‘Must be a day fer seein’ folk I aven’t seen in ages.’ Liz pushes up the sleeves of her cardigan and sets her feet apart while she heaves a crate of soft drinks onto the counter. ‘If I’ve told Geoffrey once, I’ve told ‘im ‘undred times not t’leave ‘em there. If I don’t fall over the blasted things, I catch me legs on the way past. How ‘ave yer been, anyway?’ She lifts her head and smiles at Paula as she wipes her hands on the damp cloth she has been using to wipe the counter down. ‘Not poorly, I hope?’

‘Nooo, busy, that’s all. Nick’s had one or two things on so we’ve been here there and everywhere but only for overnight stays...unfortunately. You never get time to have a good look round do you, not if you’re only staying overnight?’

‘Wouldn’t know, my love. Can’t tell you the last time me and Geoffrey ‘ad a night away.’ She starts to fill the gaps on the shelf behind her with the bottles of squash. ‘More likely t’get the grandkids ‘ere while their mums and dads ‘ave a bit of quiet time.’

‘That’s nice though,’ Paula says wistfully ‘Must be wonderful to have them around.’

‘Oh, we’re as daft as they make ‘em when the kiddies are about but they seem t’like us the better for it. Not like the other grannies...’ She pushes the tip of her nose upwards with the side of her index finger. ‘A bit ‘seen but not heard’, they are...but then it takes all kinds, don’t it?’

‘True.’

‘How’s that boy a yours gettin’ on? I did think what they’d end up back ‘ere again.’ Liz puts the empty crate to one side and wipes her hands once more.

‘Mmm....’ Paula looks away for a moment and shifts her bag further onto her shoulder, hooking her thumb through the strap and clasping her gloved hands together. ‘Would be nice but it’s not for us to decide. We’ve kept out of it as far as we can.’

‘Oooh, you mean they was thinkin’ on it?’ Liz leans folded arms on the counter and bends forward, eager for any titbit of information.

‘Marcus is all for staying over there,’ Paula admits. Feeling cornered but happy to talk about it to someone other than family, she still hesitates.  ‘This is between us, isn’t it?’

‘Course it is. I’m ‘ere fer anyone who wants an ear. Sometimes talkin’ ‘bout summat cuts it down t’size. Call meself a public service, I do,’ she laughs ‘but I never pass anythin’ on ‘less folk want it known.’

‘No...sorry, I shouldn’t have asked, I know that already. You’re a good friend to a lot of people.’

‘Well’ Liz flushes modestly although her ample bosom seems to puff with pride. ‘Not sure I’d go that far...but I thank you all the same. Been a bit of disagreement then, ‘as there? Seemed like you was meanin’ t’say summat else.’

Paula takes a deep breath. ‘Marie is very homesick. That holiday feeling has gone now and she misses her family and her friends terribly. I think she knows her loyalty has got to be with Marcus but she’s very upset at present. Marcus only wants her to be happy but he’s saying their life over there could be good if only she’d give it more of a chance.’

‘I can see why you’d want t’be keepin’ out of it. You side with ‘er on the quiet, don’t yer? Nothin’ you’d like more’n ‘avin ‘em all back ‘ere.’

‘It’s not for us to try and persuade them one way or another.’

‘Tha’s the right way t’think on it. It’d only come back t’bite yer if they come an’ it all went wrong.’

‘Exactly what we keep telling ourselves. It’s so hard to be neutral when neither of them have any real family over there but what Marcus says is true, I suppose. He’s got a job, a house, and he’s doing well.  And we mustn’t forget Luke, it’s the only home he’s ever known.’

‘Kiddies soon adapt though, don’t they? They sees it all like a chance t’make diff’rent friends, see new things. The world’s a very small place t’them, they don’t think on it as leavin’ anythin’ behind, just findin out more. Experience, I s’pose you’d call it.’

‘You think so?’ For a short time, Paula looks encouraged by the suggestion that one hurdle could so easily be overcome but lapses into her more pensive mood again. ‘If only that was the whole problem. Still,’ she says, forcing a cheerful smile as she puts a selection of chocolate bars on the counter next to a sheaf of magazines and pulls her purse from her bag. ‘Reading mindless rubbish and stuffing my face with chocolate should put me in a better mood.’

‘So.....’ Liz starts to ring the items into the till, moving each from one side of the counter to the other as she does so. ‘All they needs is a job an’ a house an’ all’d be rosy.’

‘That’s all.’ Paula laughs dryly. ‘They’d be welcome to stay with us but that’s not what they want and I can understand that. I can see why they’d want to have their own place.  Living with parents would be a backward step as far as they’re both concerned.’

‘Mmm...it would.’

‘And so the argument goes on. It’s no good me worrying about it.’

‘Look...’ Liz says, giving Paula her change and holding her hand while she counts into it. ‘I don’t want t’speak out a turn after what I said earlier...but I don’t reckon it were no secret.’

‘What wasn’t?’

‘I won’t tell yer direct in case they wouldn’t want me to but someone were ‘atchin’ summat ‘cept he never got chance to say nothin ‘fore your boy went back, what with his girlfriend bein’ run over n’ bein’ in hospital, poor lamb.’

