Read Online A Walk in the Park by Jill Mansell - Free Book Online Page B

she’d lived here for the last forty years. If she ever needed help, any of the other smallholders in the area would come to the rescue; there were more than enough friends to help out.
    So that was it, the decision had been made. All that had remained was for Lara to hand in her notice at the jewelers and make the necessary arrangements for the move south. Having left school in June and with a gap year to kill before heading off to university, Gigi was easy.
    And the house— their house —was standing waiting for them, empty now. Following the reading of the will, the lawyer had given Janice Carson two months’ notice to leave. She had finally moved out this week, gone to live with her wealthy sister in nearby Frome. Lara’s lawyer, paying a visit to the house following her departure, had reported back that it was indeed empty, of absolutely everything. Even the light bulbs, the curtain rods and the toilet-roll holders had been removed.
    But nothing was going to put Lara and Gigi off. The rental van had been hired, their belongings had been piled into packing cases, and first thing tomorrow morning they were heading off down the motorway to begin their new life.
    Or resume the old one.
    Lara slathered butter onto a chunk of hot bread and pointed it at Nettie. “You know what I’m starting to think?”
    â€œNo one ever knows that, pet. We couldn’t begin to guess.”
    â€œI’m thinking you’re looking forward to getting rid of us.” She waggled the bread for emphasis. “Because I’m thinking there’s maybe a little secret something going on between you and Fred Milton.”
    â€œReally?” Gigi made an eek! face. “Aunt Nettie! Is this true?”
    â€œOf course it isn’t true.” Nettie patiently ladled the soup into bowls. “He’s a friend, that’s all. Fred’s got the farm at the end of Highpool Lane,” she explained to Evie. “He looks like a bald eagle and his favorite singer’s Neil Diamond.” Her tone was dry. “We’re a match made in heaven, obviously.”
    â€œYou could be, though. He’s a nice man,” Lara protested. “It’s been four years since Mary died. Mary was his wife,” she added for Evie’s benefit.
    â€œHe’s over seventy.”
    â€œBut you get on so well together. And he’s lonely.”
    â€œMaybe so.” Clearly bored with the clumsy attempts at match-making, Nettie handed Lara a full bowl. “But I’m not.”
    ***
    Harry Wells had never needed to work hard at school. GCSEs, A-levels, and other tests hadn’t been an issue for him because he had always known he’d be going into the family business. His grandfather had set up the tiny clothing company in Keswick sixty years ago, his parents had run it in their turn, and it had always been a given that he would carry it on. It was a mark of his personality, then, that he had worked hard at school, obtaining excellent grades in his exams. That was just the way he was. He’d enjoyed getting high marks and making the teachers happy. It didn’t matter that in the twenty years since leaving school the obscure knowledge he’d gained had never found a use in real life.
    Anyway, he was happy where he was, part of the community and ticking along nicely. Their tiny company produced well-made high-quality shirts for country folk and it was good to be appreciated. Most of their clientele were past retirement age and had been customers for decades. The shirts were put together by Morag and Betty in the workshop across the yard and Harry’s cramped office doubled as the shop for on-site purchases, although they were also stocked by a few stores in the northwest. In addition, before going on vacation a fortnight ago, Harry had finally got around to setting up a website so they could be bought online.
    It was going pretty well so far. Back from his vacation late last night