The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts Page 14

  ‘So we need to concentrate on the walls and ceiling first,’ he carried on. ‘What about the fireplace? Shall we hide it again? We could use the storage space.’

  But Amber shook her head. ‘I was actually thinking of making it a feature.’

  ‘Of course you were,’ he drawled.

  ‘If you want, we can always place something in front of it later,’ she said, keen to appease his concerns. ‘But in the meantime, to be honest, it’s pretty cold in here so the extra heating would be nice.’

  He went over to peer into the large wood-burning stove that had been installed in the fireplace. ‘I can remember Dad lighting this when we first came here,’ he said. ‘I’ll see if I can get a chimney sweep out to check the flue. I don’t want the whole place to go up in flames, or die of carbon monoxide poisoning in my bed.’ He laughed. ‘Unless it’s for the insurance money of course. Kidding!’ he added, at Amber’s horrified face.

  ‘Just warn me before you light it,’ she said. ‘I don’t want to go up in smoke either.’

  She looked at the long wall on the far side of the shop. Without the interruption of the chimney and fireplace, it was actually far longer than she had realised and could probably hold almost six shelving units along the whole stretch.

  But Josh insisted that he wanted to paint the wall before they placed the oak shelves back against it. So whilst Amber sanded them down, Josh began to prepare the ceiling and walls.

  Along with the tractor, it meant that the shop was even more crowded than normal when a rare customer came in.

  ‘Have my cataracts got worse?’ said Grandma Tilly, standing at the front door to the shop and staring around in wide-eyed disbelief.

  She hadn’t been in the shop for a couple of days and hadn’t seen it since the tractor had been moved.

  Josh frowned down at her from the top rung of his stepladder. ‘Is everything OK? I said I’d pop in and see you later.’

  Grandma Tilly smiled. ‘I just needed to get out and have some fresh air,’ she said. ‘So, am I allowed to ask what’s going on?’

  ‘We’re having a mini makeover,’ Amber told her.

  Tilly smiled. ‘It looks a tad more than “mini” to me, I would say.’

  ‘I agree,’ said Josh, as Amber knocked over a pile of tins that had been tottering precariously only a few moments previously.

  ‘Gosh, I’d forgotten about that,’ said Tilly, weaving her way through the mess to look at the fireplace.

  ‘Isn’t it pretty?’ said Amber.

  ‘My husband installed that many years ago,’ said Tilly with a knowing smile.

  ‘I don’t remember Grandad being good with his hands like that,’ said Josh.

  ‘Oh yes,’ said Tilly, turning to look at the tractor. ‘Mind you, it was your dad that loved this old thing. I don’t remember it being quite so prominent in the shop before though. Although I could be losing my marbles, of course.’

  ‘No, that’s just us,’ Josh replied, giving Amber a pointed look.

  She waved his concerns away with her hand. ‘It’s going to look worse before it looks better,’ she told Grandma Tilly.

  ‘Then perhaps I think you’re at rock bottom now, my dear,’ said Tilly, with a wink. ‘But I’m sure you young folks know what you’re doing.’

  ‘But maybe don’t tell Mum about all this quite yet,’ suggested Josh.

  Tilly nodded. ‘I agree.’ She looked around at the mess. ‘Is there anything I can do to help?’

  ‘We can’t have you hurting yourself,’ Josh told her. ‘It’s such a mess in here.’

  Grandma Tilly looked downcast. ‘Well, if you’re sure, I guess I’d better head home and see what’s on daytime TV.’

  Amber realised that Tilly needed to feel useful even though the shop really was too much of a mess at the moment for her to be safe.

  ‘How’s my blanket coming along?’ asked Amber.

  ‘Nearly done,’ said Tilly, brightening up a little. ‘I’ll have to start on your mum’s after that.’

  ‘Great,’ said Amber.

  ‘I’ll swing by later,’ shouted Josh as she left. His phone bleeped in his pocket so he checked his messages after climbing down the stepladder. ‘So, I’ve heard from the chimney sweep,’ he told Amber. ‘But it’s going to cost at least £100 for him to come and service the thing. Maybe we can just leave the wood-burning stove for show or something.’

