Page 37 of Flowers Go Flying in Crumbleton

‘Uh-huh?’ muttered Caroline, taking a disbelieving sip.

‘Fine,’ said Milly. ‘Fine. It’s true. I’m twinkling.’

‘I knew it!’ said Caroline, giving a celebratory fist pump. ‘Tell me everything!’

‘First things first,’ said Milly, narrowing her eyes. ‘Are you still writing that article about Murray’s accident?’

‘Well…’ said Caroline, ‘that all depends on what you’re about to tell me.’

‘Then I’m not telling you anything,’ said Milly blandly. She could really do with offloading, but she wasn’t going to risk it if there was a chance the rest of Crumbleton would be reading about it in the paper on Friday!

‘Unclench, Mills!’ chuckled Caroline. ‘I was joking.’

‘Oh,’ said Milly.

‘Yeah,’ said Caroline rolling her eyes. ‘Anyway – the answer’s no. I’m not running the story.’

‘You’re not?’ said Milly, trying not to look too pleased.

Caroline shook her head. ‘Nah – I’d just got off the phone with the photographer when you called. She definitely didn’t get a shot of it… and not a single one of those idiots with mobile phones managed to catch it either!’

‘Shame,’ said Milly lightly.

‘Plus, your man hasn’t called me back either,’ said Caroline with a little huff.

‘Not my man!’ said Milly quickly.

‘Uh-huh?’ said Caroline again, raising her eyebrows curiously.

‘So… the article’s definitely been axed?’ said Milly, trying to buy herself a couple more seconds to get her thoughts together.

‘Yeah. It’s a bit of a shame. Stuart from Bendall’s has already themed his special offers for next week – hard hats, non-slip gloves and shin pads at half price!’

Milly let out a chuckle. ‘Poor Stuart.’

‘I’m sure he’ll get over it,’ said Caroline. ‘Anyway, I’m pretty sure the Dolphin and Anchor will be glad it’s not running – I don’t think they’ve been enjoying the unexpected publicity as it is. Apparently, they’ve had to start throwing people out of their carpark. According to my sources, they were there looking for teeth?!’

‘Yeah. Jo went down there on her lunch break,’ said Milly.

‘Hey – Mills?’ said Caroline, narrowing her eyes.

‘Yeah?’ said Milly, bracing herself.

‘What on Earth are you wearing?’ said Caroline.

Milly glanced down at Murray’s oversized man-shorts, and his soft cotton tee shirt peeping out from the V-neck of her jumper… and smiled.

‘And what’s that smile?!’ demanded Caroline, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.

‘What smile?’ said Milly – rather pointlessly considering she was grinning so widely that she was at risk of pulling one of her cheek muscles. ‘And the clothes are a long story,’ she added.

‘I’ve got time,’ said Caroline with a little shrug. ‘But – first things first – is Murray okay?’

‘Yeah,’ said Milly, feeling her smile stretch wider still. She probably looked like a love-sick teenager by this point.

‘Urgh, wait! If you’re going to be all cute about it…’ said Caroline. Holding up her hand for Milly to stop talking, she reached for the bottle of wine and topped off her own glass before doing the same to Milly’s. Then she took a deep swig. ‘Okay – I’m ready.’

‘He’s fine,’ said Milly.

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