Free The Village Show (Tales from Turnham Malpas) by Rebecca Shaw Page B

shouting ‘Sylvie, Sylvie, Mummy come. Mummy come on train.’ But there was no reply.
    On the kitchen table was a note.
    Welcome home. Glad you’re back. Thought it would be nice for you to have the place to yourselves for a while. Casserole and jacket potatoes in oven. Fruit pie in fridge. Kettle just boiled. Cake in cake box. Messages in study. See you 8 a.m. tomorrow .
    Yours, Sylvia
    ‘Isn’t that lovely of her? She’s so thoughtful. I don’t know what we’d do without her.’
    It wasn’t until they were in bed that night that Peter confessed how close they’d come to losing her.
    ‘Her notice? I don’t believe this. How could you let it happen?’
    ‘I didn’t let it happen. It just nearly did.’
    ‘If she goes, then I’ve had it. I won’t cope.’
    ‘We’d get someone else.’
    ‘There’s no one like Sylvia. She and I understand one another. She can’t be replaced.’
    ‘Don’t worry, darling. She’s still here. You mustn’t fret.’
    ‘It was Louise interfering, wasn’t it?’
    ‘Well, yes.’
    ‘I knew it. The woman’s a menace.’
    ‘She’s a tremendous help to me. She’s so efficient and full of bright ideas. I don’t know how I managed before she came.’
    ‘I see. Has she got a proper job yet?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘I see. Has she been for any interviews?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘I see.’
    ‘You keep saying “I see”. You must have a very clear picture in your mind by now.’
    ‘Oh, I have. I always have had about her. The way she feels about you is there in her face whenever she looks at you.’
    ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘Peter, you are an absolute darling! You never notice, do you, that Louise actually glows when she looks at you. She tries hard to disguise it, but she can’t – not from me anyhow. However, there’s one thing I’m sure of – it isn’t she who’s in bed with the handsomest man there ever was, but me , so we’re going to enjoy ourselves. It’s been such a long time …’
*
    Over breakfast, Caroline told Peter he should tell Louise she was not needed any more. ‘After all, losing Sylvia would be a greater loss than Louise going, believe you me.’
    ‘In my own time, Caroline, in my own time. I have absolutely no justification for asking her to stop working for me. She’s in the middle of the quarterly magazine and saving me hours of typing time. I’m sorry, I can’t dismiss her out of hand. Just allow me to do it gradually. Please. This is my area, after all.’
    ‘Agreed. It is. Sorry, I forgot. But I won’t brook any interference in my domain. What’s sauce for the …’
    ‘Right.’ He looked at her, enjoying her early-morning look, and the dampness of her hair fresh from the shower. ‘Love you. Last night …’
    Caroline put her hand on his as he reached out to her across the kitchen table. ‘I know. Love you.’ Their brief moment together was split apart by Beth, who had crammed her mouth with toast and was quietly choking. ‘Oh, heavens above!’
    They were in his study going over the notices for the following Sunday so Caroline would be up to date, when Peter couldn’t resist holding her tight and kissing her. Neither of them noticed that Sylvia had been to the front door to let Louise in. The first they knew was the study door opening and Louise saying, ‘Good morning, Peter … Oh, sorry!’
    Caroline was furious with herself for allowing Louise to catch them embracing, but on the other hand perhaps it would serve to emphasise that there were no grounds for thinking she might make progress with Peter.
    ‘Good morning, Louise. How’s things?’ Caroline said.
    ‘Very well, thanks. Nice to have you back. We’ve managed to keep things going, haven’t we, Peter?’
    He nodded in reply. Louise asked after her parents and then Caroline excused herself and went to attend to the children.
    ‘Now let’s get down to work.’ Peter smiled his devastating smile and Louise’s insides flipped. Oh God, he was gorgeous. She felt a powerful