  ‘Look,’ said Amber. ‘You may not feel the cold in that nice leather jacket of yours, but it’s always freezing in here and you want people to linger and shop. I thought that was the point. To make money? So you need to encourage people through the door, which hopefully I can do with some different and more enticing kinds of window display. But then they need to stay put in here for a while, which we’re both trying to sort out. Then they shop. Linger. In the warmth. Maybe even pick up more things to buy.’

  ‘OK. You wore me down,’ he told her, holding his hand out to stop her going on any further.

  ‘The white looks good though,’ she said, looking up at the ceiling. ‘Much better than that cream colour. Especially on a gloomy day like today.’

  He glanced outside. It hadn’t stopped raining for a few days and the forecast said it was likely to continue. But, in a way, it was perfect that it was a dark and dismal autumnal day. The shop needed to be shown in its worst light in order for it to be dressed.

  ‘I’ll call the chimney sweep when I head over to the cash and carry,’ said Josh, bringing out his van keys.

  ‘Oh! There were a couple of things I needed,’ said Amber quickly.

  ‘No worries,’ said Josh. ‘We’ll close up the shop.’

  Amber looked alarmed. ‘Do you think we should?’

  Josh rolled his eyes before grabbing his van keys. ‘Yeah, Harrods is really concerned about the competition right about now.’

  Amber enjoyed the journey out in Josh’s van. Being a little higher meant she could see over the hedgerows and enjoy the countryside, although everywhere was looking muddy and wet.

  First of all, they visited the builder’s merchants and bought some more white paint. Amber insisted they didn’t get the cheapest paint as it would be too thin.

  ‘Less time painting many coats means the quicker it’ll dry and then we can start putting the stock back on the shelves,’ she told him.

  It was a bit like coming up against a brick wall, she thought. She knew they didn’t have much money and she wasn’t deliberately being extravagant, but she also knew that it had to be done properly if they were to maximise the look of the place.

  As they headed next door to the cash and carry, Josh asked, ‘How come you aren’t as confident about yourself as you are with the shop?’

  ‘Because it’s not personal,’ she told him, after a pause. ‘Designing shop windows is always easier.’

  She followed him into the cash and carry and was amazed at the sheer volume of goods available.

  ‘It’s all good quality,’ he told her, picking up a few bales of loo rolls and kitchen paper. ‘That should keep us going until Christmas.’

  She hesitated before nodding.

  ‘What?’ he asked, turning to face her. ‘Why am I sensing disapproval?’

  ‘No, no,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘I understand why you shop here.’

  ‘But…?’ he prompted.

  ‘I don’t know,’ she said, feeling uncomfortable. ‘It’s just not very, er, countrified?’

  He looked at her. ‘What do you want? Straw on the floor and hay bales to sit on?’

  ‘Not that,’ she said. ‘It’s just all this stuff is cheap, and that’s great. But it doesn’t feel very individual. Original, I mean.’

  ‘We can’t afford original,’ he told her. ‘This stuff just about keeps our head above water.’

  He picked up some pints of milk and added it to their large trolley.

  She hesitated before deciding to speak up. ‘What about your ecology credentials?’

  He looked at h
er. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘How much of this is recyclable? Sustainable?’

  He frowned. ‘We don’t have the luxury of profits to be sustainable unfortunately.’

  His good mood seemed to have completely evaporated, so Amber kept quiet for the rest of their trip.

  Josh had been running the shop for a very long time so he obviously knew what he was doing profit-wise. She just wasn’t sure in her mind’s eye that the vision she had for decorating the shop quite fitted with the generic goods he was buying.

  But what did it matter? She gave herself a strict talking-to as she helped load the van. She was helping with the decoration, that was all. What stock they held was nothing to do with her. Anyway, another month and she’d be on her way.

  But, deep inside, she found herself secretly hoping that perhaps she could stay on for just a few more weeks to see if the shop succeeded once they’d finished the redecorating.

  22

  Josh huddled over his pint of beer, deep in thought.

  ‘You’re not very chatty tonight,’ said Mike, polishing a glass over and over with a grubby tea towel.

