Chapter Thirty-Four

‘Are you ready then, pet?’ George gently asked his wife. They were standing outside Tate’s grocery shop in the centre of Bedworth and Cissie was all of a-tremble. Tom had let George borrow his treasured car to drive her there, but now that they had arrived, for the first time Cissie was filled with doubts about whether or not she was doing the right thing.

George smiled at her reassuringly. ‘You don’t have to go through with this if you choose not to. But will you rest easy if you don’t, knowing that your son could be so close? You’ve dreamed of this for a long time, my love.’

‘You’re right, George, of course you are,’ she answered, more to convince herself than him. And then before she could give herself time to change her mind she strode determinedly forward and entered the shop. The bell above the door tinkled and she saw a woman with a large wicker basket being served at the counter by a tall man who looked to be in his late fifties. She and George stayed close to the door until the woman left and then the man looked at them and asked politely, ‘May I help you?’

Both George and Cissie were dressed up in their Sunday best and just for a second she hesitated and straightened her bonnet before answering, ‘I’m hoping you will be able to help me. I’ve come here on a very personal matter an’ wondered if you’d spare me a minute of your time to speak in private.’

The man frowned. His hair must have been very dark once but it was peppered with grey now.

‘May I ask what it’s about?’

Cissie cleared her throat. ‘It … it’s very personal, as I say, an’ it concerns both you an’ your wife.’

He regarded the couple solemnly for some seconds more, then deciding that they looked respectable he said, ‘Very well, I’ll put the closed sign on the door for a few minutes. It’s never too busy at this time of day, luckily.’ He came from behind the counter, locked the door, turned the sign and then said: ‘Would you follow me?’

He opened a door that led from behind the counter and they found themselves in a very cosy sitting room where a woman sat embroidering with her feet up on a stool.

‘Hello, dear. It’s never time for your tea break already, is—’ Her voice broke off as she saw the visitors and she looked questioningly at her husband.

‘This is Mr and Mrs …’ Realising that they hadn’t been properly introduced, the man glanced towards George who had taken his hat off.

‘Branning,’ George told him and the man nodded.

‘This is my wife, Emma. Would you both like to take a seat?’

Cissie and George perched nervously on the edge of a very comfortable sofa and George gave a covert glance about the room. It was nicely furnished, and he deduced that the shop must do well. Everything here, from the curtains hanging at the window to the rugs on the floor, spoke of quality.