Trouble in the Village (Tales from Turnham Malpas) Read Online Free PDF Page A

midnight sometimes. He reckons he’s changed, but I don’t think he’s going to settle for that. I’m ready for my pud.’
    ‘Last of the strawberries. Ice cream?’
    Willie shook his head. ‘It’ll be nice to have more time for the garden. I’ve often fancied growing asparagus.’
    ‘Then grow it you shall. I’ve no idea how to cook it, but I can soon look it up. If he’s not right for the job it won’t need an Act of Parliament to oust him, will it, so don’t worry yourself.’ Sylvia put a dish of fat ruby red strawberries in front of him, fresh from the garden that afternoon, sprinkled with sugar more than an hour ago so it was melting and making juice in the bottom of the dish. Fit for a king, she thought. ‘Get yourself outside that lot and stop fretting and leave it to the Rector.’
Not long after Willie had slipped out to unlock the church hall for an evening meeting, Sylvia heard a tap on her back door. When she opened it she found Alex and Beth standing there. A broad smile lit her face, she held wide her arms and they both ran into them and she held them close to her.
    ‘My little darlings!’ They hugged and kissed her and she hugged and kissed them, and then she stood back to admire them. ‘Well, well, what a nice surprise. Does Mummy know you’re here?’
    There came a slight pause before they answered, but then they said confidently that, yes, Mummy knew, and could they come in?
    Sylvia ushered them into the kitchen and asked, ‘Either of you ready for a drink?’
    ‘Yes, please.’
    She bustled about getting them drinks and they seated themselves at the table and without speaking drank their orange. Sylvia, her heart melting with love for them, knew she’d have to go back to the Rectory, like it or not: she just couldn’t miss out on their company any longer. She’d never have another chance at having substitute grandchildren and she might as well face the fact that that was what they were.
    Beth wiped her mouth on the back of her hand and said, ‘Sylvie! How’s Willie?’
‘He’s very well, thank you.’
    Alex asked, ‘And how are you, Sylvie?’
    ‘I’m very well too.’
    ‘Don’t you miss seeing us every day?’
    ‘Well, Alex, yes, I do.’
    Beth said, ‘We miss you. Are you looking after some different children now?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘I’m glad, because you belong to us and other children wouldn’t be the same, would they?’
    ‘No, they wouldn’t, Beth.’
    Alex finished his drink and wiping his mouth on his handkerchief said, ‘I expect like Mummy said now Mr Biggs is retiring you want more time to spend with him, going out and things.’
    ‘Well, it would be nice.’ She guessed what this was leading up to and felt angry that Caroline had permitted them to come to ask her back instead of asking her herself.
    ‘I expect we shall have to learn to do without you.’ Beth struggled to get her handkerchief from the pocket of her shorts. ‘Mummy’s a doctor again now and it being the school holidays … And we don’t want any mouldy old person looking after us, do we, Alex? We want you!’ Fat tears rolled down her sweet rounded cheeks and she brushed them away with her handkerchief, but they wouldn’t stop coming. Leaping from her chair she flung her arms around Sylvia’s shoulders and wept.
    ‘There, there, Beth, don’t cry, I only live next door and you can come to see me as often as you like. In fact I could invite you to tea sometimes, couldn’t I?’
Beth brightened up, lifted her head from Sylvia’s shoulder and said, ‘Really?’ Then cold reason made her see sense. ‘But it’s not quite the same, is it? I like it when you meet us from school and we sit in the kitchen at home and talk and things. Next to our mummy you’re my very best person. Except for my daddy, that is.’ Beth looked at her apologetically for adding that.
    Sylvia smiled and said, ‘But of course, that’s understood, it’s only right. I’m very proud to be third