Ivy Lane: Autumn: Read Online Free PDF Page B

popped into my head, the breath caught in my throat. Poor, poor Alf.
    My chin stiffened, my lip wobbled and my bones turned to jelly.
    I slumped against Nigel and rubbed my tears against his soft wool jumper. He rubbed my back awkwardly and we both watched the ambulance leave. I could hear his heartbeat. It was hypnotic and reassuring.
    ‘What next?’ I mumbled. I should phone school for starters. The bell would be going shortly.
    ‘I’ll give Christine a ring. We’ve got his son’s details somewhere.’
    He peeled me off him and peered into Alf’s shed before gently closing the door.
    ‘Alf did well on his own after Celia died,’ he said gruffly. ‘Not easy to carry on with your life when half of it’s gone.’
    I could only nod at that. The lump in my throat was too much of an obstacle to navigate.
    He removed a folded handkerchief from his pocket and performed a series of impressive nose-trumpets, dabbing his eyes to finish.
    ‘I’m glad you were here, Tilly.’ He patted my arm. ‘Well, I’d better do the necessary.’
    I watched Nigel stride off to the pavilion, picked up my bike and wheeled it along the road.
    I didn’t get very far.
    ‘Well, I must say I’m shocked.’
    Brenda. She must have spoken to Nigel.
    In my dreamlike state of numbness it took me a few seconds to process her body language. Feet planted firmly on the road-end of plot sixteen. She flicked her long red hair over one shoulder. Dressed in black, like always; pinched red lips, twisted to one side; one hand leaning on her fork, the other balled into a fist and wedged on her hip.
    She didn’t look very happy. Join the club.
    ‘A share,’ she snapped. ‘That’s what we agreed.’
    I was confused. Celia’s tools? I blinked at her.
    ‘I said you could have some of the crop in return for me borrowing part of your plot. Not half the whole lot.’
    Oh. The potatoes.
    ‘I’m sorry, Brenda, but—’
    ‘This way.’ She flicked her head towards the end of my plot. I didn’t have the wherewithal to argue so I dropped my bike and followed.
    ‘Just nipped in early to dig them up and what do I find? Somebody’s beaten me to it!’
    She couldn’t seriously suspect me? Ordinarily, I might have laughed, but this morning I was barely present, let alone prepared to stand my ground.
    But I could see she was right: one of the rows had been dug up and discarded potato plants lay strewn all over the churned-up soil. Most peculiar.
    ‘Oh dear.’
    ‘Is that all you can say?’ She stared at me, eyebrows furrowed, and stabbed the fork into the ground. ‘That crop was very valuable to me.’
    The phrase ‘as cheap as chips’ popped into my head again, but I kept it to myself. She really did look angry.
    All of a sudden I couldn’t bear to continue the conversation any longer and began to walk away.
    ‘Excuse me,’ she called, all red-faced and indignant. ‘Aren’t you at least going to apologize?’
    I turned back to her and breathed deeply before speaking. ‘This really has nothing to do with me, Brenda. And quite honestly, I’m not worried about a few potatoes right now.’
    She opened her mouth to protest but I held up a hand. ‘Brenda, I’m afraid Alf has passed away.’
    Brenda fell instantly silent. I picked up my bike and walked on. I should probably have given her more information rather than just walk away, but my throat was burning.
    As I passed the car park by the pavilion, a minibus pulled up and the community service lot climbed out.
    ‘Hello, miss,’ called the lanky one from yesterday.
    I smiled and ducked my head down.
    ‘Hey, Tilly.’
    I lifted my eyes to come face to face with Hayley fastening up the Velcro on her neon jacket.
    ‘You know Alf who you met yesterday,’ I said quietly, taking her to one side.
    Her face lit up briefly and then fell at the sight of my serious expression. ‘Yeah?’
    She looked so young and vulnerable that I reached out and touched her arm before speaking. ‘He’s passed away,