Barking Mad by Leigh Russell

Author:Leigh Russell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oldcastle Books
Published: 2023-01-26T10:08:51+00:00

20

On Saturday, I was up early, preparing the spare bedroom for my mother’s overnight visit. Poppy jumped around, sensing that something unusual was about to happen. In the end, I put her out in the garden while I aired the spare bed and put fresh flowers on the table in the kitchen. At last everything was ready, and only just in time, because my mother’s bus was due soon. We had agreed that she would call me if she was delayed. If I didn’t hear from her, I would be at the bus stop in time to meet her as she arrived. Poppy darted around my feet, happy to be going for a walk into the village, and stopping every few feet to sniff the ground or water it.

One consequence of my day off work was that I would have no chance to tell Hannah about my rather prosaic date with Barry, or to discuss Richard’s interesting son or his wife’s affair, until after the weekend. Poppy and I had just reached the end of Mill Lane and were turning onto the road that ran parallel with the river and would lead us round the corner to the High Street when someone called my name. Turning, I saw Adam walking down the lane towards us and stopped to wait for him. Poppy strained at her lead and did her best to pull me on towards the bus stop, but she had to wait with me. Adam caught up with us and stopped to chat. He told me Richard had sent him out to the local shop because they had run out of milk.

‘Where are you off to?’ he asked.

I explained that my mother would be arriving on the bus from Swindon, and we walked on together, with Poppy sulking at my heels. We chatted inconsequentially for a few moments about his father and the village. He accompanied me to the bus stop and waited with me. My mother’s bus was due in a few minutes and we stood waiting in silence. All at once, Poppy growled and looking round I saw Silas Strang striding purposefully towards us. Immediately I began talking to Adam, to show Silas I was not alone. Even so I was relieved when Silas walked straight past, glowering. Before long we spotted the bus coming along the road. I was surprised by how excited I was at the prospect of seeing my mother again. She stepped down from the bus, and beamed at me. She was neatly turned out, as always. Her naturally mousy hair had been skilfully dyed blond, her make-up was flawless, if a trifle heavy for my taste, and she looked vibrant, as though she had just been on a long holiday. She put her bags down and flung her arms around me, while Poppy jumped up at her, clamouring to greet her. We hugged and when we drew apart I was touched to see tears in her eyes. Catching sight of Adam at

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