Paula hides a smile, knowing exactly who Liz is talking of despite her taking care not to mention any names.

‘Think all on ‘em were throwed upside down be that ‘appenin’. ‘Ere...’ A sudden thought occurs to her. ‘You see the lad a James sometimes, don’t yer?’

‘Kester? Yes...we both go to the same gym.’

Liz taps the side of her nose. ‘You ‘ave a word wi’im then, ‘e knows what I’m on about.’

Milliwick Newsagents

Chapter Forty-six

The Allotments

‘Nice t’see a drop o’sun fer a change.’  Charlie lifts his face, his eyes closed and enjoying its scanty warmth.

‘Bloomin’ parky first thing.’ George huddles into the neck of his jacket and wraps his arms around his body. ‘T’ain’t that much blasted warmer now!’ he says, tucking his bare hands into his armpits. Dunno why we couldn’t ‘ave ‘ad our cuppa in the shed.’

From the other side of George on the wooden bench, Ernie elbows him in the ribs and chortles ‘So’s he can tell Edna truthful he spent all his time on the allotment.’

‘You ain’t wrong there, boy.’ Charlie stretches out his legs, lifting one foot to scrape the heel of his boot over and over again on the ankle of his other leg.

‘You been bit?’

‘Summat’s got me,’ he bends forward to examine the bite and give it a scratch. ‘Little begger. Sun’s nice but it brings ‘em out.’

‘Don’t hurt none ter ‘ave a bit o’mud on yer trousers fer Edna’s benefit, neither. Tha’s what I thought you was doin’’ George stirs himself to offer some sympathy and advice. ‘Spit on it’

‘I could go and get yer some stuff from me car,’ Ernie offer a little less readily. ‘If yer really wants some. I got a kit in the back.’

‘Nah...Edna’ll sort me out when I gets ‘ome.’

‘She will iffin we don’t get a bit o’diggin’ done.’ George spends a moment on the thought and settles back, regardless.

‘She wunt know, boy.’ Charlie sniffs, sure of himself, and takes a swig from his mug, resting it on his stomach as he stretches his legs again.

‘Wouldn’t be s’certain a that if I was you.’

‘You needn’t think yer gonna get a pint out a me not t’tell ‘er, so you can think on.’

‘I ain’t the one yer’ll ‘ave t’bribe.’ George lays his arm along the top rail at the back of the seat and flicks Charlie’s hat forward so it covers his eyes. ‘Thick as thieves, ain’t they?’

‘Who?’ Annoyed, Charlie grunts and puts his cap straight.

‘Er ‘n the fella what’s headin’ this way grinnin’ ‘is ‘ead off.’

‘Afternoon, gentlemen.’ David Owen calls from the far side of the plot. ‘Busy, I see.’

‘Just lettin’ me dinner go down.’ Charlie slops tea down his front in his haste to put his mug to one side and grab the fork driven into the grassy path at his feet. ‘I thought you was still on yer ‘olidays,’ he says, stepping off of the path. ‘You’ll ‘ave t’excuse me while I gets on.’

‘I got the idea it were some Foreigner come sight-seeing.’ Ernie laughs and gets to his feet, offering his hand. ‘You only needs a turban or one of them tea-towels what they wear.’

‘Hello, Ernie.’ David shakes his hand. ‘Good to see you again. How’s things with you?’

‘Pretty good,’ he nods and lets his hand drop. ‘They never told me you was booked in again.’

‘Spur of the moment decision but I managed to get a bed.’

George starts to chuckle before Ernie has time to respond. ‘Look at ‘im go!’ he says, watching Charlie breaking up the soil. ‘We told ‘im you’d tell Edna if ‘e weren’t workin’ ‘is socks off.’

David watches for a while, grinning as broadly as the two other men.  ‘I’ve already seen Edna’ he says out of the corner of his mouth. ‘How long shall we give it before I let on?’

‘I’d let ‘im finish the row.’

‘That’s a bit harsh. ‘

‘Arsh be beggared, ‘e’s only showin’ off t’ make us look bad!’

‘Even so.....’

‘He’ll be knackered in five minutes going at it like that,’ Ernie takes a few steps towards the shed behind them. ‘so he won’t be long. Best get the kettle going again.’

‘Er....Less than five minutes.’ David shakes his head and grins as Charlie walks towards them mopping his brow. ‘Hot work?’

‘You should know more’n most’ Charlie blows a breath over his face. ‘That’ll do fer a bit. Made a start, any road.’

‘I was just about to brew up again.’ Ernie tells him before looking at David. ‘You fancy a cuppa, lad?’

‘I can do a bit better than that.’ David says, holding up a carrier bag and turning it so they can see the Duty Free logo emblazoned on its front. ‘Found out you were here from Edna, so rather than leave it at home....where it’d get rationed,’ he winks slyly ‘I thought it’d be better off in your shed.’

‘Now you’s talkin, boy! Shove up, George, make room fer a little’un...and bring another mug, Ern.’