  ‘It’s been a bit hard to hear myself think let alone speak above that lot,’ said Josh, nodding at the band who had been playing nearby. ‘They don’t seem to have improved over time.’

  Thankfully they had just stopped for a cigarette break. Although to Josh’s mind it was only metaphorically playing.

  ‘I said I’d give them a try for a month,’ said Mike, with a grimace. ‘Thought they’d be better than me having to talk to Angie for any length of time.’

  ‘At this point, I’ll take the peace and quiet,’ said Josh, taking another sip of beer.

  ‘No chance of me ever getting that with my wife,’ muttered Mike.

  Josh put down the pint glass and looked at his hands, which were still splattered with paint. He probably still had lots in his hair as well, but he was so tired that he was past caring.

  In all honesty, Josh wasn’t in the mood to chat anyway. He had received a phone call from his mum sounding somewhat alarmed.

  ‘Grandma Tilly says the tractor is in the middle of the shop!’ she’d said.

  ‘It’s a temporary thing,’ Josh had replied. ‘How’s Pete? Are you having a good time?’

  But she didn’t accept the change of conversation tack he had tried and he’d spent the next ten minutes trying to placate her.

  ‘I know I said I’d give you carte blanche,’ his mum had said. ‘But it’s sounding a bit of a mess.’

  ‘Amber seems to know what she’s doing,’ Josh had offered, pulling out his ace card.

  ‘Amber’s OK with the tractor?’ his mum had asked, sounding shocked.

  ‘It was her idea,’ Josh had told her.

  It was only then that his mum began to be somewhat reassured.

  ‘Well, I’m sure she knows what she’s doing,’ Cathy had replied.

  Josh sincerely hoped so. He had tried to go along with Amber’s enthusiasm, but privately he was having severe doubts as to the whole refurbishment of the shop.

  ‘Can’t you pay them to shut up?’ said Dodgy Del, who had just come in and sat next to Josh at the bar. ‘I’ve had a hell of a day and I’m not in the mood for a bad version of Coldplay tonight.’

  ‘You know what? I’ll tell them to take their money and hop it,’ said Mike, grimacing. ‘I’ve got a splitting headache myself.’

  ‘I’m not surprised,’ said Josh, turning to look at Del. ‘What’s up?’

  ‘This weather,’ said Del, gesturing through the murky window to the darkening sky outside. ‘This rain had better ease up soon or else the roads are going to start flooding. I’ve already had my fill of pensioners moaning today about how wet they’ve got going round their gardens and parks. It doesn’t help that the tea rooms were all full up because of the bad weather. Wasn’t my fault.’

  ‘Glad somebody’s full of customers,’ muttered Josh. ‘Maybe I’ll open up a garden instead.’

  There was a small pause whilst the band began to pack up their set in a somewhat noisy fashion.

  ‘How’s the makeover going?’ asked Del. ‘Still can’t believe that tractor’s stuck in the middle of the place.’

  ‘Me neither,’ said Josh. ‘It’s going far too slowly for my liking. And expensive to boot.’

  ‘Well, she’s from New York, ain’t she?’ said Del, between sips of beer. ‘Used to living the high life in her fancy Manhattan loft. Yeah, I’ve seen Sex and the City. Although there weren’t enough sex in it for my liking. Just women chatting all the time and I can get that from my sister and mum all evening. Why do you think I come in here to escape?’

  ‘Amber’s not like that,’ said Josh, shaking his head. ‘Anyway, she’s from England.’

  ‘How would I know?’ said Del. ‘She’s not said one word to me yet.’

  ‘Wise lady,’ said Josh.

  ‘By the way, is she single?’

  Josh turned to look at his friend. ‘Leave well alone,’ he warned him. ‘She’s too sweet and innocent for the likes of you.’

  ‘Ha!’ said Del, laughing into his pint. ‘So you’re keeping her to yourself.’

  ‘I’m not keeping her for anyone,’ Josh told him. ‘She’s only here for a few more weeks. And it’ll be my mum and grandma you’ll have to contend with if you upset Amber.’

  Del gave a mock shudder. ‘I’m right scared at that!’

