Summer Loving by Rachel Ennis Read Free Book Online Page A

it?’
    At 11.30 on Wednesday morning Jess carried two large plastic boxes of chocolate brownies into the kitchen ready for the Over-60s lunch.
    ‘Hi, all,’ she called.
    Stirring an enormous double-handed pan of soup, Viv looked over her shoulder. ‘All right, Jess?’ Then she raised her eyes and gave her head a brief shake.
    ‘All I’m saying is, there’s no smoke without fire,’ Frances Chiddock announced.
    ‘You’d know all about that,’ Annie retorted.
    Frances’ chin came up. ‘What is that supposed to mean?’
    Annie shrugged. ‘Whatever you want it to.’ She turned her back on Frances whose cheeks had flushed red. ‘Jess, is it all right if I take a brownie for Percy? He does like his bit of cake.’
    ‘Of course you can. What about some soup?’
    ‘I already offered,’ Viv called. ‘But she’d sooner give him stuff from a tin.’
    ‘Viv, stop trying to wind Annie up,’ Jess scolded.
    ‘Take more than her to do that.’ Annie said. ‘She’s made chicken and ham, and Percy said he fancied a drop of tomato.’
    Jess handed her a brownie wrapped in a paper napkin. ‘How is he really? Mor and Ben are both putting on a brave face but I know Mor’s concerned.’
    Annie nodded and spoke quietly. ‘He’s only hanging on for the wedding, dear of him. He’s worked hard all his life and his body’s worn out. That’s why he can’t get rid of this infection.’
    ‘Do you think he’ll make it?’
    Annie’s smile was fond. ‘I’d put money on him walking Mor down that aisle. He thinks the world of her. He told me all he ever wanted was to see Ben happy.’ She held up the brownie. ‘This will make his day.’
    ‘Tell him I asked after him.’ She half-turned her back to the others. ‘I take it Frances has heard about Karen Trewearn’s baby?’
    Annie nodded. ‘She and the rest of the village. Linda asked me to drop in and make sure Karen and the baby were all right.’
    ‘Surely – I mean, isn’t the health visitor –?’
    ‘Linda sent her packing after she made Karen cry. She told me she’s asked you to try and find out if there’s an explanation – apart from the obvious one.’
    ‘You’re a nurse, Annie. Have you ever heard of something like this? Frances is only saying what probably most of the village believes, that Karen slept with someone who wasn’t her husband and wasn’t white. But according to Linda, Karen swears there has never been anyone but Scott.’
    Annie sighed. ‘I haven’t come across it myself. But I’ve spent most of my life in Cornwall. Maybe in the teaching hospitals ... I’m not saying couldn’t happen. But the sad fact is that the obvious answer is often the right one.’
    ‘Jess?’ Viv yelled. ‘I could do with some help here.’
    ‘Coming.’ As Annie headed for the door, Jess hurried to Viv’s side. ‘What do you want me to do?’
    ‘Put out the soup dishes?’
    Guessing Viv was about to ask what they had been talking about, Jess spoke first. ‘Have you heard anything about the Vintage Rally and Country Fair up at Gwendra Farm?’
    ‘No, when’s that then?’
    ‘A couple of weeks after Mor and Ben’s wedding. There’s a poster on the village notice board.’
    ‘The last one was years ago. I s’pose it was too much for Keith while he was working. But now he’s retired and his sons are running the farm he’ll have more time.’ She lifted the pan from the stove top onto a heat-proof stand and began ladling it into the bowls.
    ‘Ever met Sean Stevens’ wife Gaynor, have you?’
    ‘I don’t think so.’ Jess carefully placed five bowls on a tray. Without even glancing at her, Frances Chiddock picked up the tray and carried it out into the hall.
    ‘She works in a jeweller’s in Truro. Always looks smart. It can’t be easy for her.’
    ‘What, looking smart?’ Jess had filled another five bowls. Susan Haines hurried back from carrying out plates of buttered rolls and picked up the tray. ‘Thanks, Susan.’
    Viv glared at