Escape to Bramble Patch Craft Shop

by Sarah Hope

  Please stop. Please stop. Yes! As the car indicated and pulled to the side of the narrow country lane, Molly squinted against the bright headlights and tried to focus on the person who was getting out and coming towards her.

  ‘Thank you so much for stopping.’ Holding her hand up, Molly shielded her eyes from the bright headlights and cursed. ‘Richie.’

  ‘Miss Wilson. What’s happened?’

  ‘My tyre’s blown.’ Lowering her hand as he came and stood in front of his car, she could see he was on duty, he was wearing his uniform and although he hadn’t put on the blue lights, the white of the car stood out in the dark night. Before moving here, she’d had literally nothing to do with the police; now she almost felt like a fugitive.

  ‘How long will your breakdown recovery mechanic be?’

  Looking down at the floor, Molly sighed. ‘My mobile's out of battery so I haven’t been able to ring them.’

  ‘I see.’ Crossing his arms, Richie strode towards the car, spotting the blown tyre. Whistling under his breath, he kicked it with the toe of his boot. ‘That could have been quite nasty, you’ll want to get it checked at a garage when you can, make sure it’s not caused any other damage.’

  ‘Yes, I will.’ Nodding, Molly narrowed her eyes. All she needed was to borrow his phone. ‘Could I borrow your phone to ring my breakdown cover, please?’

  ‘Ah, it’s okay. I can change it for you.’ Rolling up his sleeves, he stepped towards the boot. ‘Is the spare in here?’

  ‘Yes.’ Had the spare been in there? She hadn’t noticed it when she was getting the jack out but then she hadn’t been able to see much. They were normally kept in the boot, weren’t they?

  Turning on the torch on his phone, he pulled back the carpet again. ‘There’s nothing in here.’

  ‘I’ve got the jack. Maybe the spares underneath.’ That was a common place for them to be kept too. She remembered that’s where the spare had been when she’d got a flat all those years ago.

  Kneeling down, Richie shone the torch underneath the car before reaching underneath with his hand. Standing up, he wiped his hand down the leg of his trousers. ‘Not there. You do have one, don’t you?’

  ‘Yes. Well, I assume I do. Every car has a spare, doesn’t it? I’ve never had to use it, but I’m sure there must be one.’

  ‘Actually, not every car has a spare, some just have repair kits.’ He glanced at the jack which still stood underneath the car next to Molly. ‘But if you have a jack, I would assume you should have a spare.’

  ‘Right. Well, I don’t know.’ Molly shrugged, it wasn’t anything she’d ever looked for before. Why would she?

  Shaking his head, Richie sighed. ‘You’ll have to wait until morning now, anyway.’

  ‘No, if I could just borrow your phone please, I’ll give the breakdown service a call.’

  ‘And you think they carry around spares? Enough different sizes to fit any car?’

  Opening her mouth, Molly closed it again. Right, that had told her, hadn’t it? Who did he think he was, talking to her like that? Okay, maybe she hadn’t thought about it properly, but would the breakdown service really not be able to fit a new tyre? Surely they must come across this problem all the time?

  ‘And before you say they’ll be able to tow you, garages around here close for the night. It’s not like where you’re from, where everything probably stays open all night. This is the countryside.’

  Seriously? He didn’t even know where she’d moved from. Shaking her head, Molly reached inside, turned the lights off and pulled the key from the ignition. Shutting the door quietly but firmly behind her, she turned on her heels and began walking.

  ‘Where are you going?’

  Glancing behind her, she could see him still standing in the middle of the road. ‘Thanks for the help, but I’m going to find somewhere I can ring from.’

  ‘We’re miles from the village.’

  Shrugging her shoulders, Molly clenched her jaw. Yes, she knew that, but what was the alternative? Stay on the side of the road until morning or have him possibly offer her a lift home? Not a chance that she’d be getting in the car with him. She had no idea what problem he had with her apart from the fact that he’d caught her speeding, but even then, as she’d overheard, he’d caught other people from the village speeding and let them off, so she’d obviously unintentionally annoyed him from even before that meeting. She shrugged, maybe he didn’t like the model of her car, who knew. She certainly wasn’t going to hang around and let him make her feel worse, she was sure of that.

