Read Online Wickham Hall, Part 2 by Cathy Bramley - Free Book Online

muttered.
    I was used to his less than welcoming charm where I was concerned and ploughed on regardless.
    â€˜We’ve had some signed books delivered from Suzanna Merryweather’s publisher. They’ve asked if we’ll sell them in the shop. Can I get them dropped off here?’
    Suzanna Merryweather was the presenter of the TV show
Green Fingers
. She was also our celebrity guest for the festival and would be doing gardening talks in our demo theatre. I wasn’t a gardener myself but Mum loved her and even Nikki, who was a bit sniffy about TV gardeners, was keen to meet her.
    â€˜No chance,’ he said. ‘We’re up to our eyeballs in summer stock. Books take up too much space and no one will buy them anyway.’
    I held my breath and waited for a diplomatic response to occur to me. But before it did, Edith appeared from the stock room. She was wearing a knitted twinset and thick tights despite the July heat but she still looked as cool as a cucumber with her powdered nose and immaculate bun.
    â€˜Did I hear you say Suzanna Merryweather?’ she chirped. ‘I’ll have a book. I love that programme.’
    I looked at Andy and resisted sticking my tongue out. Seriously, what was his problem? I’d done nothing other than be chosen over him for this job.
And
I went out of my way to compliment his shop at every opportunity.
    â€˜All right, well, I’ll send over one for Edith and the rest can be arranged on a table in the demo theatre.’
    â€˜Rest of what?’ asked Jim, poking his head in through the shop door.
    When I explained, Jim’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. ‘I’ll definitely buy one, and I’m going to ask for her autograph when I see her.’
    â€˜Two down, twenty-eight copies to go,’ I said brightly. ‘Not too bad. Let’s hope we find plenty more fans like you to buy the rest.’
    â€˜Send the books over then,’ grumbled Andy. ‘Or I’ll never hear the last of it.’
    â€˜Holly, just thought I’d let you know, I’m about to start,’ said Jim with a wink.
    â€˜Thank you, Andy,’ I said, inclining my head graciously, and I followed Jim out of the shop before he changed his mind. Phew, another task ticked off the list.
    Jim was looking extra dapper today. He had a Wickham Hall polo shirt on, a clean, non-baggy pair of trousers and,I reckoned, he had even applied a good splash of aftershave.
    â€˜Are you ready for this, then, Jim?’ I asked, looping my arm through his as we made our way to the picnic area.
    â€˜I’ll be all right once I’ve got going,’ he said, ‘although I’m not used to addressing a crowd.’
    â€˜You’ll be brilliant,’ I said, squeezing his arm.
    Today was Wickham Hall’s first ever nature trail, led by the aptly named Jim Badger, naturally. And twelve parents with their preschool children had gathered in readiness.
    I stood to one side as Jim introduced himself, gave everyone a sticky badge with their name on and then did that slidy-finger trick that old men do when they pretend they’ve cut their finger off.
    The kids loved him and the mums were giggling too. Jim handed all the children a map and coloured pencils and geed them up ready to go exploring. I took a few pictures on my phone as the little ones crowded round him.
    â€˜Right, follow me to the woods; we’re going to see how many animals and insects we can find.’
    Before they moved off a little girl with brown pigtails and a stripy dress put her hand up.
    â€˜Yes, Phoebe?’ said Jim, bending down to read her name.
    â€˜If you got all the ants in all the world, would they fit under one chicken?’ she asked.
    Jim and I exchanged glances and I grinned, wondering how he’d answer this and possibly a lot more where this came from.
    The mums giggled, especially the one with brown hair standing behind Phoebe.
    Jim bent down and pretended