She collected her bag from the bedroom and then went back into the kitchen to pick up the promised supplies. Before she put the sandwich in the bag she looked for her keys. They didn’t seem to be there. And yet she always put them in the same, dedicated key pocket. Where on earth were they?
‘Oh no,’ she said quietly and ran through to the sitting room to look out of the window. It wasn’t only the two men who had disappeared, her car had too.
ChapterEighteen
Fran went back into the kitchen slowly, hardly able to make her legs move. Roy had taken her car and, with it, the chance of getting her cheese on the culinary map. Everything she had worked so hard for had been for nothing. She wanted to cry.
‘Roy’s taken my car,’ she said, barely audible. ‘I can’t go to London. My cheese won’t be eaten by all those important people. It won’t make our fortune and save the farm. It’s all been a complete waste of time.’
‘No!’ said Issi, aghast. ‘Thatbastard. How could he do that?’
‘To be fair,’ said Fran, ‘and you know how I hate to be fair when Roy is involved, he didn’t know I needed my car. I didn’t mention it when he said he wanted to take it.’
‘That’s not the point. He’s stolen it. Hey!’ Issi became even more animated. ‘Let’s call the police. They’d bring it back for you.’
‘Notin time,’ said Fran, still quiet, still reasonable. ‘And if Roy is arrested he’ll be breathalysed.’
‘Then it’s our moral duty to tell the police,’ said Issi.
‘I know. But I don’t have the heart for it. Everything I’ve worked for has been for nothing.’
‘There must be something else we can do,’ said Issi. ‘Think!’
‘I have thought,’ said Fran, confused. ‘And I haven’t come up with anything.’
‘Antony!’ cried Issi delightedly.
‘Is, I’m not asking Antony for any more favours. Besides he’s—’
‘No, I didn’t mean that, I meant – Antony!’ said Issi, jumping up and down as the back door opened.
‘Oh, Fran,’ said a deeply familiar voice. ‘You are here. I saw your car was gone – Darling! What’s the matter?’
Fran found herself in his arms, wrapped tightly against him, smelling his cologne, his body, him, and feeling utter comfort, in spite of his shirt button that was pressing into her cheek. There wasn’t anywhere in the world she’d rather be. Her tension began to melt away. It didn’t matter about her cheese, her car or anything. She was in Antony’s arms.
Issi, not in a state of bliss, was a bit more on the ball. ‘Fran has to get her cheese to London, now! It’s terribly important. It’ll be tasted by all sorts ofimportantpeople. A courier was supposed to come but couldn’t, and Roy’s stolen her car so she can’t drive herself.’ She paused for breath. ‘Is Seb around?’
‘Seb?’ said Antony, into Fran’s hair. ‘Yes, he’s back.’
Fran pushed herself away from Antony’s shirtfront. ‘Is he busy? Could he take me to deliver the cheese?’
‘I’ll drive you. It would be my pleasure.’
Fran sighed. Antony looked down at her.
‘Oh, you two!’ said Issi, seeing exactly how things were between them. ‘Now go and get your cheese. I’ll make up a goody bag for the journey.’
‘When I got back and found the puppies gone,’ said Antony, ‘I was sorry. I know it was such hard work and everything, but I loved looking after them with you.’ They were on the motorway, driving at speed towards London and Roger’s food experts.
Fran sighed. ‘Me too. I didn’t want to let them go either. I know it was for the best and everything, but they were my whole reason for living for those hours. Have you heard from June? Are they OK?’
‘Thriving. She was singing your praises very loudly.’
Fran blushed and really hoped June wasn’t saying the sort of things she’d been saying to Fran, comparing her to Antony’s wife. ‘Really?’
‘Yes.The little one, Betsy? She really turned a corner while you were looking after her.’
‘That’s very good to hear.’ Fran felt a little bubble of pride rise.