  ‘Miss Wilson. Please, it’s dangerous to walk that far in the pitch black.’

  Molly grimaced, she hated people referring to her with her surname. She hadn’t changed it back to her maiden name after the divorce – she’d wanted to stick with the same name as Ellis and Lauren – and every time someone used it out loud like that she was reminded she would always be Trevor’s ex. Whatever she did, however much she changed as a person in her own right, she would always be his ex-wife. Nothing would change that. ‘It’s Molly, my name’s Molly.’

  ‘Okay, Molly, please get in the car and I’ll give you a lift back to yours. You’ll only get knocked down or cause an accident. This road is treacherous in the dark.’

  Great, so he wasn’t really worried about her, he was worried about her causing an accident. Thanks, Richie. Molly blinked back the tears stinging her eyes. Where had they even come from? She didn’t even need to think about it. She knew why she felt like crying. She knew why she’d had the icy-cold feeling of despair in the pit of her stomach ever since they’d moved. Even before, once she’d made the decision, if she was honest. It just hadn’t felt as overwhelming when they’d still been living in the marital home, back in the town she knew, back where she felt safe and had people around her she knew. Back where she’d had a support network.

  Now, it was all gone, the friendly neighbours popping around for a cuppa and a catch-up, her parents living a couple of miles out of town. Heck, even the ex-in-laws. Everyone she’d relied on to feel safe and secure, to have as a back-up were gone.

  Lauren and Ellis must be feeling the exact same. No, worse, because let’s face it, they hadn’t chosen this. They hadn’t wanted to leave their home, their friends, their family. They’d wanted to stay.

  Curling her fingers up, Molly dug her nails into the palms of her hands. It wasn’t her fault. Yes, she’d chosen to move here, to move this far away. She’d ultimately made the final decision. But it had been Trevor who had pushed for the sale of the house. It had been Ellis and Lauren’s own father’s fault that they had been kicked out of their home, that he had fought for just enough of the equity to force them to leave. To make sure that she had been priced out of all the suitable housing in their old town and surrounding villages.

  But, maybe she hadn’t needed to move them quite as far. There had been places closer, but not close enough to stay at their old schools. And if they had to move schools anyway then she’d thought why not give them a better life? And that’s what she’d wanted, she’d wanted to give them the stability of being in control of their income, of having a family business, of at least being there for them after school. She had visions of them drinking milkshakes and eating biscuits stood around the shop counter after school, chatting about their day and taking it in turns to serve customers.

  It wasn’t going to be like that, was it? What had she actually done? Lowering herself to the grass verge, Molly put her head in her hands, the tears fresh and rapid against her cheeks. She shouldn’t have moved them so far. Lauren was right, she’d chosen this new life, not them. What had she done?

  Taking deep rasping breaths, Molly was grateful for the darkness encompassing her. She’d had to be so strong, had to have been ‘the strong one’ ever since the solicitor’s letter had been pushed through the letterbox. Throughout the whole court proceedings Molly hadn’t let herself cry, hadn’t let herself admit how she was feeling. She hadn’t told anyone how much i
t hurt, again and again and again, to know that Trevor, the person she had thought she’d spend the rest of her life with, showed such indifference towards her, such loathing that he couldn’t care less if he pushed her out of her home.

  Car headlights penetrated the darkness, getting brighter and brighter as they neared. Lifting her head up, she pushed the heels of her hands against her eyes, trying to stop the flow of tears.

  They’d pass. If she just kept sitting here, they wouldn’t even notice her.

  Sighing, Molly realised that the car was slowing until it came to a stop just in front of her.

  ‘Molly? Get in the car.’ Richie’s voice, with its unmistakable twang, filtered out from the window.

  Pulling the sleeves of her jumper down over her hands, Molly wiped her eyes, drying her tears. Biting her bottom lip, she watched as he got out and walked towards her. Why couldn’t he just leave her alone?

