Page 77 of The Mended Hearts Bookshop

“I like art. There’s not much painting on the streets though.”

“Is this what you’ve been locked up in your room doing for the last couple of weeks?” George asked.

“This and a few more like it,” said Lucy. “Billy helped me get the canvases stretched and promised to keep it a secret. So don’t be mad at him. I thought we could sell a few of them to help raise money for the shop.”

“That’s a great idea,” said Pen with a yawn.

“If it’s so great, why are you making it look like it’s so boring?” asked Lucy.

“Because she’s been up all night baking for the Gupta’s bake sale,” said George. “And I’ve got to run.”

“Why?” Lucy asked.

“I finally managed to get a hold of Jesús and he’s agreed to meet me for lunch,” George said. “That way I can put the proposal to him face to face and hopefully, he’ll talk to the other Ashley about it for us.”

“I can’t imagine why she wouldn’t be in agreement with the plan,” Pen said. “But you’re right, you need to be off.”

“Have you really been baking all night?” Lucy asked, perching on the shop counter as George showed himself out.

“Yes,” Pen said. She didn’t add that she’d been up most of the night the night before as well, getting her crochet animals finished for the jumble sale at the church.

“Why don’t you go and take a nap?” Lucy asked. “I can handle things here. The Gupta’s have closed the newsagent for a few hours while they set up the bake sale.”

Pen started the coffee machine for what was probably her dozenth cup of the day. “I’ll be fine, I’m a big girl.” She was aching with tiredness. But she was doing her part, and that’s what counted. She’d stay up every night for a week if she needed to. “If you want to help, you can start ferrying boxes over to the school playground for the bake sale though.”

Lucy hesitated. “You’re looking a bit pale, Pen. Are you sure?”

“Definite.”

“Maybe you’ve taken a bit much on?”

Pen leveled a look at her. “I’m fine, Lucy. Now, do you want to help or not?”

“Obviously.”

“Then the boxes are all piled in the back, go on, get started.”

Pen drank down the scalding hot coffee black and strong, letting it burn all the way down. Her phone buzzed before she’d finished the cup.

Still thinking of you, said the message.

And me you, she wrote back.

Was thinking about moving my visit up?

Pen’s heart started to beat harder. Seeing Ash sooner than planned was all that she wanted. Except…When were you thinking?

I thought I might come up this weekend?

Except Pen wanted to keep everything a secret so that Ash wouldn’t stop them from helping her. She took a breath. What could she do? I’d love to see you,she wrote.But it’s a bit short notice.

There was a long pause.

Pen’s legs started to feel funny. Had she offended her? She didn’t want Ash to think that she didn’t want her to come.

What about Tuesday?

Pen breathed a sigh of relief. By Tuesday the fundraisers should be over and she could even tell Ash the news in person.Sounds perfect, she wrote back.

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