‘Hello there. Can I help you with anything?’
I looked up and removed the hood, revealing my face.
‘Avalon!’
‘Hi, Mrs. Greenwood. How are you?’ I said, relieved that she remembered me.
‘My goodness. What are you doing here?’ Mrs. Greenwood smiled, removing her apron. She slipped around the counter and reached for me with open arms.
I accepted the warm gesture, returning the hug with enthusiasm..
‘Oh, I’m so glad you’re here!’ she said, rushing to the shop door, and flipping the sign so it read ‘closed’ on the opposite side. She turned the lock on the door so we would not be disturbed. ‘Isn’t Jack with you?’
‘No,’ I said. ‘We were separated.’
‘Oh, that’s a shame,’ she answered, leading me towards the spiral staircase that led upstairs to the Greenwood’s apartment. ‘Why did you break up?’
‘Oh, no,’ I said quickly. ‘Not like that. We’re still … still together.’
It felt weird to say it. Together.
‘That’s good!’ Mrs. Greenwood beamed. ‘Come in! Come in!’
‘Oh, you don’t need to stop work because of me-’ I said.
Mrs. Greenwood waved a hand, dismissing my statement. She ushered me up the stairs and into the sitting room. ‘Sit, sit. Can I get you something to drink?’
‘Water, please.’ I perched myself on the edge of the sofa, feeling nervous.
Mrs. Greenwood was being awfully hospitable. She made a fuss, bringing me cookies and milk on a tray. I noticed that the tray rattled a lot as she put it down. Her hands were shaking quite badly.
‘Oh, you really don’t need to-’
‘Nonsense!’ She pressed the glass of milk into my hands.
‘Um, I’m really sorry to stop by so unexpectedly,’ I began.
‘Don’t be silly. You and Jack are welcome here any time.’
‘Well, I am hoping that Jack will arrive here within a day or two, actually.’
‘Really? Oh, that’s wonderful! My husband will be so pleased. He has talked of nothing else for the last two months!’
‘Where is Mr. Greenwood?’
Mrs. Greenwood glanced out of the sitting room window, which looked down upon the busy street below. ‘He went out to do a bit of grocery shopping.’
‘Oh.’ I forced a smile. ‘Jack and I were separated, and this was the only place I could think of that he might go.’
‘You’re not in trouble, are you?’ she asked, snapping her attention back to me.
I frowned. Mrs Greenwood must have seen the posters around town by now. Had she not left the shop all day?
‘A bit,’ I admitted. There was no use in lying at this point. She would find out eventually. ‘Where’s Jaime?’
‘Oh, Jaime is at school today.’
‘Really? It’s Saturday.’
Mrs. Greenwood’s face became pale. ‘Oh, yes. I mean he is at a friend’s house. They’re doing homework together.’
I placed the milk on the table and took a deep breath. ‘Look, I hate to ask, but I really need somewhere to spend a night or two … just until Jack arrives.’
‘Of course,’ Mrs. Greenwood gave a wide smile that did not reach her eyes.
‘I really don’t want to put you out-’ I said.
‘It’s no trouble at all. Oh, my goodness, how rude of me. You must be starving. How about a proper meal?’
‘It’s okay-’
But it was too late. Mrs. Greenwood was back in the kitchen before I could properly protest. I could hear pots and pans banging in the adjacent room.
Mrs. Greenwood had been very hospitable when we had spent the night a few months ago, but I couldn’t help but get the feeling that she was acting strange today.
I followed her into the kitchen to find her trying to light the fire under her stove. Her hands were shaking so badly that the kindling could not catch.
‘Mrs. Greenwood, are you all right?’
She jumped up, laughing at herself. ‘Oh yes, Dear. I’m fine. Be a sweetheart and light this for me, will you?’
I obeyed, and stepped in front of the grate. It was ignited only a moment later.
‘Thank you, Dear,’ she smiled, yet avoided eye contact.
Within half an hour there was a steaming bowl of potato and leek soup sitting in front of me. It was so delicious that I went back for seconds.
‘Now, Dear, I’m just going to quickly pop into town, okay? You stay here and make yourself comfortable.’
In any other situation, I would have offered my company. However, a venture into town was far too risky given the current circumstances.
‘No!’ I said, quickly. ‘Can’t you stay here?’
What if Mrs. Greenwood saw the posters in town? Would she send me away for putting her home in danger?
‘What? Why not?’
‘Please … um, I don’t want to be alone.’ My voice cracked at the right moment.
Mrs. Greenwood’s face broke into an expression of sympathy, and she rushed forward to hug me. I buried my face in the crook of her neck to hide the fact that I wasn’t really crying.
‘It’s all right, Dear. Oh, you poor thing. Something terrible has happened, hasn’t it?’ She held me at an arms length.