Page 33 of Whispers from the Past

‘I haven’t been shopping for clothes in ages. Well shopping for clothes anywhere other than a supermarket.’

‘Honestly Holly, what am I going to do with you?’

‘I think the question is what am I going to do without you when I drown in one of those swimming lessons.’

‘You aren’t going to die, Holly, during a swimming lesson with Owen.’

‘I might. You don’t know that.’

‘I’m pretty sure that Owen won’t want your death associated with his new company. So I think he’ll do his very best to keep you alive in the 5ft of water at the local pool. I’m going to message you the name of that app, then I’m going back to bed. You’re going to download the calming app and listen to it as you fall asleep. That a good enough plan of action for tonight?’

‘I suppose it’s an acceptable plan if that’s all you’re offering right now.’

‘So Seb was helpful tonight…’ Rose ventured carefully.

‘He was helping out in the kitchen like he often does,’ Holly shrugged lightly.

‘He was pretty great with Natalie too,’ she pushed a little further.

‘Night, Rose,’ Holly smiled as she shook her head and gently pushed her towards the door.

Chapter 12

🎵 Sunday Morning by Velvet Underground 🎵

Sunday mornings had settled themselves into a happy routine for Rose and Eleanor. They breakfasted together in the small annex and then walked down to the paper shop together. Eleanor liked to buy the Sunday Times and order her eggs and milk for the week, and Rose enjoyed fussing over Mrs Eastly’s Maltese dog. The white bundle of fluff waited expectantly now each week for the two women in the window of the shop.

‘So, what plans have you got for today?’ Eleanor asked as she started to clear away the breakfast dishes.

‘Luke and I have our llama walk this afternoon.’

‘Such a lovely man,’ Eleanor mused.

‘I’m not sure lovely is the adjective most frequently used to describe him.’

‘Well no, not recently,’ she conceded, ‘but he is - really - underneath all the sadness and anger.’

‘I see that Luke sometimes.’

‘Not seeing Tony today then?’ Eleanor winked as Rose adjusted to the abrupt subject change.

‘No,’ she mockingly chided, ‘but he won the meal at Harris Hall and asked me to go with him.’

‘An evening with Mr. Charming, aren’t you the lucky one,’ she teased.

Rose spent the rest of the morning reading in the bay window of the bookshop. It was unseasonably warm for April, but she wasn’t complaining. The warmth streaming in through the lead paned window warmed her soul as she read the last few chapters which finally revealed Edmond’s plan. She could have spent all day in that very spot. But at 1pm, she saw Luke pull up in his beloved VW Golf. She was as pleased to see the car as she was the man himself. But she chastised herself. She needed to stop thinking of him like that. He clearly wasn’t interested. The pained look on his face as he closed the car door was evidence enough. He looked like he’d rather be anywhere else than here. Pre-empting a knock on the door, Rose opened it and intercepted Luke on his way over.

‘Very punctual Mr Loxley,’ she smiled at him. He just nodded and returned to the car.

It was a short drive to Mrs. Gibson’s farm and they spent most of it in a slightly uncomfortable silence. Rose was first to break it.

‘Bad morning?’

‘No. It’s been fine. Why?’

‘You’re just looking kind of pissed.’

‘I’m fine,’ he shrugged.