Stephanie pulled her car into what seemed to be the only remaining empty parking space in the village, on Monday morning. She groaned inwardly as she glanced across and saw Victoria about to alight from her shiny new BMW.
They both got out of their cars at the same time. Victoria gave Stephanie’s little Fiat a derogatory glance.
“I hope my car doesn’t catch rust or something from your heap of junk,” she said grimacing.
“Oh, I don’t know, yours could do with catching a bit of style,” Stephanie replied before she could stop herself. How dare she insult my car? she thought, annoyed.
Victoria scowled at her and with a toss of her head, stalked up the road.
Stephanie started in the opposite direction. She had offered to do her grandmother’s shopping for her and Ellie had gratefully produced a list, which involved the post office, chemist, supermarket and newsagent.
She was just coming out of the post office, when she almost collided with James.
“Sorry. I wasn’t watching where I was I going,” she said, as he caught her arm, steadying her.
“That’s okay. I was hoping to run into you,” he said smiling. “Well, maybe not literally,” he added.
“Yeah? Why was that?” she asked, blushing slightly as her skin tingled from where his hand had been.
“Well, I was thinking about you and I realised that I actually have no idea why our families don’t speak. So I asked a few questions at home. I got a very chilly reception, but apparently something happened during the war,” he said.
“Funny, you should say that,” Stephanie replied, and relayed her conversation with her grandmother about the photograph which included his great-uncle. “She did say that we have nothing to do with your family, either.”
“Huh – maybe, I’ll have a look through our old photos at home and see what I can find,” James mused.
“James,” a voice called. They both turned to find Victoria crossing the road towards them, a scowl on her face.
“I think that’s my cue to leave,” Stephanie stage-whispered to him.
The corners of James’s mouth turned up slightly.
“Hi, Victoria. Bye, Victoria,” she said, turning and walking slowly up the road to continue her errands.
Half an hour later, shopping completed, she rewarded herself with coffee. She was surprised to find the café to be a hive of activity. The tables were filled with young mothers and slightly older women in sports gear. Classical music was playing quietly. She wandered up to the counter and perched on a bar stool. Andy was busy behind the espresso machine.
“What’s this – Country Women’s Institute?” she whispered across to him.
“I left some flyers at the Community Hall for coffee after yoga and hey presto,” he said. He frowned and peered at her. “Everything okay? You don’t look your usual bubbly self.”
“Nothing one of your macchiatos can‘t fix.” She gave him a small smile. “Mind if I hang out here for a while?”
“Be my guest – you’re always welcome,” he said.
Stephanie selected an unoccupied armchair in one corner and picked up a magazine off the coffee table to read.
When Andy put her coffee down on the little table beside her chair, she was engrossed in an article on Michelle Obama.
He crouched down beside her and looked into her face. “Missing home?” he asked gently.
She gave a small smile. “It’s nothing. Just finding my feet,” she said.
“Don’t let Victoria get to you. She can be such a bitch. She doesn’t want James, but doesn’t want anyone else to have him either,” he whispered as he stood up and squeezed her shoulder.
“Thanks, Andy,” she said and smiled gratefully at him, wondering how on earth he had guessed what was bothering her. She didn’t think that she was that transparent. She was going to have to work on her ‘game face’ – first Matt and now Andy hitting the mark.