Page 7 of Trust in Truth
She ruffled his neck and lowered her head to his. He licked at her face with his long, wet tongue.
“Put him down before he devours you,” Katherine said with disgust.
“I just love dogs, don’t I Moose? Yes, I do.”
Katherine rolled her eyes at Anna’s silly voice. “Is this where you declare yourself a dog person and we end our relationship?”
Anna shot a look at Katherine. “I love all animals equally, thank you.”
“Well, just don’t let Virginia know that.”
“As long as she keeps catching those huge spiders around the house, I’ll agree to love her more equally than the rest.”
“Did you have any pets when you were little?” Katherine asked.
“No, my mum was allergic to most of them.”
“That’s sad. We always had cats; my mum was the epitome of a mad cat lady. I think it gave her something to focus on other than losing my dad so young.”
Anna reached out and rested her hand on Katherine’s. “It must have been hard not having your dad around, especially at this time of year. I’m surprised you are such a fan of Christmas.”
“It’s why I’m such a fan. Every year my aunts, uncles and cousins would rally around us and make a big fuss, obviously it was a distraction technique, but it helped. We all came together at my grandparents’ house where we would go for walks; play games; watch television; there wasn’t a minute unaccounted for. On Christmas Day I would have a mountain of presents to open from them all.”
“That’s sweet. It was always just the three of us, until Mum died.”
Moose sloped off to his basket by the fire, realising he’d lost Anna’s attention.
The door opened and a small group of older ladies entered. They all nodded enthusiastically at Katherine as they took their seats at a nearby table.
“Popular with the younger ladies and the older ladies of Nunswick I see.”
Katherine narrowed her eyes at Anna as she took a sip of wine. “They have no doubt heard about my classes.”
“I thought with you becoming a trustee you wouldn’t have time for that.”
“I can’t let the pensioners of Nunswick down. Have you not seen the sign-up sheet I put in the tearoom to gauge interest?”
“No, I can’t even remember the last time I went in there,” Anna replied, biting at her bottom lip.
“Gloria said as much. There is quite some interest mounting. We’ll need to organise a regular slot in the barn. I’m thinking ten o’clock most mornings.”
Anna licked the foam off her upper lip left by her shandy. “I’m sure we can arrange that.”
A figure entered the bar and extracted itself from behind an enormous hat and scarf, revealing Gloria.
“Anna, my darling.”
“Her ears must have been burning.” Anna whispered to Katherine.
It was clear Gloria was coming in for a hug, Anna stood to receive it. Normally of small stature, Gloria’s enormous full length padded coat doubled her size. She wrapped her arms around Anna and pulled her into her, nearly suffocating her.
“I haven’t seen you in an age,” Gloria said, squeezing her. She noticed Katherine and nodded in her direction. “Your classes appear to be popular. There’s even talk of setting up a Women’s Institute group. You’ve really sprung a bit of life into this village.”
Katherine blushed and opened her mouth to speak.
Gloria’s attention had moved on and she released a rather red-faced Anna. “Why don’t you come in the tearoom anymore?”
“Sorry, Gloria, I don’t really pass it anymore,” Anna replied, inhaling a deep breath as she spoke. She realised as soon as she said it that it was a lame excuse. Gloria always had time for her, yet Anna hadn’t made time to walk down the road to say hello. With an office next to her home and a cafe between them, she was rarely in need of refreshment elsewhere.
