Autumn on Maple Tree Lane by CP Ward

Author:CP Ward
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: AMMFA Publishing

Edith wiped a tear off her cheek, then gently laid the pillow back down. Then, with her heart gently breaking, she took the stolen postcards and headed out of the room.

15

Meeting the Locals

The sun was beaming out of an icy blue sky, the breeze just chilly enough to make itself noticeable as Edith walked down Maple Tree Lane into Trenton. Crimson, orange and gold leaves fluttered around her, the sun dappling the road as she walked beneath the trees. She was already feeling better as she reached the stream, pausing for a couple of minutes to watch the fish flitting over the stones as the sun through the trees left glittering patterns on the water. The shop was still open, so she steeled herself and headed inside. The old woman was behind the counter, head down, reading a newspaper. Edith muttered ‘Hello,’ as the bell over the door tinkled. The old woman didn’t look up, so Edith headed straight for the postcard rack, but to her dismay, it had gone.

She already had the postcards out in her hand, and had no choice but to put them down on the dusty windowsill behind a rack of gardening seed sachets. As she turned back, she caught movement out of the corner of her eye, and looked up to see the old woman standing in the aisle, glaring at her.

‘You all right up there?’

‘Ah, yes, I was just … ah, looking for a postcard.’

‘Sold out, we have.’

‘But … there are some here, on the window ledge,’ Edith said, holding up the postcards she had just put down.

The old woman hobbled closer. ‘Oh?’ She lifted up her glasses, squinting at Edith. She held out a hand, and Edith passed her little stack.

‘These old buggers. Out of date, ain’t they?’ She poked a finger at the picture on the front. ‘See? Ain’t got Daniel’s new extension, nor that footbridge they built up the valley there. Who’s gonna want these?’

‘I don’t know,’ Edith said, shrugging as the old woman turned over the stack and peered at the bottom postcard.

‘Dear Mum, we’re having a lovely time at Trenton Manor,’ the old woman read, as Edith’s blood ran cold. ‘Edith seems all right, although I think she has some family issues. I’ll do what I can to help her. The house is nice, but a bit cold at night. Love, Stephanie.’

The old woman looked up. Edith wished she had a towel to wipe the sweat off her face.

‘Ah—’

The old woman thrust the postcards at Edith’s hand. ‘Must be some factory misprint,’ she said. ‘Ain’t no one up at Trenton Manor. Pickles, that old trout, he don’t go up there much no more. Place been as good as abandoned for donkey’s years. You got any draughty windows, you might find a use for these, otherwise just chuck them in the bin.’

‘Sure,’ Edith said.

‘You pop back in a couple of days,’ the old woman said. ‘I’ll get more on order. How many you after?’

‘Um … just one.’

The old woman grinned. ‘Boyfriend?’

‘Ah, no.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.