Page 96 of The Village of Lost and Found

‘Just a cold drink for me, thanks,’ said Lucy.

‘A cup of tea would be good,’ said Tom.

Lucy was glad to notice that Uncle Frank wasn’t limping as much these days. After a few weeks of rest and recuperation, his foot was beginning to heal.

Uncle Frank switched on the kettle before turning to bring a bag of dog treats out of a nearby drawer. He bent down to give Keith a couple and Lucy was glad to see how gentle the dog was with her uncle.

Looking up and catching Lucy’s smile, Uncle Frank said, ‘Well, I figured Keith would be accompanying you on future visits, so I took the precaution of getting in a little snack for him.’

They made small talk about the hot weather and Uncle Frank’s back garden, which was in full bloom, until they had their drinks and a plate of biscuits. Then they all went outside to sit at his small patio table.

‘So what couldn’t wait until a more respectable hour?’ asked Uncle Frank once they were all sitting down.

Lucy and Tom exchanged a look under Uncle Frank’s watchful eye.

Finally, with a deep breath, Lucy began to speak. ‘It’s about the newspaper,’ she said. ‘Except it’s not.’

Uncle Frank looked bemused and looked at Tom for clarification.

‘OK,’ said Tom. ‘Let me explain. Lucy’s had an idea for an expansion of the office. Not for the newspaper but for a community hub.’

Tom then turned to look at Lucy with a reassuring nod for her to speak.

‘It would be a local place for people to get together,’ she said, looking at her uncle. ‘It was like you said. There’s nowhere for people to gather, if you don’t include the pub. So I had the idea that maybe we could rent out Tom’s office to the Mothers and Toddlers group and maybe a few others. And we could also have some hot desks for people to use for work, and computer stuff, so that they’re not on their own at work.’

Uncle Frank took a sip of his tea in silence.

‘The newspaper would remain,’ said Tom. ‘But I think perhaps the time for printed editions is over. I’ve been doing some sums and maybe we should just go online instead. That doesn’t mean that we’re giving up on it. Just adapting to how people live these days, with the new website and using social media more.’

There was a short silence whilst Lucy and Tom exchanged a nervous look.

Finally, Uncle Frank put down his mug and looked at them both. ‘I agree,’ he said. ‘In fact, I heartily approve. I think it’s a marvellous idea and expect the hub to be much used. It would certainly offset the feelings of loneliness that so many people have these days. Even me. There is just one request, however.’

Lucy held her breath, wondering what it could be.

‘Could the sign above the door remain asThe Cranbridge Times?’ said Uncle Frank. ‘I know it’s a vanity thing, but it’s been there for so long.’

Lucy broke into a smile. ‘Of course!’ she said, feeling a little tearful. ‘The hub can come underThe Cranbridge Timesname. In fact, we’re going to spruce up the front a little as well.’

‘We are?’ asked Tom, looking at her in surprise.

‘With a little help from Amber,’ said Lucy, with a wink.

‘What about the practicalities?’ asked Uncle Frank.

Lucy leaned back in her chair and looked at Tom. After all, this was his department.

‘Well,’ began Tom. ‘We’re going to need public liability insurance in case anyone trips over a floorboard and wants to sue us.’

Uncle Frank nodded. ‘I agree.’

‘And we need to think about costs,’ said Tom. ‘How much money to set it up initially. And then how much to keep it running.’

Uncle Frank smiled. ‘I haven’t got any, I’m afraid. Money, I mean. The place is mortgage-free and yours to use with my blessing, but there are still bills to pay.’

‘We need to work out some kind of pricing structure to see how much we need to cover our costs,’ said Tom.

‘Without pricing out the very people we want to attract,’ added Uncle Frank.