  ‘You should be,’ said Josh, draining his pint. ‘I’ve seen Grandma Tilly threaten the turkey with a carving knife at Christmas and she’s pretty good.’

  ‘All right,’ said Del. ‘I suppose you’ve got more than enough women in your shop already. There’s only so much feminine chatting you can cope with, am I right?’

  Josh nodded but deep down, did he really agree? He was actually enjoying Amber’s company. She was quiet, yes, but not so much with him. They’d got drunk the other night together, but that was just about needing to blow off some steam.

  Life had just got on top of him, he felt. He had been struggling to take care of his mum as well as shielding her from the truth about the situation they were facing with the shop. In a way, it was nice to have the company and some positive spirit about the place. Whether the redecoration would make any difference, he wasn’t so sure. But what harm could it do? Of course, if they lost any more customers, nobody would come in at all.

  ‘So you’ve done the ceilings, have you?’ asked Del, breaking into Josh’s reverie.

  ‘Can’t you tell?’ said Josh, running a hand through his hair and feeling the spots of paint still caught in the strands. ‘Just all the walls, shelving and floor to go.’

  He still had no idea what Amber had planned for the tractor. But at least she had spent the day wiping it clean of grease and muck before covering it up with a large plastic sheet.

  ‘I can always give you a hand, if you like,’ said Del.

  Josh knew that his mate never did anything for free. ‘What’s in it for you?’ he asked.

  ‘The goodness of my kind heart,’ said Del, with his cheeky grin.

  ‘What else?’

  ‘A date with Amber?’ asked Del hopefully.

  ‘Not a chance,’ said Josh firmly.

  ‘OK then. How about one of those boxes of beers I’ve seen lying around the place.’

  ‘Done,’ said Josh, with a nod. ‘You can have two if you’re any good with a paintbrush.’

  ‘Nah, mate,’ Del replied, shaking his head. ‘But I can wire in those new LED strip lights you were asking me about the other day.’

  At least the lighting would be up to date, thought Josh the following day as he watched Del tear out the old strip lighting and start to hang the new ones across the ceiling. Hopefully painting and plugging the many holes in the ceiling would make it look better, he thought, catching Amber’s horrified face.

  ‘Does he know what he’s doing?’ she whispered.

  ‘Of course,’ lied Josh. ‘Anyway, at least it’s warme
r in here. You can’t complain about that.’

  He nodded to where the wood-burning stove finally had a fire crackling away inside. It had cost him to pay the chimney sweep but he had to admit that it was definitely a feature worth having.

  ‘Mind the tractor!’ he called out as a shower of dust came down as Del drilled through the ceiling. Thankfully it was still covered with a plastic sheet.

  ‘Yeah, I’d hate for a museum piece like that to get mucky,’ said Del, laughing to himself.

  Josh had quietly asked a mechanic who frequented the pub to check out the tractor to see if there was any way it could be moved. But he had taken one look at the engine and told Josh that it had totally seized up, as well as the axle. Towing wasn’t an option and it was more likely to need a crane to get it moved.

  When he told Amber, he was surprised that she began to smile.

  ‘So it will have to stay here after all,’ she said, looking pleased.

  ‘That’s not what I said,’ Josh told her.

  But he was having to reluctantly admit to himself that the tractor was probably stuck in the shop for the foreseeable future. In a way he was pleased that it wasn’t going to the great scrapheap in the sky quite yet. In another, he still didn’t know what anyone, especially his mum, was going to make of it all when they’d finished redecorating the place. He just hoped that the business would have picked up by the time she came back from holiday. Thankfully that appeared to be slightly later in the year than she had originally intended.

  ‘It’s just for a few more weeks,’ she had told Josh the previous day. ‘I’m having such a lovely time in Singapore. It’s just delaying heading out to New Zealand, that’s all.’

  So it sounded as if Amber was going to be staying at least until the end of November. To which Josh was secretly pleased.

  Amber’s mention the previous day about the sustainability of the business had him wondering though. They still had all the stock to use up that wasn’t out of date or broken. Her suggestion about it being a lifestyle shop and having it all out on display might mean they could shift the odd item. But it was the lack of sustainable items that was making him think. Was there a way to run the shop and sell environmentally friendly goods?