“Right,” agreed his friend briskly., “tell you what - you count the notes and I’ll do the small change. We’ll soon get it sorted.”
Ten minutes later, they both sat back satisfied, their immediate problem solved.
“That’s seems all right, Bert,” said Jim, gathering the notes together. “Got a bag for this lot – not exactly a fortune, is it?”
“You can say that again,” agreed Albert, feeling depressed at the thought, then dismissed it, determined to keep such nagging fears to himself.
As they reached for their coats, Jim said thoughtfully. “Sorry about that, I forgot it was holiday time. What’ll you do about…?” He left the question hanging in the air.
“We’ll see. Leave it with me…” Albert turned the problem over in his mind as he switched on the alarm and locked the shop door behind them.
Emerging into the high street, he took a deep breath of contentment he always felt at the familiar sight of the century old cottages wending their way down the cobbled street in front of them, blending beyond into a shimmering thin ribbon of sea on the distant horizon. Overlooking it all was the reassuring presence of his cottage only a few doors away, and next door to that Hettie’s and her smallholding, her pride and joy.
Waving a hand, he said thoughtfully. “Makes it all worthwhile somehow. It’s a beautiful spot, isn’t it?”
Jim nodded his agreement. “None better.”
Stopping at Jim’s car, Albert reminisced. “It’s what first caught my eye when I came down here on that coach trip nearly five years ago, looking for somewhere to settle down before I retired – I’ve never regretted it, not once. Which reminds me, the shop’s anniversary comes up soon,” he added gloomily. “Not that I’ll be able to splash out on anything, the way things are going.”
As he climbed in , Jim came up with a suggestion that might tide them over. “What you want is someone to help out until you can get straight. Which reminds me, that nice young Sally who teaches up at the school is always asking if there’s something useful she can do in the holidays.” In answer to Albert’s blank look, he shook his head regretfully, “Though I doubt if that old battle-axe of a mother of hers would allow it – you know what Lady Courtney is like. I know,” he added, struck by a sudden thought, “Isn’t that nephew of yours at a loose end? Perhaps he could give you a hand.”
“Young William?” Albert pondered. “Might be worth trying. I don’t think he’s made up his mind yet about what he’s going to do with himself. Got some idea at one time about becoming a painter, so I’m told…”
Jim laughed. “Tell him he can have a go at our old house whenever he wants. It needs a lick of paint.”
“No, he’s after a full blown career as an artist. Although not all that long ago he was talking about doing some writing of sorts. Mind you, I don’t know how he’s going to manage on what little my brother was able to leave him after that accident,” sighed Albert ruefully. “Aunt Ethel’s got the house and the job of keeping an eye on him, and I don’t think she’s none too pleased the way things are going.” He rubbed his chin. “Come to think of it, that’s not a bad idea. A spell in the shop might help him sort his ideas out. It might get him out of doing relief work on that local rag – can’t see that leading anywhere. I’ll see what Hettie thinks and let you know,” he said, waving a hand before turning in at his front gate.
“At least, you don’t have to come far to get the shop open,” laughed Jim, as he adjusted his strap. “See you…”
“Bye, Jim, and thanks for your help…”
He was still turning the problem over in his mind as he shut the gate behind him and turned to walk up the path to the front door.
“Hi there!”
Jerked out of his revelry, he looked up to see Hettie leaning out of an upstairs bathroom window next door, amid a cloud of steam billowing out around her.
“Give me a minute to throw something on and I’ll come and let you in. I’ve got your favourite all ready for you.”
“Cor!”
Conscious of hot breath fanning his neck, Albert turning caught sight of Bimbo behind him, gazing up at the sight his mouth open. Having witnessed the hasty departure of Mavis leaving the shop in an agitated state only a few minutes earlier, the tramp put two and two together with a sharp intake of breath.
“Cor!” he repeated, and without asking for his usual handout – knowing that eager faces would be only too willing to reward him after hearing his latest gossip - he hastily flung a leg over his bike and wobbled off down the High Street in search of the nearest pub and his first free drink of the day, ready to spread the word that promised to be one of the most rewarding scandals the village had ever known.
Cheered up by the thought of supper, Albert dismissed Bimbo’s ramblings, and finding there was still no news about his assistant waiting for him, he made his way next door.
After giving him her usual welcome kiss, Hettie immediately noticed something was amiss and tried to cheer him up.
“What’s the matter, Bert?” she asked, easing off his jacket. “Don’t worry about the post - I picked up some of yours when I was in earlier,” she explained, as she noticed his eyes stray in that direction, “come and sit down.”
“Oh, blimey, that’s all I need,” he groaned after skimming through the letters and picking out the first one he recognised by the writing.
“What’s up? Someone made an offer for the shop? Only joking. Bad news is it?”
“Only that Jackie’s had orders from the doc to take some more time off, that’s all.”
“Jackie – you don’t mean your assistant?”
Seeing his gloomy expression, she added hastily. “Sit down and make yourself comfortable while I’ll get you a cuppa.”
In no time she was back, with an encouraging beam and a steaming mug. “There you are, luv, I’ve tickled it up with some of your favourite tipple. Now tell me all about it.” After taking a sip, he smacked his lips appreciatively and feeling more relaxed told her about Mavis and the trouble with the till, before getting down to tucking into a welcome steak and kidney pie she placed before him.
“Thank goodness you’re shot of her,” was her verdict. “Silly old cow.” Then she chuckled, “Jim’s got her taped though, hasn’t he? We all know about her afternoons with the lodger.”
“Doesn’t make it any better in the shop though, does it? I can do with all the help I can get just now. I don’t know how much longer I can carry on, the rate things are going.”
“If only you’d let me help, Bert,” she fussed. You know we all want you to succeed.”
“I know,” he looked away, distracted by the sight of her look of eager devotion, and hurriedly swallowed the last mouthful. “That was delicious. Which reminds me, I must try and get hold of William tomorrow and see if I can get him to give a hand in the shop. It might help him decide what he wants to do with his life.”
Hettie said without thinking, “If only I didn’t have the animals look after, I could come and help you more…”
Albert stopped her firmly and thrust the tempting idea from his mind, aware of his insecure financial position. “Don’t worry, I’ll manage somehow. I’ve still got my redundancy money and pension, such as it is.”
“I know it was always something you wanted to do, but…” she went on impulsively without thinking…“was it such a good idea to give up a safe job in insurance … ” Seeing his reaction, she broke off and went on hurriedly, “…to start something so different -when we’re not getting any younger,”