Page 43

One by one, the customers gave in to Maud’s masterful sales tactics, and Holly watched the sweets fly off the shelves.

‘She’s incredible,’ Caroline whispered, as another customer left with three times what they had come in for.

‘She is,’ Holly replied. ‘They both were.’

Holly looked at her old friend, working away. Her hands, which that very morning had struggled to hold a teacup steady with the weight of it, were carrying around the large jars and slipping open the paper bags for the sweets without the slightest bit of effort. Was it simply muscle memory, Holly wondered, or was it more than that? Something in built into her heart?

As energetic and enthusiastic as Maud started the day, it didn’t take long before she began to tire. Holly could see it in her stance, which began to slouch, before her hands started to tremble by just a fraction.

‘I think I’d better take her back to the hotel,’ she said to Caroline. ‘Will you be okay here for a bit?’

Caroline nodded. ‘Of course, take as long as you need. I’ll be fine.’

A moment later, Holly was standing beside the till with Maud next to her.

‘Why don’t you have a rest?’ she said, as tactfully as she could. ‘You can go upstairs. Or I can drive you back to the Little Lodge. I can always pick you up again and bring you back down this afternoon if that’s what you’d like,’ she added.

Maud smiled faintly. ‘You know, I think I’ve had the perfect fill for me,’ she said. ‘Perfect. But yes, if you could take me back, that would be good. Thank you, love.’

After saying goodbye to Caroline, Holly drove Maud back to the lodge, having to help her both in and out of the car. The old, tired woman that had evaporated inside the sweetshop hadreturned and, as Holly guided her back towards the building, Maud leaned heavily against her arm. The old lady’s footsteps were half the speed as when she had been moving from the scales to the till and calling out all the customers’ orders. It didn’t make sense that her strength could come and go again so quickly.

‘When are you off?’ Holly asked as they reached the door. ‘Would you like to come down to the shop again? It would be great to have an extra pair of hands behind the till. Especially with Dad away.’

Maud smiled softly, her hand still resting on Holly’s arms. ‘I’m not sure I was that much use, really.’

‘Are you kidding me? I’ve never seen Mr Bourn buy so much.’

That same twinkle from early in the day appeared once again in Maud’s eyes, although a slight sheen glistened over it.

‘Do you have to hurry off, love?’ she said. ‘Perhaps I could buy you a cup of tea. Or something stronger, if you’d like. It is nearly lunchtime, after all.’

Holly’s automatic response was to say that she should get back to the shop. After all, there was always something to do, whether it was stock taking, or re-ordering, or just dusting the shelves and giving the place a proper sweep through. Yet as Maud looked up at her, her eyes still bright behind the tapestry of wrinkles, Holly couldn’t help but think of Agnes, and what she would have given for another chance to sit down and talk to her. To hear about her adventures and escapades and life before the sweet shop. Holly wouldn’t get that chance to sit down with Agnes ever again, and nor would she miss the opportunity with Maud.

‘Of course. Of course.’

The early lunch crowd was already filling the tables outside, yet inside, they had their choice of seats. Holly headed to one in the corner, where the window was open, letting the breeze in.

‘Why don’t we get a menu, too?’ she said. ‘You didn’t eat very much for breakfast. And I’ll get these.’

Maud took a long breath in. Holly was certain she was about to insist on buying lunch, but instead, she smiled.

‘That sounds nice. Perhaps we could share a plate of chips?’

‘Perfect.’

While Maud took a seat, Holly disappeared to the bar to order the chips and two glasses of lemonade, one of which she placed in front of Maud before taking a long sip of her own.

‘It was lovely, being at the shop today,’ Maud said. ‘Like it used to be. You know, for a second there, I almost forgot. It was like she was there still. Upstairs, squirrelling away.’

Maud’s gaze drifted out the window. It was the same far-off look that she had worn at breakfast. But rather than speaking again, Holly just let the old women sit there until she was ready to talk. It would be impossible to imagine all the memories that had hit Maud that morning, back in the shop, and no doubt she needed time to process it all. For Holly, processing meant talking. And often baking too, but she knew that wasn’t what all people were like. If all Maud wanted to do was sit and eat her chips in silence, then that was fine with her. Though it was only a moment later that Maud turned back to her, and Holly noticed the sheen that now covered her eyes.

‘Maud?’ A sickening dread crept up Holly’s throat. There was something about Maud’s look that told Holly that this was more than grief for Agnes. ‘What is it? What’s happened?’

Holly waited, willing Maud to remain silent. To keep that wistful look and not say anything and yet the old woman took a deep breath in, then let the air out with a sigh.

‘I’m sick, my love,’ Maud said. ‘I’m very sick.’

38