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‘I’m afraid there may be a slight problem with the Valentine’s dance.’ She settled herself between Mair and Delyth, dividing the Red Sea of Remonstration nicely, Kitty observed.
    ‘But first, I don’t suppose many of have you have undergone Criminal Record Bureau checks, have you?’
    ‘I don’t know what you’re implying, Vicar,’ huffed Delyth, her chest beneath the green fleece swelling with indignation.
    The Vicar gently patted her arm and looked round the room, searching in vain for raised hands. ‘Oh, dear. That’s what I thought.’
    ‘What difference would it make if we had?’ asked Alys, leaning forward.
    The Vicar gave a ladylike sigh. ‘Well, because the mother-and-toddler group use the church hall twice a week, it’s raised what the Bishop is calling “legitimate concerns” about the safety of the toddlers.’
    ‘Meaning?’ said Alys.
    The Vicar spread her pale hands in a gesture of helplessness. ‘Meaning that unless all of you have CRB checks, it’s simply not reasonable for us to guarantee the safety of any toddlers you may come into contact with. The Church has to ensure that any organisation undertaking regulated activities within the hall has made the necessary checks and registrations. ’
    ‘But most of them are our grandchildren!’ a plaintive voice from the other side of the room cried.
    ‘I’m afraid that doesn’t give you any legal rights in this case,’ the Vicar said, shaking her head. ‘We must be seen to be putting the necessary safeguards in place not just to protect and promote the welfare of children, but also to enhance public confidence. I’m very sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it simply won’t be possible for the Church to allow you to use the hall until this issue is addressed.’
    ‘Yet another example of Health and Safety gone mad!’ protested Alys, accompanied by mutinous murmurs.
    ‘Alas, it’s more than bureaucratic zeal,’ said the Vicar as heads turned her way. ‘I’m sorry to report that there’s an additional concern. A recent inspection of the building has revealed that it falls seriously short of modern standards. The heating’s inadequate, the loos are beyond antique and there’s no disabled access. Unless the means are found to carry out the necessary work, it will have to be closed anyway. The Bishop did point out that when Abersaith was in a similar predicament, their historic market hall was saved when funding was secured to match the sum raised when everyone agreed to buy community shares.’
    ‘Our church hall’s not exactly an historic landmark.’ Alys sighed, gathering up her paperwork. ‘And there’s still the immediate problem of the Valentine’s dance. Doesn’t the Bishop realise how not being able to use the church hall will affect Penmorfa? Unless he reconsiders the matter, there’s simply nowhere else to go.’
    ‘Actually, Mam,’ said Kitty, anxious to go home and congratulating herself on coming up with a brilliant idea that would mean Delyth and Mair having to be grateful to her mother. ‘What about our Summerhouse Café? It’s just about big enough. Is there any reason we couldn’t hold the do there?’

Chapter Four
    ‘Thanks for helping me this morning,’ said Coralie. ‘I’m pleased with how this Dream Home range is selling, even in the current climate.’
    ‘Beats me how you came up with the idea for all this,’ Kitty said, unpacking a bottle of Squeaky Clean window spray.
    ‘It’s all thanks to my fairy great-godmother,’ Coralie explained, taking a box cutter to the next parcel. ‘My grandmother was evacuated to a family near here. Unlike so many children, her story had a happy ending. She grew very close to her Welsh family and returned for years for holidays after she’d had my mum. Aunty Elinor, as she called her, had been in service here; she got my gran to practise her handwriting by dictating all her cleaning secrets to her.’
    ‘Hmm, maybe something life-changing like