‘Hi, Blythe, I’m fine thanks – on a train to London. How about you?’
‘Bloody furious because someone has stolen Murray’s decorations. No, the village’s decorations.’
‘Hmm,’ said Sam. ‘Now why would you be looking in my shed, I wonder?’
He was making her blood reach jam-making temperature. ‘Because the village needs those lights for the display. You had no right—’
‘Now I can check with my estate agent but I think you’ll find when I bought the cottage I paid for cottage and contents. Therefore, everything including all the tat in the shed was mine.’
‘Tat!’ She was appalled on Murray’s behalf. ‘I’ll have you know that those were all professional display items… with the exception of the penguins.’
‘Oh, is that what they were. I thought they were midget nuns. Really creepy-looking things. Their eyes were—’
‘Don’t dodge the issue. You knew the decorations were part of the village display.’
‘And I also knew that you would probably use them to make my home look like Santa’s brothel, so they went to my warehouse and will probably be in a Hallmark movie next Christmas.’
‘You are unbelievable, Sam Ashton. What are you going to do to put this right?’
‘Nothing.’
‘Oh my word. You are the bloody Grinch. You can’t—’
‘Look out – tunnel.’ And the line went dead.
‘Arghhhhh!’ shouted Blythe in frustration, and she slammed the shed door shut.
*
The next day Eden was discharged and sent home with some painkillers and although she was shuffling around like an old lady she was in good spirits. Vicky was so pleased to have her baby safely back in her own home. Whilst Eden seemed to be over the worst of it, Vicky was still feeling shell-shocked by the whole episode. It really made her feel for little Kal and his family who were regulars at the hospital because of his kidney condition. Other than the usual childhood illnesses Eden had been fit and healthy, so this had rocked Vicky more than she liked to admit.
It had been just her and Eden for so long she’d not considered how it felt when there was nobody on hand to share things like this with. She’d never worried about going to nativity plays alone or any of the good stuff, but realising that there was no one to share the tough times with was a bit of a jolt. Of course Blythe had been brilliant and that had meant a lot, but whilst she knew Blythe cared for Eden she couldn’t fully understand exactly how Vicky felt.
For the first time in a while she wondered if she should do more to establish Eden’s parentage. Should she get her DNA tested? But what would that tell her? Without DNA from a potential father she was none the wiser. A picture of Owen lolloped into her mind. She’d not had time to stress over why he’d turned up out of the blue to the fireworks display but on some level she was grateful that he’d been there. Aside from the unhelpful comments there had been a feeling. She couldn’t quite put her finger on what that feeling was. What if he was Eden’s father – did that make a difference?
She watched Eden snuggled under a blanket on the sofa, giggling at a cartoon on the telly. She was happy. Did she need anyone else in her life? Vicky had shied away from relationships because of Eden. Partly because when she had been brave enough to venture out and check out the dating scene, as soon as she mentioned she was a single mum the blokes disappeared quicker than a genie back into a lamp. And she’d also realised that dating was no longer just about her; anyone new she brought into her life she also introduced into Eden’s, and that was when it really became complicated. No, she was better to leave things as they were.
The doorbell chimed and she went to answer it. ‘Hello,’ whispered Norman. ‘We heard you were home. How’s the patient?’
‘She’s fine. Doing really well thanks. Come in.’
‘We don’t want to disturb her,’ said Phyllis, popping up from behind Norman. ‘We just wanted to let you know we’re thinking of you. And we’ve walked all the dogs on the list you gave Blythe.’
‘And to give you these,’ said Norman, handing over a cake box.
‘Ooh, thanks,’ said Vicky, touched by the gesture.
‘Has Leonora been in touch?’ asked Phyllis.
‘No, why?’ asked Vicky, having a sneak peek inside the cake box – doughnuts, yum.
‘She’s trying to track Blythe down. She and Sam have gone AWOL,’ said Norman.
‘Together,’ added Phyllis with aCarry-On-worthy head tilt.
‘We don’t know that, Phyllis,’ said Norman. ‘But it does seem a bit of a coincidence. Especially as his cottage doesn’t have any lights up.’
‘Not one light,’ added Phyllis.
