Page 69 of The Village of Lost and Found

‘Good morning,’ said Tom, stopping by the wall and panting heavily.

‘I always said running was bad for one’s health,’ said Frank, with a smile. ‘Are you a mirage? Am I hallucinating from my medication?’

‘I thought I’d take your advice and start to take care of myself,’ said Tom, holding his side and still trying to catch his breath.

Frank looked surprised but pleased. ‘I’m glad to hear a little good sense has sunk in over the years.’

‘Probably not nearly enough though,’ said Tom with a grin. ‘How’s the foot?’

‘I’ve just done my stretches,’ said Frank, looking down at the boot that he was wearing.

‘How much longer have you got to wear it?’ asked Tom.

‘Another few weeks yet,’ said Frank, with a grimace.

‘As long as you’re careful afterwards, it should mend,’ said Tom.

‘Oh yes,’ said Frank, nodding. ‘And don’t worry about me being careful. The nagging from the nurse and the doctor will be nothing compared to what I get from my niece!’

‘She uses up quite a lot of nagging on me these days,’ said Tom with a smile.

‘It’s nice for me to see you two getting along,’ said Frank.

Tom nodded. ‘Me too,’ he said. ‘Well, I’d better get home and showered before I get reprimanded for being late!’

They said their goodbyes and Tom headed over the pedestrian bridge towards home. He glanced at his watch. If he hurried, he could still make it in before Lucy, who had tended to come downstairs a little earlier over the past few days.

He found it was his favourite part of the day. She would come into his office and sit down so they could discuss their plans before Molly arrived. Her enthusiasm and passion for the paper lit up her whole face as she chatted animatedly to him.

He knew that it was totally inappropriate for him to have any kind of crush on someone who worked with him. He had to see her as nothing more than a colleague. Someone to help build the newspaper into what they both thought it could become. It could never be anything more. In any case, she was dating Henry. And yet he found himself hoping that it wasn’t serious with Henry.

It was crazy. Perhaps it was the summer heat. Yet his heart stirred every time they talked. It was just a crush, he told himself. An inappropriate, inconvenient crush. Nothing more.

Anyway, it was likely to end in disaster and he would probably end up hurting Lucy, which was the last thing he wanted to do. He would do right by her and just remain as friends. He had to. Because he was beginning to care too much about her.

38

The week had rushed by in such a blur that Lucy was surprised to find that it was Friday night already. Molly had arranged for a girly night in the apartment.

‘So Tom has called the dog Keith?’ said Amber, looking amazed as she picked up her glass of Prosecco.

Lucy nodded as she sat down next to Molly on the sofa. ‘I’m not sure Henry was particularly pleased.’

‘Tough,’ said Belle, looking cross. ‘He should have given him a proper name in the first place. Besides, the poor thing keeps running away. He’s obviously not very good with animals.’

‘Ironic as he owns a farm,’ said Amber, nodding.

Lucy didn’t want to speak ill of Henry, but she agreed with how the others felt. She and Henry had shared a brief kiss at the end of their date, but Lucy had been disappointed that she had no real feelings towards him.

Amber looked over at Molly, who was looking a little downcast and was uncharacteristically quiet. ‘What’s up?’ she asked.

‘Nothing,’ said Molly quickly.

‘We need to organise something for your birthday next weekend,’ said Belle.

But to everyone’s surprise, Molly just shrugged her shoulders. ‘I suppose.’ She looked up at them all. ‘Sorry. I’m just a bit blue.’

‘What did Gary do now?’ said Belle, rolling her eyes.