Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2025 i Take a Break Fiction Feast

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When my partner Carl suggested a drive out to the lakes one night, I tried to convince myself it was romantic. I’d known for some time that he was seeing someone else behind my back, but I hadn’t confronted him because I hoped, sooner or later, he’d see the error of his ways and stay with me. So, if he fancied a moonlit walk by the water, that had to be a good thing, didn’t it? ‘Just let me grab my big coat from the wardrobe,’ I told him. ‘It’ll be cold out there tonight.’ We drove along the dual carriageway to the roundabout, then turned off on to the little winding road to the lakes. ‘It’s so quiet,’ I observed, as we climbed out of the car. ‘Even the…

When did you last see them?’ Erin asked from the driver’s seat of her huge, shiny four by four. ‘You could at least have rung them more often.’ Her younger sister, Josie, glared. ‘I’ve been busy.’ Erin’s accusations had travelled as far as they had, first down the motorway, now down a country lane. They headed for the town of Pickerford and their parents’ place. ‘Are you allergic to chatting or something? They might have told you what’s going on. Then I wouldn’t have had to hear it from Mrs Crooks.’ Erin shuddered where she sat, recalling the elderly lady’s shrill voice on her mobile. ‘You know you told me to ring, if I was worried about Bill and Jean? Well, you haven’t visited in ages, and I’m concerned.’ ‘I…

Penny, there’s a new guy at work and he’s unattached and good-looking and I think you need to meet him, OK?’ ‘Like I needed to meet that computer programmer of yours who tried to explain Bitcoin to me for three hours? I know you mean well, Margie, but no thanks.’ Her flatmate didn’t give up. ‘But we should do something about the drought in your social life, girl,’ she insisted. ‘And that line dancing you’ve just taken up doesn’t count. You don’t even touch your partner while you’re stomping around in those silly boots and you’ve never made any sort of meaningful connection.’ ‘I don’t go there to connect, I go to enjoy dancing and that cowboy music. Although you’re right, I’ve never met anyone there I fancied.’ ‘So please,…

At the end of a long day at the office, all you want to do is get home as quickly as possible. Therefore, when you get to the railway station, the worst news you can receive is that your train is cancelled. And that you are going home on a rail replacement bus service. Well that’s what happened to me, along with my colleagues and friends Molly and Daisy. We all work together in a firm that supplies office equipment to other offices – everything from photocopiers to furniture. Which makes it incomprehensible that Molly’s chair has been missing a wheel for about two months and the big drawer in Daisy’s desk has been stuck shut since Christmas. Anyway, our little trio was standing in the rain outside the station,…

The train was late, very late, pulling into the station. Lynne peered out of the window anxiously, hoping that Max wouldn’t have given up on her. She’d have waited, if it was her, she’d have waited for hours, but Max had always been impatient. But there was no sign. She looked back along the platform as they drew to a halt. And then she opened the train door and stepped out on to the platform. ‘Lynne!’ She turned towards the shout, and there was Max, the same old Max, waving madly running towards her, so excited to see her. Lynne waved back, putting down her case and just stood there, holding out her arms, waiting for Max to run into them. And then they embraced and Lynne knew that nothing…

Kevin thought long and hard about what to do about Kate. He’d read books, watched films, made notes, but nothing seemed right. He was going to kill her, of that there was no doubt. After all, if he divorced her, he’d have to share half her money, and that would never do. ‘I’m not using a knife or a gun,’ he told Stacey, his latest girlfriend. ‘I can’t stand all the blood.’ She smiled at him. ‘You’re so sensitive and sweet, that’s what I love about you.’ Kevin shook his head. He wasn’t sweet at all. A lot of blood would mean an awful mess to clean up, leave a trail that might link the murder to him, and besides, unless he framed someone else, he’d have to get rid…

