The winds continued to strengthen as the evening drew in. The wooden veranda moaned and creaked as it swayed from side to side.
Amber brought in the two glass hurricane lamps and other decorative items that she had left outside. She figured they’d be safe inside.
After one particularly strong gust of wind caused one of the benches to move, they also brought both benches inside in case they went through the window or hurt someone. Placing them at the back corner of the shop, it made one side of the shop with the tractor almost impassable.
‘But at least we’ve got somewhere to sit,’ said Josh, sitting down gratefully. He looked tired. ‘This blanket was a good idea.’
‘Made with love, as well,’ said Grandma Tilly with a wink.
Amber had brought down some more cushions and blankets from upstairs, thinking that if they were going to be open late at least they’d be comfortable.
There were a few more customers, but nobody was in the mood to stay for too long and chat. They all came in and moaned about the weather. But everyone looked frightened and worried, stressing about whether the river would burst its banks and flood their homes.
‘I feel so helpless,’ said Amber, as yet another customer rushed out with milk and bread. ‘What can we do?’
Josh shrugged his shoulders. ‘Exactly what we are doing. Staying open. Being a safe haven.’
Amber nodded. Despite feeling powerless to help, she did at least feel that there was a sense of community that she hadn’t felt before in Cranbridge.
Another rattle from the porch made her glance outside once more. But it was dark now and the only way they could gauge the river level was to head out with the torch every half hour.
And still the rain kept coming.
The newspaper office was still open next door, even though they were more vulnerable than the shop as they were at a slightly lower level, nearer to the ground.
‘We’ve got some sandbags though,’ Molly told them when she came in later. She stood and warmed her hands by the fire, which was still going strong thanks to Amber’s efforts of putting a log on every half hour. ‘Don’t ask where they got them from.’
Tom came in. ‘I’m starving,’ he said. ‘Have you got anything to eat?’
‘Not going to the pub?’ asked Josh.
‘No time,’ said Tom. ‘The phone lines are red hot.’
‘We could always warm something up in our microwave or oven upstairs,’ said Amber.
Tom browsed the shelves. ‘Not exactly spoilt for choice, are we?’
He had a point, thought Amber. There were some tins of soup and beans but nothing really in the way of a proper meal. At least they still had a few packets of eggs and bread.
‘Why don’t I bring the microwave downstairs?’ said Josh. ‘At least we can warm up some beans or soup.’
‘I’d rather have a chicken korma and all the trimmings, but fair enough, thanks,’ said Tom with a sigh.
‘Shall I make some for everyone?’ asked Amber.
Grandma Tilly nodded enthusiastically. ‘I can butter some bread.’
‘That would be great,’ said Tom. ‘Most of the team are still out and about. Kate’s apparently getting in everyone’s way and trying to interview people.’
‘I haven’t met her yet,’ said Amber.
‘She’s always out,’ said Tom, rolling his eyes. ‘I’ve told her that now’s not the time to bother people, but she’s that ambitious.’
‘Everyone who came in has been very worried,’ Amber told him.
Tom sighed. ‘Nothing we can do but hope for the best.’
Amber knew that it must be serious if Tom wasn’t joking any more.
Soon she was handing out beans on toast to Tom.
‘Haven’t pulled an all-nighter for many a year,’ he told them, sitting down on one of the benches. ‘Think it might be the time for one though.’
‘Us too,’ Josh told him. ‘We thought we’d better stay open in case anybody needs anything.’
‘You don’t have any boats back there, do you?’ asked Tom, pointing with his fork to the back room. ‘You seem to have everything else.’
Josh frowned. ‘Do you know what? I’ve got a feeling I saw one somewhere.’
‘Well, I think you’d better dig it out sharpish,’ said Tom.
Josh frowned. ‘I don’t think it’ll come to that.’
‘Nor do I, mate, but we should probably be prepared,’ said Tom between mouthfuls.
After everyone else had left, Amber helped Grandma Tilly upstairs.
‘We’ll keep the shop open as late as we can,’ Amber told her. ‘You get some rest.’
‘Will do,’ said Grandma Tilly, switching on the television once they were upstairs. ‘To be honest, I sleep that heavily that I’ll probably miss most of the excitement unfortunately.’
‘Lucky you,’ said Amber.
She was just hoping for absolutely no excitement at all and that the storm would miss Cranbridge completely.
32
After a bit of a rush early in the evening, the shop began to quieten down. In fact, it was too quiet. Without any customers, all that was left was the sound of the storm outside. Every time there was a huge gust of wind, Amber jumped nervously.
‘We need a distraction,’ said Josh. ‘Sitting here fretting isn’t helping.’
‘What about some music?’ Amber suggested. ‘I know I’ve seen a radio somewhere. I’ll go and find it. It’ll give me something to do.’
After a few moments, she came back in holding what Josh knew to be his dad’s old radio. Amber fiddled with the dial until she found a mellow pop music station and left it playing.
Josh stood in shock. How long had it been since there had been music in the shop?
Too long, he knew.
His dad had often sat on the veranda and played his guitar in the afternoons, especially on a hot summer’s day. Josh had missed that so much that he ached at the thought of it. How different the whole shop was to when his dad had been there, buying and hoarding who knows what, but it didn’t matter. His mother smiled and laughed. His dad sang and hummed wherever he went. There had always been music and laughter in the shop. Now the music had returned and he felt choked with the memories.
‘Are you OK?’ Amber had come to sit next to him and he hadn’t even realised until she spoke.
‘The music,’ he managed to mumble.
Thankfully, she understood. ‘Your dad,’ she said softly, placing a hand on his arm.
He nodded.
‘He was so full of life,’ said Amber. ‘That much I remember. He used to sneak me a biscuit when I was hiding in a corner. Try and tempt me out of my shell.’
Josh turned to look at her. ‘Why are you so shy?’ he asked.
She shrugged her shoulders. ‘I don’t know. We moved around a lot when I was younger because of my dad’s job. It’s hard to keep making friends in new places.’ She hesitated. ‘Girls can be pretty mean when you’re growing up,’ she told him, staring into the distance in a dream. ‘If you’re not trendy enough and all that, well, you get picked on.’