Page 38 of Snowflakes Over Micklewick Bay

‘I couldn’t expect⁠—’

‘Honestly, Bear loves nothing better than tinkering about with cars, he’ll have this done in no time,’ said Maggie. ‘Mind, I should warn you he’s used the word “comfortable” very loosely. The Landie’s what you’d call an oldie, and a bit battered.’

‘I think you’ll find the term’s vintage, missus,’ Bear replied, feigning offence.

Hannah watched as a line of traffic was forced to slow down owing to her car partially blocking the road. She stole a look at her watch. There was still a long time to go before the vehicle recovery man was due after the new time estimate she’d been given. ‘If you’re sure?’

‘’Course he is. Come on, it’s pointless us standing here, it’s putting in a bit chilly, so we might as well get out of the breeze. When the sun shines like it has today, it makes you forget it’s still only February and officially winter.’

‘True.’ Hannah had fallen into that trap herself today.

‘Shame we don’t have a flask of tea.’ Maggie chuckled as she made her way to the Land Rover. ‘So, am I right in thinking you’re Florrie’s friend from Beckinthwaite?’

‘You are, and I’m guessing you’re Maggie from Florrie’s circle of friends?’

‘That’s me.’ Maggie turned and beamed at her.

The two women had only just got themselves ensconced in the vehicle when Bear appeared at the driver’s door. Maggie quickly wound down the window. ‘What’s up?’ she asked, Hannah peering round her.

‘Slight problem.’ Bear scratched his beard. ‘I’m afraid the tyre on your spare space-saver wheel’s also got a puncture. Looks like it wasn’t repaired the last time it happened.’

TWENTY-SIX

Hannah clapped her hand to her forehead. ‘Oh no! That was ages ago! I kept meaning to get round to it, but I ended up forgetting all about it.’ Her phone pinged from her bag. ‘I wonder if that’s the recovery company with an update?’ Retrieving her phone she saw it was indeed a message from the recovery company apologising and informing her that the driver was running even later than expected, with a new estimate of a further two hours.’ She read it out loud to Maggie and Bear.

‘Looks like he won’t be able to fix it when he gets here,’ said Maggie.

‘Well, he might if it was a small puncture to the tread, but this is at the side of the tyre and it’s a pretty big rip. Recovery drivers carry stuff for temporary repairs for short journeys, but I reckon the way Hannah’s tyre’s looking, it’d be more likely the car’d have to be carted off to a garage.’

‘Oh no! What a nightmare,’ Hannah said with a groan. She could kick herself for not getting the spare space-saver tyre repaired. The last time she had needed to use it, it had lost a battle with one of the many potholes that the roads around Beckinthwaite were plagued with. Luckily, she’d only been two minutes from home then. ‘Sounds like even a temporary fix wouldn’t be any good anyway; my home’s miles away from here. I can’t risk it going flat when I’m driving over the moors.’ Being stranded in a remote part of the countryside, miles away from the nearest village, with the risk of no phone signal didn’t bear thinking about.

‘Is there anything we can do to help, Bear?’ Maggie asked.

‘Well, the first thing I reckon we need to do is get the car moved. It’s in a pretty dangerous spot to leave it where it is for much longer. And I know it isn’t ideal to drive on a completely flat tyre, but I don’t think we have much choice,’ Bear said. ‘So, Hannah, if you drive it over to the Jolly car park – just take it steady, mind – I’ll go and have a quick word with Mandy the landlady, explain the situation. I’m sure she’ll be fine with you leaving it there as long as necessary. Then we can have a rethink over a brew at our place.’

‘Okay, thank you, but I really don’t want to put you out.’ Hannah was overwhelmed by such a show of kindness.

‘You aren’t putting us out, we couldn’t leave you stranded. I know Bear would like to think if I found myself in a similar position, someone would help me out.’

