Free The Unorthodox Arrival of Pumpkin Allan by Suzie Twine Page A

forgot to tell you about the lights. There is a teensy weensy problem with the downstairs lights. All in hand of course, but we will need torches at the moment.”
    “Don’t worry,” said Tom, “Mel told me all about it. Torches packed.”
    “Oh God,” thought Lois, “I wonder what else Mel’s told him?”
     

 
8
     
    The traffic was disastrous coming out of London that Friday evening. By the time Lois and Tom were driving along the rough, unmade road to the cottage, Tom was in agony, which increased with every bump. “I don’t remember the road being as rough as this,” he groaned, clutching his side and screwing up his face in pain, “why’ve we bought a house up here?”
    “Well,” said Lois curtly, “normally one wouldn’t have broken ribs when being driven along it!” She was tempted to add another snide remark about the cycling accident, but instead, remembering she hadn’t been completely open with him lately, said, “Nearly there. You’ll feel better when you’re snuggled down on a blow up rubber mattress.”
    “Yeah, right.” grumbled Tom.
    When they arrived Lois helped Tom out of the car and they walked hand in hand up the garden path.
    “Are you going to carry me over the threshold?” Lois laughed as she rummaged in her oversized handbag for the key to her antique lock.
    “Mm, maybe not today my precious. Wow, fantastic door! Quite like the one I remember being here,” said Tom.
    “Funny you should say that.” Lois started to fill Tom in on Adam’s suspicions of the original door being removed, as she located the enormous key and put it, proudly, into the lock.
    “What the hell is that Lo?” said Tom, staring in disbelief.
    “It’s an antique Tom, I chose it especially. I thought you’d love it, you love old things!” Tom looked at her, propped himself up against the doorframe, held tight to his broken ribs and groaned with laughter. “What? What’s so funny?”
    Lois hadn’t given any thought to the practicalities of having such a big key. After giving it a few moments, she laughed reluctantly. “Honestly there’s no pleasing some people!” she shook her head and smiled.
    Lois opened the door and walked in, Tom hobbling behind her. The sun was setting behind the back garden, bringing bright rays of sunlight into the sitting room. The sight stopped Lois and Tom in their tracks. Their flat was so enclosed by the surrounding buildings that it was very limited on direct sunlight. They walked to the living room French windows, which overlooked the back garden, to see a large red sun silhouetting the eucalyptus tree as it set. Despite the state of the garden, the scene was perfect, absolutely perfect. They both stood and gazed until the sun had disappeared behind the overgrown hawthorn hedge.
    “Wow!” said Tom, “That was amazing! That makes up for the bumpy road and the giant key already.”
    “I don’t see what’s the matter with the key,” said Lois, “I think it’s great, it’ll be much harder to lose than the key to the flat.”
    “How many spares did it come with?” asked Tom in a serious voice.
    “Ah yes, I see your point, might be a bit tricky getting copies made.”
    “Yes and to put in the pocket of your jeans, and to have dangling off your car key fob and…”
    “Okay, okay!” said Lois, “I get it! We’ll have to put another lock on, but we could leave that one for decoration couldn’t we?”
    “Well, we could, but we’ll have to stuff a sock in the key hole in winter to stop the draught!” 
     
    Tired and hungry, they unloaded the food and bedding from the car. Or more precisely, Lois unloaded the food and bedding from the car and pumped up the mattress while Tom managed, by using one hand and a good set of teeth, to open the packets of cold meats, veggie slices, cheese and salad he had bought them for supper. Cutting the crusty date and walnut loaf was more painful than he’d been anticipating, so he just tore it into chunks again using