her.

But there was also the question of her wild-child years despite the length of time that had passed since then. Someone like that was surely out of place in the untidy office ofThe Cranbridge Times. Lucy would be more at home in some fancy private member’s club in Belgravia.

‘Cor!’ said Del, looking at them both with wide eyes. ‘That’s Frank’s niece? Blimey. She’s stunning.’

Josh turned to look at Tom with eyebrows raised in question.

‘I never said she wasn’t good-looking,’ said Tom.

‘And yet you deliberately left it out of your description,’ said Josh with a wry smile.

Of course, her beautiful looks were one of the first things that Tom had noticed about her. Especially those green eyes, which had flashed at him every once in a while. She certainly had that sheen about her which showed that she had grown up in a wealthy family.

And yet her self-worth appeared to be even lower than his own. There was an underlying vulnerability about her and he had never been able to refuse anyone who needed help. Which was probably why he was in such a mess these days, he thought.

‘Excellent,’ said Del, his eyes gleaming. ‘I shall enjoy getting to know her better.’

‘Oh, Del,’ said Belle, coming from the storeroom to stand behind the bar. ‘And I thought your heart belonged only to me.’

‘Of course!’ said Del, grinning. ‘But there’s enough of me to go around, I’m sure.’

Belle rolled her brown eyes at him.

‘You can try,’ said Tom. ‘But she’s only going to help us out in the paper for a couple of weeks, I think.’

Whilst Del continued to scroll through his phone and make appreciative noises, Josh ordered his pint.

‘It’ll be good for Frank to have some family nearby whilst he’s recovering,’ said Belle, as she poured out the drink.

‘Absolutely,’ said Tom. ‘Frank said she’s going to be staying in the apartment above the offices, so at least she’ll be company for Molly as well.’

Belle made a face. ‘Not sure that some Park Lane princess is really Molly’s first choice of flatmate,’ she said.

‘The extra pair of hands might help,’ said Josh before they both looked up as the argument behind the bar escalated in volume.

‘I’m not sure the game is going to happen tonight,’ said Tom, wincing.

Josh shook his head and passed his full pint along the bar to Tom. ‘You know what, it’s been a long day. We’re flat out in the shop and I never get a chance to even sit down. I think I’ll just head home and see my girl instead.’

Tom nodded. ‘I don’t blame you.’ Even though his friend’s words instantly made him feel even more alone.

‘You want to join us over at the apartment?’ asked Josh, who had obviously spotted something in Tom’s expression. ‘I’ve got beer in the fridge.’

‘Thanks, but I wouldn’t want to get in the way of your romantic evening.’ Tom looked up as the row became a screaming match. ‘Besides, this is the only romance I’ll ever need.’

‘We need to find you a woman,’ said Josh, as he stood up.

‘No need,’ he told his friend, holding up his empty pint glass. ‘Can’t you see how happy I am on my own?’

Josh shrugged. ‘OK. Well, at least you might have some free time to go on some dates now that Frank’s niece is coming on board to help.’

‘Dates?’ Tom gave a mock shudder. ‘How can you think that when my heart belongs to Grandma Tilly?’

Grandma Tilly was a sweet but formidable elderly lady who had once helped run The Cranbridge Stores but had recently moved into the row of bungalows where Frank lived for a more quieter life.

Josh laughed. ‘My grandmother is many things, but I don’t think she’s your perfect match, somehow. Maybe try someone nearer your age.’