Page 11 of The Village of Lost and Found

She glanced up and was grateful to see that at least the old oak beams criss-crossing above the apex ceiling had remained the same. But it was the only thing that had.

The kitchen where Aunt Jane had cooked up so many delicious recipes was also transformed. Someone had painted, quite badly, each oak cupboard door in either black or pink, with huge crystal door handles and glittery stickers all over the tiles.

Lucy rubbed her eyes which were aching at the sight. This was awful. How could anyone bear to live in a place like this? Even worse, it felt as if her many precious happy memories from her childhood had been brushed away with every sweep of black paint.

She spun around slowly once more and realised that every surface and shelf was cluttered with photos of family and friends, jostling for space with tea light holders, candlesticks, ornaments and bejewelled boxes.

As a final touch, a tall bookcase was completely filled with every kind and colour of china cat. They were all looking down at her, as equally unhappy about being there as she felt, it seemed.

Uncle Frank had told her that her flatmate, Molly, was a sweet girl. And she would certainly have never believed that the mild-mannered, cheerful receptionist she had met the other day would ever live in a place as wildly decorated as this.

With a heavy heart, Lucy walked slowly towards the front of the apartment where the bedrooms and bathroom were. She glanced at the first open door where there were shoes next to the bed and a book on the bedside table. This room had been decorated in dramatic jungle wallpaper, complete with a fake lion throw on the floor and many plastic plants.

Lucy hesitatingly walked towards the next bedroom which would be where she had planned to stay. She pushed open the door and took a deep inhale of breath.

The jungle theme had continued into the second bedroom, although this time the lion had been replaced by parrots of every colour in the wallpaper. In fact, there was hardly any jungle and mostly parrots watching her from every angle.

Lucy’s heart sank. How would she ever get to sleep with all the birds watching her? It was pretty awful, but at least it wasn’t bright pink and black, she had to concede.

She dropped the bags onto the floor of the bedroom and brought out her phone, ready to call Uncle Frank and ask him what on earth had been going on in the apartment. But at the last minute, she shoved her phone back in her pocket without calling him. He was hopefully having a much-needed nap. And besides, perhaps he didn’t even know about the redecoration, she told herself.

She would just have to put up with it for the time being. After all, her plans weren’t exactly to stay in Cranbridge any longer than necessary.

Lucy carried on bringing all her stuff up into the apartment until finally it was piled in her bedroom. Thankfully, the room was big enough as she was loath to leave anything in the chaotic, crowded lounge.

She was just beginning to unpack some clothes when she heard someone call out, ‘Hello! Anyone home?’

Lucy headed out of her bedroom and nearly bumped into the young woman coming the other way.

‘Hi,’ said Molly, giving her a weary smile. ‘I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you arrived. I’ve been lying down at Mum’s as I think I’ve got a migraine coming on. Anyway, how are you? How are you getting on? Did you find everything?’

Finally she stopped to draw breath so Lucy was able to say, ‘Hi. Nice to meet you again. Yeah, it’s all good, thanks.’

Lucy thought Molly was about ten years younger than her, in her early twenties.

‘Wow, I love your jacket,’ said Molly, stroking the soft leather of the coat that Lucy had flung over one of the kitchen chairs. ‘That’s not Primark, is it?’

Lucy shook her head, a little embarrassed about the cost of the jacket. ‘So you think you’re getting a migraine?’ she asked.

Molly grimaced. ‘Just feeling a bit sick and a thumping headache on one side. That’s how it normally starts.’ She sank down onto the sofa.

‘Can I get you anything?’ asked Lucy.

‘Thanks, but I think I’ll just rest up and hope the pills work,’ said Molly, rubbing her forehead. ‘You know, technically this is your flat more than mine. Being Frank’s niece and everything. Perhaps you should take the bigger bedroom. It’s got a double built-in wardrobe.’

The space was tempting, but she wasn’t sure she’d get on any better with the lion rather than the parrots. So Lucy shook her head. ‘Don’t worry about it. I’m not sure how long I’m staying for anyway.’

Molly’s face dropped a little. ‘Oh! That’s a shame.’ Then she brightened up once more. ‘Look, Mum’s made us both a plate of her roast dinner, but there’s no way I’ve got the stomach for it tonight. Have you eaten dinner?’

Lucy shook her head. ‘Not yet.’

Molly smiled. ‘Mum said that you wouldn’t have had time, especially if you were busy taking care of Frank. So help yourself. It only needs reheating.’

Lucy was touched. ‘That’s very kind,’ she said. ‘She shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble.’

Molly shrugged her shoulders. ‘Mum always cooks far too much food. You know what mums are like.’

Lucy thought of her own mum and had no idea what she could even cook. The idea of her mum cooking her a large roast dinner was totally at odds with the woman who held or attended catered dinner parties most evenings.