  ‘Please, just get in and I’ll give you a lift.’ Kneeling down in front of her, Richie looked her in the eye. ‘Are you crying?’

  Shaking her head, Molly looked away.

  Running his fingers through his hair, he looked down at the floor before looking back at her. ‘Look, I’m sorry if I was a bit harsh. I certainly didn’t mean to upset you.’

  ‘Please, just leave me alone.’ Pushing her hands against the cool grass, Molly stood up and began walking again.

  ‘Molly, please? I know I’ve upset you. I shouldn’t have spoken to you the way I did. I...’ Jogging to catch her up, he gently touched her elbow.

  ‘You haven’t upset me.’ Looking away into what she assumed was another field of corn standing proud in the dark night, Molly lowered her voice. ‘I just... it’s not you. It’s everything.’

  ‘Let me give you a lift. Please?’

  Nodding, Molly followed him back to the police car, waited until he had opened the passenger door for her and slipped in. At least if she had a lift, she’d be home quicker. He would only keep following and nagging her otherwise. This way would be quicker.

  Sitting in silence, Richie turned the ignition, the low rumble of the engine firing to life. She’d never ridden in a police car before. She glanced behind her into the backseats. At least she wasn’t sitting in there. The way Richie seemed to have something in for her, she was quite surprised she wasn’t.

  The radio crackled into life, drawing Richie’s attention.

  ‘Sorry, I just need to get this.’ Picking it up, he spoke into the radio, a woman’s voice on the other end directing him. Lowering the radio back into its holder, Richie tapped the steering wheel with his thumbs. ‘I’m really sorry, but I’m going to have to take that job. I just need to make a quick stop and then I’ll get you back.’

  ‘Okay.’ Looking out of the side window, Molly clasped her hands in her lap. She might as well just give up on any idea of rescuing her car tonight. She’d ring the breakdown service in the morning. Richie was probably right, and if he was, the car would end up getting towed to the nearest garage where no doubt she’d be charged a small fortune to get a new tyre fitted. She shook her head. That could be a problem she faced tomorrow.

  Pressing a button on the dash in front of him, they were suddenly surrounded by an aura of blue as the lights from the siren whirred into action. ‘Really sorry about this. It’s a little all-night truck stop café, they’ve rung in. It’s probably nothing but...’ Richie shrugged.

  ‘It’s fine.’ Keeping her eyes focused on the hedgerow beside her, Molly watched as trees and road signs momentarily appeared and disappeared as they sped past. As they took corners at speed and drove through another small village, the few cars on the road moved out of the way for them, bumping up kerbs and pausing at roundabouts. It was all new to Molly, since moving they’d barely had time to explore their village let alone venture any further. She’d have to take the kids on a drive one day, check out the local environment.

  Passing through a village, Richie took a sharp left turn. ‘It’s just up here.’

  Molly nodded, she could see it now, a fairly large illuminated greasy spoon café surrounded by a large car park half filled with lorries and trucks.

  Pulling into the car park, the police car came to an abrupt stop outside the café and Richie turned to her. ‘Lock the doors and stay here.’

  Molly watched as he jogged inside, the glass door swinging shut behind him. Squinting her eyes, she tried to make out what was happening inside. There didn’t seem to be any commotion. A group of three drivers sat hunched over their meals in the far corner of the café, but apart from them, Molly could only see the woman behind the counter.

  Peering out of the window, she watched as Richie spoke to the woman before coming back outside.

  Opening the driver’s door, Richie leant his head in. ‘False alarm. Some wiring issue with their alarm system or something. Did you want to grab a bite to eat? They said we could have something on the house for our troubles.’

  Go in? Running the pads of her thumbs across her cheeks, she wiped the dried tears. She must look a complete state and it would be obvious she’d been crying. Going in and getting something to eat with Richie was the last thing she wanted to do, but she couldn’t very well say that, could she? Thank him for giving her a lift but deny him the chance to get a freebie dinner? She knew she was being unfair. Nodding, she opened the passenger door and slipped out. She hadn’t eaten, and her stomach was beginning to rumble, she should eat.

