ChapterOne
‘That is the longest screw I’ve had in a while.’
Hearing the gravel path crunching behind her, Verity Callaway felt a blush flood her cheeks. What on earth had possessed her to say that out loud? Spinning around she came face to face with Kev, the local postman.
‘Sorry, I didn’t mean that; it’s not true at all. Well, actually it is, but I don’t need to overshare my love life, especially now it’s non-existent. Hence the reason I’m off travelling.’
She raised her eyebrows as Kev sang out ‘Hit me baby one more time’ whilst attempting a risky dance move that looked like he was having some sort of spasm.
Alarmed and not quite sure what was going on here, Verity was relieved when Kev pulled out his phone then took an AirPod out of his ear.
Grinning, Kev said, ‘Sorry, Verity, did you say something? I had music blasting. Britney.’
Her smile was bright. ‘If I had to guess your favourite idol, I’d guess Britney any day of the week.’
Switching off the music he slipped the phone back in his pocket. ‘What did you say?’ he repeated.
‘It’s okay, Kev, I was just talking to myself,’ she replied, glad to have been spared embarrassment…for once.
‘What exactly are you doing?’ He looked towards the toolbox lying on the ground next to her.
Verity pointed towards the postbox that was attached to the wall outside the front door of her cottage. ‘The new tenants want it removed. I think their exact words were “It’s an eyesore”. Not that I can blame them. It’s rusty and has been sealed up for as long as I can remember.’
Kev pointed. ‘There may be hidden treasure in there. You never know, maybe you’ll find a letter from years ago telling your grandmother she’d won the lottery.’
‘Now wouldn’t that be the dream?’ Verity sighed wistfully.
‘You’re coming back, aren’t you?’ Kev took a glance over the road to number 50.
‘He obviously just can’t let me go,’ Verity joked, wishing her ex, Richard, lived on the opposite side of the world, not the opposite side of the street. She had discovered his infidelity six months ago, and to add insult to injury, he’d decided just two months later to move into the house right opposite on her street – with the woman concerned, his university sweetheart. If it had just been a matter of sowing his wild oats one last time before their wedding, she might have been able to forgive him in time, but no, it turned out he’d been sleeping with her for a number of years, after they’d reconnected on social media.
Verity and Richard had been together ten years when his cheating was exposed, and suddenly Verity had two choices. She could believe him when he claimed he would give the other woman up and never cheat again, or she could walk away. She had chosen to walk away and she was still questioning if what she had felt for Richard had actually been love. Last year, she’d been happy to marry the man, but now that feeling had turned to contempt. She had been deeply humiliated by his betrayal and hated him with every bone in her body.
‘It beggars belief that she would want to live in the same village as me, never mind on the same street. But not for long! I’m off on an adventure and have six months of not seeing them to look forward to. Remember, Kev, I’m just going to slip away in the early morning tomorrow and you know nothing until the new tenants move in. That’s in approximately two weeks.’
‘My lips are sealed. But I’ll miss you.’ He handed her a couple of letters.
‘Now, you get back to Britney, before I get all emotional. I’m no good with goodbyes.’
‘Have a safe journey and just for the record, Richard was always punching.’ Kev gave her a wink.
‘I can’t argue with you there.’
Verity wasn’t usually the adventurous type, but right at this moment the ferry ride to Amsterdam, where her best friend Ava would be waiting for her, couldn’t come soon enough. She’d been employed at the local vet’s for the last five years and loved her job, but after Ava had talked non-stop for the last couple of months about her upcoming travels, Verity had found herself questioning what was actually preventing her joining Ava.
After Googling ‘International Veterinary Assistants Vacancies’, she’d discovered that there were jobs available all over the world, and with her references in her bag, she knew that, if necessary, she could always find work on the road. She could rely on the rent from the tenants to fund her trip, but a bit of extra cash would certainly come in handy.
Still, she could worry about that once her trip was underway. For now, she revelled in the thought that this town would soon be far behind her. The ferry to Amsterdam from Newcastle upon Tyne was leaving tomorrow and she was going to be on it.
The last few days had been bedlam as she prepared to make her escape to Amsterdam. She had spent the week working her way through a list of things that needed doing for the new tenants: fixing the leaking tap in the bathroom, securing the catch of the upstairs window, undertaking a mammoth spring clean. Now, most of her clothes and personal things were safe in storage, and her rucksack was packed and waiting in the front room.
The van had been her secret project for the past two months. Through blood, sweat and a lot of tears Verity had converted her battered old van into a cosy comfort space of floral quilts and plush rose cushions, inspired by TikTok videos. Verity named the van ‘Hetty’, after her grandmother, Henrietta, who had passed away twelve years ago. She’d had a huge impact on her life and Verity cherished her memories of Hetty with all her heart. She was looking forward to making new memories with Hetty the van.
Verity couldn’t wait for the ferry to leave. Her toiletries and clothes were packed in drawers in the van, along with essentials like a camping stove, kettle and copious amounts of tea. The cupboards were bursting with baked beans, soup and a huge supply of toilet rolls. She didn’t need to think about the expense of hotels; she had everything she needed right there, inside her travelling home.
Turning back to the claret-red postbox covered in rust spots, Verity sprayed WD40 on the tarnished old screws, which soon began to turn. Once the screws were out, she lifted it off the wall. Thankfully, it looked heavier than it was. After taking it into the house she laid it on the kitchen table, then switched on the kettle. Leaning against the sink, she glanced around. The kitchen had never looked so tidy; everywhere was spick and span, ready for the tenants, who’d signed a six-month lease.
The house had been left to Verity’s mother, Alison, in Hetty’s will, and Verity had bought it from her mum seven years ago, when Alison decided on a whim to move to a warmer climate, after continuously watchingEscape to the Sun, a TV programme she’d been obsessed with for years. She’d been sunning herself in the South of France ever since, and after meeting Pierre, a Frenchman obsessed with art, she’d never looked back or come back.
