Page 97 of The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts

‘I lovedBeauty and the Beast!’ said Molly, smiling.

‘Yeah except my happy ever after is more a screaming nightmare,’ said Belle.

‘Why?’ asked Molly.

‘That’s a tale for another time when we have lots of gin to drink,’ said Belle, briskly.

There was a sadness about her, thought Amber. Belle was a closed book but very friendly as well. Amber wondered how lonely Belle really was behind the strong, cynical façade.

‘So how are we going to deal with this Kate?’ asked Molly, whispering once more. ‘Could you tell her how you feel?’

Amber shook her head almost violently. ‘I can’t,’ she whispered. ‘I can’t face her. Not even after all this time. I know it’s not a big deal in the scheme of things. So many people have lost all their possessions in the floods. It’s just when I saw her, I felt about thirteen years old all over again.’

And all the pain and misery had returned as well, she thought.

‘We moved around a lot when I was young,’ Amber added. ‘Lots of different schools. It was hard, not having friends.’

‘Kids can be tough,’ said Belle.

Amber’s smile was tight as she nodded in agreement. ‘Then after I lost my job in New York, my parents suddenly retired early to New Zealand and I’m still looking for somewhere to call home.’

‘This is as good a place as any,’ said Belle, nodding thoughtfully. ‘Now, about the other problem. That bitchy Kate. There’s only two options as far as I can tell. One, I push her in the river.’

Molly giggled and even Amber managed to smile in response.

‘Or two, we can poison her with Aunty Angie’s cooking, which, let’s be honest, isn’t exactly unimaginable.’ Belle gave them both a winning smile.

Amber managed a small laugh and the release of emotion caused the tears to finally flow.

‘You’re OK,’ said Molly, giving her a hug and holding her tight. ‘We’ve got your back.’

‘And your front too,’ said Belle, squeezing her knee.

‘Thanks,’ said Amber, when she could finally speak again.

‘That’s what friends are for,’ Molly told her.

‘And I know I could do with a couple around here,’ said Belle. ‘You two are about the only women I know in my age group.’

‘Me too,’ said Amber.

‘Me three,’ added Molly, giving her another squeeze.

And so, for the first time in her life, Amber found that she had friends. And she found herself feeling a little stronger because of it.

The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of activity, for which Amber was grateful. But every time the shop bell rang out again, she gave a start. She found she was always glancing up nervously towards the front door, mainly in fear that Kate would return.

‘You OK?’ asked Josh later that day, looking at her. ‘You’ve been a bit quiet these last hours.’

It was true, she realised. The ease between them had been shattered once Kate had returned into her life. It was as if all her confidence had been eradicated in that one instance and she was back to the shy girl hiding behind the book once more.

‘I’m just tired,’ she told him, forcing a smile on her face.

‘I’m not surprised,’ he said. ‘It’s been a crazy time. Maybe you should take a day off.’

‘It’s fine,’ she said. ‘I’ll just have an early night tonight and get some sleep.’

He nodded thoughtfully. ‘Good,’ he said.