A Taste of Home by Heidi Swain (the beginning after the end read novel TXT) 📕

‘I’ll see you out,’ Grandad cut in, sensing that my temper was about to get the better of me.

‘I can see myself out,’ said Mr Pagett, thankfully doing just that.

‘Don’t worry about the apology for wasting our time,’ I called after him, ‘or taxpayers’ money.’

‘Fliss!’ Grandad scolded. ‘Pipe down.’

‘Well,’ I scowled.

‘Well nothing,’ he said. ‘If he’s the fella we end up having to deal with, then we’ll need to keep him onside.’

‘We won’t have to keep anyone onside,’ I told him, ‘because this place is going to be perfect by the time we want to register it and launch the business. I’m going to make sure that neither he nor anyone else can find fault with a single thing, but first I want to find out who reported us. What a ridiculously petty thing to do and what a waste of time!’

‘My reckoning is that no one did,’ Grandad mildly said. ‘Tom works for the council, doesn’t he? He most likely mentioned what a lovely weekend he’d had to his colleagues in his office and that jobsworth, Pagett overheard and made it his business to come and rap our knuckles before he’d got the full story.’

I couldn’t believe he could be so calm about it.

‘Do you really think that?’

‘I do,’ he said. ‘The council is full of chaps like him. They’re always desperate to use the little bit of authority their job titles give them. Now, are you still going to town?’

‘Yes,’ I said, my temper dissipating as I thought of what I was going to do next. ‘Is that all right?’

‘Of course,’ he nodded. ‘Just make sure you’re back before this storm hits.’

I looked out at the still clear blue sky and sunshine.

‘It’s definitely coming,’ he said, spotting my doubtful expression. ‘I can feel it in my bones.’

The town was quiet after what I imagined were the excesses of the bank holiday celebrations and therefore, I split the delivery of fruit between Jemma and Chris Dempster so neither would be left with produce they couldn’t sell. Both Jemma and Lizzie were still full of enthusiasm for Saturday night and I knew neither they nor Jake and Amber would have played a part in reporting us to the council.

‘I wouldn’t be too long before you head back to the farm,’ said Lizzie, following me to the café door and looking out. ‘There’s a storm coming.’

‘Not you as well,’ I tutted. ‘Everyone’s obsessed with the weather today, and look at it. A perfect summer’s day.’

‘Not according to Annie, who was here earlier,’ she darkly said before disappearing back inside.

Bella and Princess were sitting outside the boutique when I walked around to the courtyard.

‘Hello my love,’ Bella warmly smiled. ‘Are you coming to see me?’

‘Not today I’m afraid,’ I said, reluctantly turning towards the jewellers.

I hesitated, taking in the peeling signage and gloomy interior. The little shop would have been a perfect addition to Diagon Alley and when I stepped over the threshold, I discovered that the proprietor could have been mistaken for Mr Ollivander himself.

‘Hello my dear,’ he smiled. ‘Can I help you with anything, or would you prefer to browse?’

‘I do need some help actually,’ I swallowed, knowing there was nothing to be gained from prolonging the agony. ‘I want to ask you about something that I believe you had for sale here recently.’

‘Ask away,’ the shopkeeper obligingly said. ‘I’ll willingly help if I can.’

‘It was a watch,’ I said, my voice catching, ‘a gent’s Rolex.’

‘The nineteen forties rose gold square,’ he beamed.

He sounded utterly besotted.

‘That’s the one,’ I nodded.

‘Came in and out as quick as a flash,’ he said, sounding regretful. ‘If I’d have known, I wouldn’t have put it out so soon. I would have liked a bit longer in its company. The arrowhead shaped batons and exquisite movement,’ he dreamily added, clasping his hands together. ‘Such a rarity and in such wonderful condition.’

There was no doubting it was Grandad’s watch he was describing, but of course I’d known it would be, what with the Rolex-shaped gap in the jewellery box back at the farm. Coming out of his reverie the shopkeeper looked at me and narrowed his eyes.

‘There wasn’t a problem with it, was there? The person who sold it had more than the usual provenance and I paid handsomely for it.’

‘Oh no,’ I said. ‘No problem at all. I’d just like to know if you can remember anything about the person who came in with it.’

‘Oh, well…’ he began, taking a step back, ‘I’m not sure…’

‘Please,’ I pleaded. ‘It’s very important.’

He tussled with his conscience for a moment or two.

‘It was a woman,’ he eventually said. ‘Middle-aged, curly grey hair. I can’t recall her name but she’s local. I’m sure I’ve seen her about the town.’

I muttered a hurried thank you, left the shop and walked back to the square where I stood and rested my head on the Land Rover door while I thought about what to do next. The only conclusion I could come to was that Grandad had sold the watch to fund the club and I felt sorely disappointed in Louise for not talking him out of it. I bet if Eliot had known what was going on, he’d have put a stop to it and told me to boot.

A sharp gust of wind tugged at the bottom of my T-shirt and I noticed it felt much cooler than before. I looked up and found the sun had all but disappeared behind a sky loaded with dark clouds. The anticipated storm was coming. It was the perfect portent and I shivered with more than the chill.

‘Fliss,’ said a voice close by, ‘are you all right?’

‘Oh Anthony,’ I said, feeling dazed and, for the moment, unguarded, ‘no, not really. I’ve just had a bit of bad news. I think I need to sit down.’

‘Come on,’ he said. ‘Let’s go over to the pub.’

He steered me into a seat next to the door and then went