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Back The Library Save as PDF
Chapters (57)
  1. Cover
  2. THE LIBRARY
  3. Copyright
  4. Dedication
  5. Contents
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. 12
  18. 13
  19. 14
  20. 15
  21. 16
  22. 17
  23. 18
  24. 19
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. 30
  36. 31
  37. 32
  38. 33
  39. 34
  40. 35
  41. 36
  42. 37
  43. 38
  44. 39
  45. 40
  46. 41
  47. 42
  48. 43
  49. 44
  50. 45
  51. 46
  52. 47
  53. EPILOGUE
  54. Questions for your Book Club
  55. Acknowledgements
  56. About the Author
  57. Become an Aria Addict

The front door of the house Dad had just visited reopened and a slim woman came out. ‘Ooh, I’m glad I’ve caught you,’ she said striding up to Dad. ‘You know I will have that nude set, if you can add it to my order.’

Maggie and I looked at Dad as his face turned the colour of a ripe tomato. It was something I could relate to. He turned his back on us and spoke to the lady in his new cheery voice. ‘Of course. One nude foundation palette. No problem. You won’t regret it.’ He pulled a form from his bag and scribbled something on it. He showed it to the woman who seemed very happy. She thanked him and went back inside. Maggie and I turned our questioning eyes back on Dad.

‘What’s going on?’ I asked.

His shoulders slumped forward. ‘I’m trying to make some extra cash.’ He pulled a booklet from his bag and handed it to me without making eye contact.

I looked at the heavily made-up woman’s face smiling back at me from the cover. ‘Avon? Make-up, perfume and stuff?’ I flicked through the brochure. ‘You’re the Avon lady?’ I couldn’t help the snort that came out. Maggie elbowed me in the ribs. She was probably right to. It must have been well embarrassing for Dad.

‘I think seeking out additional ways to make money is most commendable,’ said Maggie.

Dad turned his attention to her. ‘It’s a nice little earner to be honest with you. It’s early days but the orders are coming in thick and fast.’ Dad seemed really proud of himself. I couldn’t ever remember him looking like that before.

‘Well done, Dad.’ I handed back the brochure.

‘Thanks. Look I need to get round all of this estate so…’

‘Of course,’ said Maggie. ‘We’ve got book club at the library.’

‘Book club. You?’ said Dad, pointing at me.

I stood up straight. ‘Yeah. I like book club and if you don’t take the… mickey out of it, I’ll say nothing about you selling Avon.’

‘Deal,’ said Dad, thrusting out his hand and we shook on it.

46

MAGGIE

Maggie savoured how lovely it was to stroll back through Compton Mallow with Tom. He was chattier than he had been of late – the barriers between them were starting to dismantle and it warmed her heart. Although Tom hadn’t said so he was obviously relieved that his dad hadn’t relapsed. He found the Avon job far more entertaining than she did. So much for this generation and their liberal views, thought Maggie.

‘This job with Savage,’ said Tom.

‘It’s merely an idea. He might not need anyone.’