The day was crisp, and she inhaled deeply, just catching a whiff of the salty sea air on the back of a breeze. A smile eclipsed her face. She popped the basket on her arm as she pulled on her gloves. Then grasping the basket in one hand and the head of her cane in the other, she headed for the small Highstreet.
‘Morning,’ she called out to Ben as she passed him, who was standing in his usual spot next to his cart full of fish.
Ben raised a hand in greeting. ‘Morning lass.’
She had made a mental list in her head whilst she was showering this morning, and she quickly ran through it. She needed cocktail sticks, coloured pencils and plain paper and paper napkins. Not much. But essential items for her party.
A small figure dressed warmly to combat the winds came towards her. Morgan instantly recognised Mrs Calloway. Her face lit up when she saw Morgan.
‘Good morning, Morgan. Not with Ned today?’
Morgan willed herself to smile. She knew being seen in Ned’s car by Mrs Calloway would come back to bite her. She shook her head, she wanted to steer Mrs Calloway away from the subject, and quickly. ‘No, I’m shopping for the last items for my sixtieth birthday party which I’m holding in a barn on Poppy Farm for the entire community of Seagull Bay.’
Mrs Calloway had taken the bait. Her eyes became as wide as saucers. ‘Ohhh, so it’s true what I’ve heard? How exciting. And when is this party?’
Morgan reached into her basket and tugged at a poster which was weighed down by her purse. It toppled to the side as Morgan handed a poster to Mrs Calloway. ‘There you are. I’d really appreciate it if you can show this to as many people as you can, Mrs Calloway, being as this was a last minute kind of thing.’
Mrs Calloway studied the poster and then looked up at Morgan with a frown. ‘I might have though Brett and Pippa would have organised a surprise party for you in The Cheese Wedge and Pickles being as it’s a milestone birthday you’ll be celebrating.’
Morgan resisted the urge to roll her eyes, instead widening her smile. ‘I told them I wanted to do this myself.’
Morgan felt strong hands squeeze the tops of her arms from behind. She saw Mrs Calloway’s face change from one of astonishment to smugness.
A deep voice came close to her ear, the hot breath from it raising the hairs on the back of her neck. ‘Good morning, Morgan.’
Morgan looked over her shoulder, her mouth coming within inches of Ned’s, whose face was still looking over her shoulder, almost kissing him. Morgan wished the ground would open and swallow her up. Of all the people for that to happen in front of it had to be Mrs Calloway.
Morgan being startled by Ned, had caused her purse to slip off the posters just as a gust of wind whizzed past. The posters flew out of her basket, soaring into the air, before tumbling over the cobbled street.
‘I’ll get them!’ shouted Ned, who instantly raced after the posters. Morgan and Mrs Calloway stood side-by-side with their mouths open as they watched Ned race after the posters.
Morgan burst into fits of giggles. This was certainly a change to peeling spuds.
AN HOUR LATER, AFTERthe shopping excursion and poster placing was finished early thanks to the help of Ned, Morgan and Ned were sitting in the warm confounds of Tammy’s Tearoom, whilst sipping hot chocolate and swapping details about the poster incident.
A jingle of the doorbell indicated the entry of another customer, but Ned and Morgan were too wrapped up in their stories to see it was Mrs Calloway. She stopped by their table. ‘I’ve spread the word about your party Morgan.’
Morgan looked up at her, a genuine smile of gratitude twisting up the edges of her mouth. ‘Oh thank you, Mrs Calloway. I really appreciate it.’
‘And the story of you and Ned collecting the posters together was a real hit...very amusing.’ A smug smile lit up Mrs Calloway’s face as she dipped her head and headed for the counter.
Morgan and Ned looked across the table at each other and burst out laughing.
Chapter ten
After the excitement of yesterday morning, coming into the hotel today didn’t seem so bad. At least she had made a start of getting out of her mundane routine.
Morgan piled the clean sheets and towels needed for the rooms which had become vacant that morning on top of the trolley and headed to the first room where Lizzie was, making a start on cleaning the en-suite.
As she entered the room, Lizzie was just coming out of the en-suite with her mobile phone stuck to her ear. Morgan heard the tail end of her conversation.
‘Okay Mrs Dixon, I’m on my way. I should be there in twenty minutes.’ Lizzie’s face looked troubled as she stuffed her mobile phone into the back pocket of her jeans, before pulling her tabard off over her head. ‘I’m so sorry Morgan, but I have to leave. The school has just called me. They think Aaron has broken his wrist. I need to take him to A & E for an X-ray.’
Morgan’s eyes widened. ‘Oh no. I hope he’s not in too much pain. Yes of course, you get yourself off, but don’t race there. We don’t want two accidents in one day.’
Lizzie gave Morgan a hug and squeezed out a smile, but Morgan could see the concern behind her eyes. ‘Thank you. I’ll be careful.’
Morgan watched Lizzie walk out of the door and then turned to look at the room. She grimaced. This was the first of seven that needed cleaning. The bedding needed pulling off and replacing. The en-suites needed cleaning, and then they neededa general vacuum and polish. Morgan could try her best, but she knew her physical limits and the challenge she faced was beyond her.
