Love-40 by Anna Cheska

Author:Anna Cheska
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Chapter 13

Suzi was conscious of a wave of sadness as Josh parked the battered white van outside Secrets In The Attic.

The morning had begun with him giving her lessons on how to approach the car booters. God, she’d thought, he made them sound like a breed apart. She’d learned how not to alienate or crowd them, but to pinpoint bargains as they were unloading, and snap them up before anyone else had a chance to do so. According to Josh Willis, it was an art. It sounded like manipulation to Suzi, at the very least.

‘They’re a load of vultures,’ she said, hanging back as the dealers flocked en masse to the contents of a promising-looking blue transit.

She watched as Josh eased his way through, chatting laconically, hands thrust casually in the pockets of his jeans as if buying stock were the last thing on his mind. And she smiled as he emerged with an old Brownie camera.

‘Collector’s item,’ he said. ‘The guy just wanted to talk photography for a moment or two.’

‘And you were happy to oblige.’ Suzi took it from him and examined it with interest. ‘Being the opportunist that you are.’

He grinned and took her arm, leading her towards the next car-load, already parking up. ‘At least I’ll go home with something to show,’ he said. ‘Unlike you.’

Suzi shrugged. To be honest, she wasn’t bothered if she went home with nothing. If Estelle had her way, they would soon be running a jewellery store, and decent jewellery was scarce in car boots.

‘You’re not pushy enough to be an antique dealer,’ he teased.

‘Good.’ Suzi was conscious of his firm grip on her arm. She looked down at his hand, seeing again the fine sandy hairs, observing the shape of his fingers, the square cut of his nails.

But despite herself, Suzi had been unable to resist – getting into the swing of things, joining in the chit-chat, pulling out her purse. And by the time Josh took her off at midday for a big breakfast at a local café on Charmouth beach, she’d acquired a few small bits of 40s and 50s bric-à-brac, and several pieces of jewellery that were not made of plastic or glass and that could, Josh assured her, be easily sold on for a profit. It had not been a wasted morning. In fact, she’d had a great time.

When they got back to the van, parked up the hill, Josh had pointed along the granite cliff pathway. ‘Fancy a stroll?’ He had taken off his flying jacket and slung it over one shoulder.

Suzi knew she should be getting back, she knew there was no reason in the world why she should linger on the cliff, the beach or anywhere else with this man, and she didn’t see the logic in walking up a steep hill and getting tired and out of breath, when you just had to come back down again. A stroll indeed …

And yet she found herself wanting to prolong the day. Over breakfast they had discussed antiques, the countryside and ways of keeping fit.

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