Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2025 i Take a Break Fiction Feast

I’ve invited Ellie and Tom round for a drink on Saturday evening,’ Darren said. ‘I hope you don’t mind. I bumped into Tom at lunchtime in the supermarket. We got chatting but neither of us had much time. We haven’t seen each other for ages, and I thought you’d like to see Ellie again. I’m sure you’ll find plenty to talk about…’ ‘Of course, I don’t mind,’ Ruth said. ‘It’ll be lovely to see them both. I don’t have anything to wear, though.’ ‘You always say that.’ ‘That’s because I never have anything to wear.’ ‘Yes, but we’ll just be sitting on the couch sharing a bottle of wine and a few beers,’ Darren said. ‘You don’t need a new outfit for that…’ Ruth sighed. Why didn’t blokes understand about…

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L aura raced through the mall towards the wedding shop. Hopefully, her bridesmaid’s dress would still fit OK. Hmmm. Maybe she should have cut out biscuits and cakes in January? Her best friend, Carly, had suggested they go for a coffee after the final fitting. Afterwards, they would go on to the reception venue as she wanted to double check the positioning of the flowers. ‘As you work in the florists, you’re the perfect person to ask, Carly had said. ‘Sure,’ Laura agreed. She’d always had a passion for flowers, right from when she was a child, the scents, the colours, the differing shapes. Just beautiful. And helping customers choose the right flowers for the right occasion had always been a joy. They had been besties since school and Laura…

I’ve never been one for spending my money on throwaway fashions. I might not shop as frequently as some people, but when I do, I like to buy things that last. Shopping malls on a busy Saturday afternoon? No thanks. Instead, you’ll find me poking about in antique shops, seeing if there’s anything I fancy. ‘Lot 73. The silver watch. A lovely timepiece. Am I bid 40 pounds?’ One day, as I was browsing through a little box of Victorian brooches in the next village to mine, the shopkeeper mentioned that there was an antiques and collectibles auction coming up nearby on Thursday evening, and it was open to the public. I’d never been to an auction before. Wasn’t there a danger that if you coughed or blew your nose…

When Simon Jenner asked me out for drinks, I was flattered. He was a medical student with a bright future ahead of him, while I worked in a boring old shop. ‘Go out for one date with him. It can’t hurt to discover what’s out there for you’ ‘Just think, in a few years, you could be married to a doctor,’ my best friend Linda said, widening her eyes. ‘You’d have a big house, a nice car, holidays in the sun.’ ‘Er, I think you’re getting a bit ahead of yourself,’ I replied. ‘I haven’t even said I’ll go to the pub with him.’ Linda raised her eyebrows. ‘We’ll see! I know that if Simon was chasing me, I’d definitely let him catch me.’ ‘And what about my Adam?’ I…

Hello, Lorraine,’ the landlady said, as I walked up to the bar. ‘What are you doing here tonight? You usually come in at lunchtimes with your daughter.’ ‘I know, but I received a Valentine’s card,’ I told her. ‘Somebody asked me to meet them in here at 7pm.’ ‘Wow!’ Anthea’s eyes opened wide. ‘Do you know who that somebody is?’ I shook my head as I took the card out of my bag. ‘No, I haven’t a clue. The card isn’t signed or anything. Look, there’s just this message at the bottom.’ ‘How weird,’ Anthea replied, as she stared at the card. ‘You must have a secret admirer.’ ‘Yes, but I can’t think who on earth it could be,’ I blurted out, looking around the pub. ‘And part of me…

In the up-market Beech Tree care home, Rose frowned at the young woman who had arrived to interview Edward Phillips. ‘He can sometimes get into moods,’ she warned. ‘And you’re late. He hates tardiness.’ The young woman, all pastel hair dye and sky-blue lipstick, gave a radiant smile. ‘I can cope with a grumpy old man. I used to work in a pub before my YouTube career took off. I’ve handled drunks making lewd remarks before now.’ One of those ambitious, content-creator types, she clearly meant to make a name for herself. Rose guided her through into the day lounge. There, Edward sat drinking a cuppa. ‘It’s not a good idea to be found digging a hole by a dog walker, is it?’ Once Rose pointed him out, the woman…

We always have the radio on in the salon where I work. Jenny likes to select a station that plays classics from the Eighties, but when she goes out for lunch, I often put it on another station so I can listen to current tunes. I have to keep the volume down low because most of our clients aren’t into modern music, but I still get to hear songs that I like, and sometimes the clients appreciate them too. ‘Wow!’ Barbara breathed when a particular tune started playing this lunchtime. ‘What’s this song?’ ‘It’s called In The Mood,’ I told her. ‘But Glen Miller had a tune called that,’ she said, looking confused. ‘Yes, but there’s no law against using the same title.’ ‘Isn’t there?’ She frowned as I wrapped…

I hate to tell you this, Ruby, but your precious plant looks very poorly. I think it’s dying.’ As expected, Sara’s flatmate came running. ‘What happened? It was fine yesterday.’ Sara picked up one of the many leaves that had fallen on to the floor and handed it to her. ‘Well it’s far from fine now.’ The leaf was turning a weird shade of yellow. Ruby frowned. ‘Maybe my mother was wrong about the “love” plant.’ Sara raised an eyebrow. ‘Really? You‘ve always sworn by it in the past.’ She reminded Ruby about her last three boyfriends. ‘You’d never have suspected Jack was seeing somebody else if the plant hadn’t drooped the way it did. Then there was Serge…’ Ruby nodded. ‘I had no idea he was a conman until…

