A Kiss in the Snow - Rosie Green Page 0,22

‘those boys’ Maud was talking about.

Anita returns and gets to work with the wet cloth, rubbing at the brickwork until the word ‘On’ has almost vanished. She stands back with a sigh of satisfaction. ‘A bit of elbow grease and we’ll have that off in no time, Maud. I’ll come back later, okay?’

Maud nods, looking almost disappointed. She unties Wilfred and disappears into her house, and I return to the store with Anita.

‘Maud’s her own worst enemy, although I do feel sorry for her,’ she says. ‘I’ve heard some cruel folks say she literally nagged Harold to death.’

I grimace. ‘It can’t have been easy for the poor man, being married to someone like Maud.’

She nods. ‘I really liked Harold. It was clear he was hen-pecked, but he seemed to just take it in his stride. He was charming and mild-mannered, not at all like Maud. I always thought they were an odd match, but I suppose you never know what’s going on in a marriage.’ She breaks off and stares into the distance, clearly thinking about her own marriage to Jeff. Then she rallies with a smile. ‘Maud seems to get more bitter with each passing year. She’s always making snide remarks about people, and she’s got a real bee in her bonnet about poor Nora.’

‘Is Nora on her own?’

Anita nods. ‘She moved here about three months ago. She’s renting the little cottage by the bridge and it’s not true what Maud says about her not working. Nora keeps herself to herself, but I’m sure I heard her telling someone she writes poetry. Not that that would be a “proper job” in Maud’s eyes.’

‘She’s so critical.’

‘I know. God knows what she says about me behind my back!’ She laughs and shrugs. ‘But maybe I deserve it.’

I grin at her. ‘I doubt it. Does Maud have any family?’

‘She does. A daughter and two grandchildren, I believe. But they live in Scotland so she rarely sees them.’

‘That’s sad.’

‘I know.’ She shrugs. ‘She could have friends here, but she’s just so prickly…anyway, what can I get you, Carrie?’

‘A jar of coffee, please. As a matter of urgency. I’m still not awake. I’m actually sleep-walking.’

She laughs. ‘Well, you’re in luck. I’m a coffee fiend myself and I stock a very cheeky little Columbian number that will definitely hit the spot.’

‘Perfect.’

‘How was your first night?’

I frown. ‘Not great. The cottage has been double-booked. A man arrived last night to disturb my peace.’

Her face falls. ‘Oh, and you were here for some peace and quiet. What’s he like, this man?’

‘I’m not sure. He’s called Ronan Mackay. He was gone by the time I got up this morning. He said he’d find a hotel.’

‘Oh, well. Here’s hoping.’ Mischief tugs at her mouth. ‘Unless, of course, this Ronan Mackay is interesting?’

I shrug, remembering our awkward chat about art in the kitchen the night before. ‘He seems okay. But men of all descriptions are completely off my radar at the moment.’

She nods gloomily. ‘I know the feeling. They say the trick, when you’re in a deep dark hole, is to act as if you’re okay, and then one day, you won’t have to pretend any longer.’ She laughs. ‘So until then, it’s jazz hands all the way.’

‘It’s worth a try,’ I agree.

We both do a silly ‘jazz hands’ dance with fixed, fake smiles at the same time, then burst out laughing.

I’m paying for my coffee when the door opens and two youngish women appear.

‘Hi, you two!’ says Anita, as they sweep up to the counter. She frowns. ‘Is something wrong, Bella?’

The woman called Bella has shoulder-length dark hair and looks pale as a ghost. She closes her eyes for a second as if she’s only just managing to hold on to her sanity. ‘Oh, Nita, Jamie’s gone missing. He didn’t come home last night. You haven’t seen him, have you?’

‘What?’ Anita looks alarmed. ‘No, I’m afraid I haven’t. Oh, Bella. Where do you think he went?’

I step back, not wanting to intrude on such a personal conversation.

Bella swallows and shakes her head, but seems unable to continue, so her friend quickly steps in.

‘A community police officer was going to call at the house at tea-time yesterday – to talk to Jamie about smoking and drinking with his pals down by the bridge,’ she murmurs. ‘We think Jamie took off because he couldn’t face it.’

‘Oh, no! Have you phoned all his friends?’

Bella nods. ‘Bob and I were awake all last night, waiting for him to come back. Bob phoned the