Finding Home by Kate Field (books for 6 year olds to read themselves .TXT) 📕

salmon and cucumber sandwiches, and a slice of Mrs Dennis’s finest carrot cake.’

‘You really didn’t need to do all this.’ Mim sliced the top off an egg and dipped in a toast soldier. It was perfectly cooked and the yolk dribbled down the toast. ‘I’m quite used to looking after myself.’

‘You don’t need to while you’re with us. We all look out for each other.’ Bea rested a hand briefly on Mim’s shoulder. ‘Besides, I’m buttering you up as I have a favour to ask.’

‘Anything.’

‘It isn’t too horrendous. I wondered if you’d drive me to Honiton one day next week to collect my dress for the Valentine’s event. Bill refuses to go near a lady’s dress shop. I don’t trust Lia’s driving, and I’d prefer not to trouble Ros now she’s expecting. What do you say?’

‘I’d be happy to.’ Mim smiled. ‘As long as you give me directions as I haven’t a clue where that place is.’

‘Even better, we’ll take Bill’s car and then we can use the sat nav if we need to. No offence, my dear, but it will be a far more comfortable ride. Let me borrow your driving licence and I’ll add you to the insurance.’

‘Did I see you leaving Vennhallow this morning?’ Corin asked, as Mim pulled him a pint in the Boat that evening. She didn’t need to ask what he wanted anymore. He turned up at least two out of the four nights she worked there, usually with Dickens at his heels, and always had a pint of a local real ale with a half for her. If he was early, he would sit with Dickens and read a newspaper, but he was rarely on his own for long. He seemed to know everyone who came in and was happy to chat to them all.

‘I can’t answer that,’ Mim said, placing his drink on the bar. ‘I did leave the house this morning. If you were hanging about you might have seen me.’

‘I was and I did.’

‘There’s a word for men who lurk in the bushes, spying.’

‘There are two words. Dog owner. I was taking Dickens for his morning walk.’ He bent down and scratched the top of the dog’s head. ‘Was there an emergency that you were there so early? Mum and Lia aren’t usually awake at that time.’

‘No emergency. I’m staying there for a couple of nights while work is done on the caravans.’ She hesitated, his change clasped in her hand. She didn’t want him to get the wrong idea – to think that she was worming her way in. That was one of the many accusations that Gordon’s daughter had thrown at her while she was working at the hotel. She wasn’t going through all that again. ‘It wasn’t my idea. I’d have been happy to stay in the caravan. But Bea and Lia insisted.’

‘Insisted?’ Corin smiled. ‘I’m surprised that’s all they did. I’m amazed they didn’t simply move your things and present you with a fait accompli.’

Mim laughed but didn’t reply. He wasn’t far off the truth with that remark. She held out his change. He looked at it but didn’t take it.

‘Don’t be afraid to stand your ground,’ he said. ‘My family have an annoying habit of taking over. Why let you do something yourself if they can do it for you?’

‘I’m not afraid of anything.’ Mim slapped his change down on the bar. ‘Besides, I wouldn’t call that annoying. Your family are kind and they care about each other. A lot of people would be glad to have a family like yours. It’s all I ever wanted. And stop giving me that pitying look,’ she added, as she turned away to attend to another customer. ‘That really is annoying.’

By the time she’d pulled the next pint, Corin had taken his change and he and Dickens were talking to an old man at a table in front of the fire.

He was back at the bar an hour later with his empty glass.

‘Another?’ Mim asked.

‘No, I’d better go.’ Corin pulled some leaflets out of the inner pocket of his coat and put them on the bar. ‘I only popped in to give you these. It’s information about some of the tourist attractions in the area. Have a look and see if anything looks interesting. I have access to a minibus, so we could offer excursions if you think that would work.’

Mim flicked through some of the leaflets. There was a theme park, a donkey sanctuary, a swannery – whatever that was – and that was only from the first few on the pile.

‘How can I choose?’ she asked. ‘They all look interesting to me.’

‘No problem.’ Corin smiled. ‘I’ll take you to check them out. Let me know when you’re free.’

After missing out on the meeting with Susie, Mim was relieved that the first day of working on the caravans was fixed for a Wednesday. She knew that Heather and Karen would be coming up, and presumably Lia, but didn’t have high hopes for a larger crowd on a midweek day. She was surprised to arrive back after swimming and find an additional half a dozen people ready to start work. Most were familiar faces from the pub or the shop, although she didn’t know their names.

‘Where have all these people come from?’ she asked Heather, as they made their way over to the group.

‘They’re all villagers who want to support the charity,’ she said. ‘It’s a popular idea. With most people anyway; there’s inevitably a few who would install road blocks to keep the tourists out of Devon if they could. Bobby and Corin have been spreading the word for a couple of weeks.’

Corin wasn’t here today; Mim had already noticed that.

‘I didn’t realise it would go down so well,’ she said. Heather smiled.

‘I didn’t doubt it. We’re a close-knit village, but not a wealthy one – with a few obvious exceptions. Many of us know what it’s like to struggle for money. But