Page 24 of The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts

‘I think that’s a good idea,’ he said quickly.

‘You do?’ Cathy looked amazed.

‘Of course,’ he told his mum.

Cathy looked at Amber. ‘Are you sure? The idea was for you to come for a bit of a break. Not work on windows and go to miserable hospital appointments.’

‘I’ll be fine,’ said Amber.

If anything, Cathy was even more nervous on the way to the hospital. So Amber found herself chatting more than she had ever done before to fill the silence. She talked about New York, her clothes and the work she had displayed in the windows.

Thankfully she was only just running out of things to say when they arrived for Cathy’s appointment.

Amber respected Cathy’s wishes to be left alone and therefore sat on the chairs outside the consultant’s room whilst she met with the doctor. She kept everything crossed as she waited for Cathy to reappear.

In the meantime, she saw many patients in the Oncology wing who weren’t looking half as healthy as Cathy. It was hard to see so many people who were so obviously unwell. For the first time, Amber thought how difficult it must have been for Josh to go through that as a son, as well as Cathy herself.

Finally, after what felt like a very long time, Cathy left the consultant’s room. To Amber’s horror, her aunt’s face was shiny with tears.

She was just thinking of something, anything, to say, when Cathy broke into a wide smile. ‘It’s OK,’ she said, laughing and crying at the same time. ‘They’re happy tears. The consultant doesn’t want to see me for a whole year.’

Then they were both laughing and crying with relief as they hugged each other.

‘I’ll ring Josh and then shall we have a cup of tea in the café before we head home?’ said Cathy. ‘And a piece of cake to celebrate. I don’t want to go back yet.’

Once they had bought their lemon drizzle cake and tea, they sat down on the edge of the busy café in the hospital.

‘Cheers,’ said Amber, holding up her cup to chink it against Cathy’s.

‘Thank you,’ said Cathy, still beaming from ear to ear. ‘I think I’m in shock. I’ve worried about this appointment for weeks.’

‘Well, now you can relax and not worry about it for a whole twelve months,’ said Amber.

‘They said they’ll sign me off for good after that,’ said Cathy, leaning back in her chair and sighing with relief. ‘It’s felt like my whole life has been on hold for so long.’

Amber nodded as she glanced around the café. ‘Me too,’ she found herself blurting out. Being in the hospital and seeing so many ill people had made her realise that she ought to be making the most of her life and not just let it slip by.

Cathy was startled. ‘You too?’

‘It doesn’t matter,’ said Amber, instantly regretting her words. ‘Today is all about you. Not me.’

‘Tell me,’ urged Cathy.

Amber took a deep breath. ‘My whole life seems to have stagnated. I really wasn’t that happy in London or New York, to be honest.’

‘A lot of people find a city overwhelming. Especially if they’re a little shy.’

Amber nodded. ‘I just don’t know what to do next.’

Cathy leant forward to take a bite of cake. ‘So why don’t you stay in Cranbridge until you work out what it is you want?’ she said, wiping the icing from her lips.

Amber smiled at her godmother. ‘I think Mum might have something to say about that.’

‘Well, I’ve been thinking about her as well,’ said Cathy with a sheepish grin. ‘Maybe I can offer your mum an alternative.’

‘A different daughter?’ said Amber, laughing.

‘A different visitor,’ said Cathy with a gleam in her eyes. ‘Me.’