You’re a proper fool, Molly. You’re worse than your mother.’ Molly’s nan, Olive, screwed up her features into a very familiar sour expression. One Molly had suffered for years. ‘I knew that when she married my Duncan, she’d pass on her awful genes.’ Molly heaved a sigh. ‘Yes, Nan,’ she’d learnt to say without a trace of irritation. ‘How could you come last in a pub quiz and show up the family name like that?’ her nan went on, as if losing a weekly quiz was a matter of life or death and not just another excuse to whinge. ‘It was at the Rose and Fig as well, so I doubt the questions were very hard. And why did you latch on to that boy behind the bar? You need…

Maybe the mayor’s wife would be up for the gig this year? And now we come to any other business,’ boomed Mrs Walgrave, shuffling her paperwork on the stage of the tiny village community hall. ‘Pertaining to the flowers on the roundabout at the corner of Helvetica Road…’ Josie found herself drifting into a day dream. Some members of the Clearhaven Society of Useful Women claimed (discreetly) that Mrs W, their esteemed president, was a cure for insomnia, but Josie had always found her voice soothing rather than soporific, which was just as well because… ‘Josephine, are you still with us?’ barked Sylvie Walgrave, rapping on the table before her with the steel-tipped gavel she’d unearthed last year at the church bring-and-buy (the culprit who’d donated it was still being…

The moment Louise picked up the handbag, she realised it wasn’t hers. This was the real thing, not a knockoff. Surely? So what was it doing on the hall table? And where was its owner? Hold on… Maybe she was imagining things? She hadn’t got much sleep. A quick glance at the clock told her she had less than a minute to be out the front door again. But curiosity propelled her to the bedroom. Mitchell lay sprawled across the bed, seemingly dead to the world, sheets awry. There was an echo of the Jo Malone scent he always wore. She was able to get him free samples of the Lime, Basil and Mandarin cologne from work. Had he forgotten to close the French doors last night? The long curtains…

Did you hear what I said, Louise?’ ‘Sorry, Dad, I was miles away.’ He sighs down the phone at me. ‘I asked when you might be coming over. It’s been ages.’ ‘I know, and I’m sorry, but I don’t have time right now.’ I spout out the usual excuses. I’m in advertising, so work is always busy, but that wasn’t what was really keeping me away. Last time I was at my father’s house, Mark sent me a text, I need to see you. Now! Of course, I couldn’t go. The problem is, I never know when Mark will be in touch. He’s my boss, so he works longer hours than I do, plus he has a wife and family. I tell my father that I’ll see what I can…

What’s that policeman doing here?’ asked Eva, taking a tray of tea to one of the elderly residents of Pinewoods. ‘Didn’t you hear? Poor Mr Ferguson had a lot of cash stolen,’ said Milly. ‘Apparently he withdrew enough to buy his grandson a drone for his 21st birthday, and he was keeping it in an old coffee tin on his shelf until he saw him next weekend.’ ‘That’s a worry. Someone must have known where he kept his savings and pinched it while he was at lunch.’ And two days later, she found old Mrs Marks, in her flatlet at the end of the passage, in tears. ‘Someone came into my room and emptied all my tins. I withdrew cash yesterday and hid it in my sugar container. Now it’s…

The 14th of February dawned like any other day – cold, dark and grey. It was Wednesday, her day off. By the time Elizabeth got up, Matt had already left for work. She checked the bedside cabinet – hoping to find a card, even though she knew there would be nothing there. How things had changed. Matt used to go overboard on Valentine’s Day. As well as a card – the funnier, the better – he’d send flowers and treat her to a meal at a decent restaurant. Rather than brooding, she put on some old clothes and went up into the loft. A clear-out would take her mind off things. She didn’t get far. The first box she opened was full of memories – receipts from romantic meals, postcards…

Megan peered out of the car window and frowned. ‘I don’t recognise anywhere,’ she said. ‘We’re lost.’ ‘No, we’re not,’ smiled Neil. ‘Betty will get us there, we’re just going on a different route.’ As if on cue, the shrill voice confidently announced, ‘After 100 yards, turn right.’ ‘There we go! Told you!’ Neil grinned. Megan scowled. How ironic that the only woman in his life Neil paid any attention was an automated gadget. She, Megan, had been to visit her great aunt countless times and always went the quickest, easiest route but, of course, the blessed Betty knew best. ‘I think I typed in the church’s name wrong. The screen’s not very clear’ ‘She’ll find us a shorter route,’ Neil had said earlier that morning. ‘Less petrol, less time,…

Trisha stared at her daughter. ‘What did you say?’ she asked. ‘It’s not definite,’ Kirsty whispered, ‘but I think I might be pregnant.’ Trisha could hardly believe her ears. ‘But… but you’re just a baby yourself!’ ‘Mum,’ Kirsty giggled. ‘I’m 19 – that’s one year older than you were when you had Anna!’ ‘You always said it was good to have babies early’ ‘Is it?’ ‘You know it is. You always said it was good to have babies early. And Brian and I are committed to each other – we want a family.’ ‘Well, I guess there’s nothing to say then, but congratulations!’ said Trisha forcing a smile and throwing her arms around her. ‘You’re upset?’ Kirsty asked. ‘No, no, not at all,’ Trisha replied. ‘I’m just stunned. When you…

Teresa was going through the pockets of her husband’s suit, ready to take it to the dry cleaners for a family wedding, when she found the evidence that Nigel was cheating on her again. Not only that, it looked like he planned to leave her this time. She sat down with a bump, staring at the receipt for a fancy London hotel dated the weekend she’d been staying at her mother’s, and a receipt for two flights to Bali. Neither of them in her name. A quick search through Nigel’s social media confirmed her suspicions and an online check of their finances revealed he had been systematically raiding their savings. What an idiot she’d been, accepting all his lies and broken promises! She fumed. She raged. And then she planned.…