  Holding the door open for her, Richie smiled as she pulled her hair over her shoulder hoping it would cover her pale, tear-stained face.

  Leaning in, he whispered, ‘Don’t worry. You look great. You don’t look like you’ve been crying.’

  Feeling her face burn with the blush creeping across her cheeks, she looked at the floor. How had he known what she’d been thinking?

  ‘Where do you want to sit?’ Standing inside the doorway, Richie looked over at Molly.

  ‘Umm, over there?’ Molly pointed to a table by the window overlooking the car park. She didn’t really care where they sat, she just wanted to get this over and done with and go home to her sofa and TV.

  ‘Choose anything you want on the menu, all on the house.’ The woman from behind the counter came over to them, pulling a pen from behind her ear and a notebook from her apron pocket before she got to them. ‘Anything at all. I can only apologise again for the misunderstanding. The boss is on the phone to the alarm service as we speak. Although what luck he’ll have at this time of the night, I don’t know.’

  ‘Like I said, no need to apologise. I’m just glad you’re safe. I’d much rather a false alarm than the other.’

  ‘That’s true. Do you want a drink before you choose?’

  ‘Yes, that’d be great, please? Molly?’

  ‘Umm.’ Scouring the laminated menu on the table top, Molly shook her head. ‘I’ll have a coffee, please?’

  ‘Fat white, latte or cappuccino?’

  ‘Flat white, please?’ Looking up, Molly smiled. She noticed that pinned on her blouse the woman had a badge telling the world that her name was Majorie. With tight black ringlets framing her face, the name Majorie suited her. Not that Molly had ever met a Majorie before or had ever really wondered what a Majorie would look like, but it did, it suited her.

  ‘Me too, please?’ Tapping the menu against the top of the plastic white table, Richie stretched his arms above his head and yawned.

  ‘Coming right up.’ Turning on her heels, Majorie made her way back behind the counter.

  ‘Are you tired? Has it been a long shift?’

  ‘Not especially, but I didn’t get much sleep and I’m definitely feeling it today. Coffee was just what the doctor ordered. Thanks for coming in with me.’

  Molly shook her head. ‘Thanks for the lift.’

  ‘Well, the half lift anyway.’ Richie chuckled under his breath. ‘I will get you home though, I promise.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  ‘You’re welcome. Putting his hands down on the t
able in front of him, he looked her in the eye. ‘Are you all right?’

  ‘I’m fine, thanks. Although I have just realised, I left my shopping in the boot of the car.’

  ‘Oops! Anything frozen in there?’

  ‘Only the pizza I was going to have for dinner tonight.’ Molly laughed.

  ‘Good job we’re eating here now then.’

  ‘I guess so.’ Nodding, Molly looked at him. His eyes looked kind and the lines around his eyes suggested he was certainly capable of laughing. What was it with her that wound him up so much?

  ‘Here you go. Two flat whites. Are you ready to order?’ Majorie placed the two mugs on the table between them.

  ‘Thank you.’ Pulling her mug towards her, Molly looked at the menu and ran her finger down the selection.

  ‘There’s so much to choose from.’

  ‘The all-day breakfast is good. I highly recommend it. In fact, that’s what I’ll go with, please?’

  ‘Could I have the same please, but the veggie option?’ An all-day breakfast sounded good. She couldn’t actually remember the last time she’d had a cooked breakfast. Last year, maybe? When she’d taken Lauren and Ellis to the caravan park for a week in the summer holidays.

  ‘Coming right up.’ Scribbling in her notepad, Majorie left the table.

  Lacing her fingers around her coffee mug, Molly shifted in her seat. ‘So, have you been here long then? At the village, I mean.’

  ‘Yes, I was born and bred there. Moved away to the City for a bit, but the draw of village life soon pulled me back.’

  Nodding, Molly stared into the pale froth of her coffee.

  ‘How about you? What brought you here?’

  ‘Oh, umm.’ Looking up, Molly shook her head. ‘I was just looking for something different.’ He didn’t want to hear the whole sorry affair of the events that had led them to move.