Half an hour later, Hannah found herself sitting at an old pine table sipping tea and chomping on an oatmeal cookie in the cosy and characterful kitchen of Clifftop Cottage. Daphne, the Marsay’s black Labrador who’d given her a warm welcome on her arrival, was now snuggled up in front of the Aga, while Lucy, an adorable pudding of a little girl who was the image of her mother and with a riot of dark curls, toddled about. Lucy had recently been dropped off in a fleeting visit from Bear’s mum Chrissie, the two having returned from a trip to the local play area. ‘She should sleep well tonight, her little legs haven’t stopped,’ Chrissie had declared. Hannah had recognised Chrissie in an instant; she’d barely changed a bit since she’d last seen her, though her face had appeared a little ruddier from the cold winds that blasted in from the North Sea and charged over Thorncliffe. Chrissie had been thrilled to see Hannah, speaking fondly of her parents. ‘It’s so good to see you back here again, lovey. I remember your mum, she was such lovely lady, and by, aren’t you like her?’ Chrissie had added her condolences about Hannah’s father and aunt, but had apologised profusely, saying she was having to dash off to a club she was a member of. ‘I’ll look forward to seeing you when you’re next in town, sweetheart,’ she’d called as she headed out the door. Chrissie was another one Hannah could add her to the list of locals who’d given her a warm welcome back to Micklewick Bay.

Cradling her mug in her hands, she glanced around the kitchen. She could see Maggie’s vibrant character reflected everywhere, the bold splashes of colour, the jewel-coloured knobs on the kitchen cupboards, the cheerful clippy mat on the flagstone floor. It created a charming contrast with the old building’s low-beamed ceiling and wonky walls. And it wasn’t just the décor that Hannah found so appealing, it was the undeniable feeling of happiness that pervaded the room. It was a place that made you feel instantly at home, just like Auntie Coll’s and Uncle Len’s had done when she’d first arrived there.

‘Help yourself to another biscuit.’ Maggie nudged the plate towards her. ‘Less for me to scoff. I’m trying to be good, but Chrissie bakes the most wonderful cakes and biscuits and I can’t resist them.’

‘I’m not surprised, these are seriously yummy.’ Hannah reached for another oatmeal cookie. ‘Why are you trying to be good?’

Maggie let out an amused laugh. ‘Have you seen the size of my hips and my bum? I’ve always been on the curvy side’ – she gave her thigh a pat – ‘but I’m still struggling to shake the baby weight from when I had this gorgeous girl.’ She dropped a kiss on top of her daughter’s curls.

‘There’s nothing wrong with your figure, it’s lovely,’ Hannah said, meaning it. Maggie suited her curves.

‘That’s all right for you to say, you’re like a twig. I bet you can eat what you like and not put an ounce on. Unlike me, I just have to look at a piece of chocolate and I gain half a stone.’

‘I’d rather look like you. I’m not usually this thin. I’ve lost a lot of weight recently – stress. I’m not keen on the way I look, actually. I’d be happier having my curves back.’ She’d had a reminder of how skeletal she’d become that morning when she’d put on a smart dress to wear to the solicitor’s office, keen to make more of an effort than she’d done last week in her jeans and trainers. But the dress had hung limply over her shoulders, emphasising her protruding collarbone. As for her boobs, they appeared to have packed up and left, leaving a couple of fried eggs in their place. It hadn’t helped that she’d pulled her hair back in a ponytail which focused attention on her hollow cheekbones and her sharply defined jaw. It wasn’t a flattering look. She could only imagine what Auntie Coll would have to say about that. Instead, she’d been forced to opt for a smart jumper and a pair of black trousers she’d had for longer than she cared to remember, and she’d released her hair from its bobble, letting it hang loose over her shoulders. She still looked gaunt, her complexion grey, and a little concealer to cover the black circles under her eyes wouldn’t go amiss, but at least it was an improvement of sorts.

‘Oh right.’ Maggie studied her face, concern in her warm, brown eyes. ‘In that case, flower, tuck in.’ She pushed up a smile.

‘I’m really sorry to have caused you an inconvenience,’ Hannah said, as Bear joined them in the kitchen once more. He’d just ended a call and started scrolling through his contacts. He’d been ringing round local garages and mechanics he hoped might be able to help since Hannah had already cancelled the recovery man on his recommendation.