Lexi yawned, then stretched out on the king-sized bed. It looked like it was going to be another perfect day. She felt extremely blessed that she had what she considered to be a perfect job, a perfect house and a perfect husband – Hugh, who was in the kitchen making breakfast. Lexi’s only minor complaint was that she hadn’t been kissed that morning. Anxious to rectify this, she decided to sneak downstairs and steal a kiss from her adorable husband. What better way to start the day? After slipping on her dressing gown, Lexi tiptoed down the stairs, with the intention of surprising Hugh. She paused at the kitchen door as she could hear him talking to someone on the phone. Lexi froze when she heard him say, ‘Whatever you…

Have you heard, Chelle?’ Della plonked her backside on to my desk. ‘Heard what?’ I peered crossly around her at the spreadsheet on the screen. Surely that column couldn’t be right? Petra had asked me to try to untangle the mess she’d made of it – so now, as Petra’s supervisor, I’d have to trawl back through reams of data to find where the mistake had occurred. As if I didn’t have enough work of my own to do. And I certainly didn’t have time to listen to Della’s latest piece of office tittle-tattle. ‘Marianne’s leaving.’ ‘Oh?’ My mind withdrew with reluctance from the world of figures. What had Della said about leaving? ‘Who is?’ ‘Marianne.’ I smiled. Trust Della to get the wrong end of the stick. ‘No, she’s…

It was Ella’s first day at her new job and she was being introduced around the office by her line manager. ‘And last but not least,’ beamed Mr Layton, ‘meet Andy. Any IT problems and Andy’s your man.’ Andy tore his gaze from the screen in front of him and greeted Ella with a warm smile, which she returned. And then something weird happened. As their eyes met, Ella felt a crackle of something… electricity… attraction… flow between them. From the way Andy’s eyes widened she was sure he felt it too. It seemed Mr Layton also noticed something amiss. ‘How’s the missus, Andy?’ he asked pointedly. ‘What?’ Andy looked dazed. ‘The missus,’ repeated Mr Layton. ‘Did the pair of you do that walk I recommended at the weekend? Along…

What’s the point of Save the Date cards?’ Elaine asked her daughter, Lydia. She didn’t know what to make of the card she’d just received. ‘It gives you advance warning of an event so you can keep the date free,’ Lydia explained. ‘Imagine missing Milly’s wedding because you’d arranged something else.’ ‘Yes, but why not just send a wedding invitation?’ ‘Milly probably hasn’t decided whether to make the invitations, or buy them,’ Lydia replied. ‘There’s a lot to think about.’ The Save the Date card was printed professionally – white, with shiny gold lettering and a border of entwined leaves and flowers. Elaine studied the card. ‘It states the date of the wedding, and where it’s being held, but not the time.’ ‘The time will be on the invitation,’ Lydia…

Hi, Becky. I’m home!’ Dad called cheerfully, as he wandered into the hall. I was lying on the sofa, channel-surfing but not finding anything worth watching. Even before he had taken off his coat, Dad was filling the kettle. ‘Want a cup of tea?’ he asked, putting his head round the living room door. ‘Sure. How was town – busy?’ I scrambled up and straightened the cushions. ‘Not really. But guess what I heard, when I ran into Essie Higgins.’ Essie Higgins was the local oracle – a terrible gossip, but an accurate one. ‘No idea,’ I replied. Dad hovered in the doorway. ‘You know the charity, Little Dreamz, that grants wishes to kids who’ve been ill?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Well, they’re staging a fundraising Tuckbridge’s Got Talent competition in the municipal…

Are you still decorating Eric’s flat?’ asked Lexy. As proprietor of Easy DIY, the local hardware shop, she took an interest in her customers’ projects. ‘Yes,’ Dee replied. ‘It’s awful – all dark brown and purple.’ ‘Eric’s been living there for months,’ Lexy remarked. ‘It doesn’t sound like he’s done much to it.’ ‘No, but as I’m a painter and decorator, I can help. I am his girlfriend, after all.’ ‘Hmm – there are rumours that he’s seeing Tia from The Red Lion…’ Dee had heard the gossip but was convinced there was no truth in it. She hoped not, anyway. After a year of being on her own, she was now used to having a boyfriend again. They had met at Easy DIY. Eric had popped in to get…