Page 90 of The Village of Lost and Found

‘Snooze and you lose,’ said Lucy, giving her one last pose before she turned to wade back across to the riverbank where Belle and Amber had been lounging on the bench nearby, soaking up the sun.

‘This is so lovely,’ said Amber, stretching like a cat in the sun. ‘Too lovely. I should get back to the shop.’

‘You’re allowed a lunch break and Josh said you should take a breather outside,’ said Belle, leaning back against the bench with her sunglasses on.

‘What about the pub?’ asked Lucy.

Belle made a face, almost hidden by her enormous sunglasses. ‘I’m entitled to a break as well,’ she said. ‘My aunt and uncle have been at each other’s throats all day.’

‘Maybe it’s the heat,’ said Molly.

‘I think it’s just because today’s got a Y in it,’ said Belle, with a sigh. ‘Remind me to never get married.’

Amber looked up with a start. ‘That’s awful,’ she said. ‘Not every couple are like them.’

‘I know,’ sighed Belle. ‘But, believe me, if you had to live with them, then they’d put you off romance for life. You know how I feel about that love kind of stuff. Anyway, Lucy agrees with me.’

‘Absolutely,’ said Lucy quickly.

Amber and Belle looked at each other and exchanged a knowing smile but didn’t say anything.

‘Does anyone want an ice cream?’ called out Tom as he passed by on his way to the shop.

‘No, thanks,’ they all replied, except Belle who asked for a strawberry sorbet.

‘That new flavour is lovely,’ said Amber. ‘But I mustn’t eat any more otherwise I won’t be able to fit into my shorts soon.’

‘Talking of shorts, Tom’s fit very nicely these days,’ said Belle. ‘Have you seen him out jogging recently?’

‘He looks much better, don’t you think?’ agreed Amber.

‘Oh yes,’ said Lucy, in a wistful tone.

There followed a short silence before she turned to find both Amber and Belle grinning at her.

‘Shut up,’ she told them.

Belle brought down her sunglasses onto the end of her nose. Her eyes were screwed up as she studied Lucy. ‘Told you she was a terrible actress,’ she said, looking smug as she pushed her sunglasses back on.

‘What are you talking about?’ asked Lucy.

Amber merely smiled and brought her face up to the sun.

‘Whatever it is that’s going on between you two,’ said Belle.

‘Me and Molly?’ asked Lucy, deliberately misunderstanding her.

Belle rolled her eyes. ‘You know who I’m talking about.’ She nodded with her head at the newspaper office behind them.

Lucy blushed bright red. ‘Nothing’s going on,’ she said quickly. ‘We’re just friends, that’s all.’

‘Just friends?’ asked Belle.

The question hung in the air and Lucy groaned. ‘So maybe I like him. Just a little tiny bit. What am I supposed to do?’ she whispered.

‘Grab him by the collar and kiss him,’ said Belle.

Lucy was aghast. ‘I can’t do that!’