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in an extra half dozen?”
    â€œGood idea. I’m sure you’ll be able to sell them. And when you’ve finished that, you can go for lunch,” she said. A few minutes later Catrin hung up her smock on the little hook behind the dispensary door, smoothed the flirty skirt of her red and white polka dot dress, and left the shop.
    *   *   *
    With her newfound extra income she could have bought her lunch, but preferred to bring her own and, if the weather was fine, eat it picnic style sitting on a bench in the churchyard overlooking the river watching the swans drift lazily with the current. She enjoyed a cup of freshly brewed coffee with her lunch, and stopped into the little café on the town square.
    â€œHello, Catrin,” said a male voice behind her just as she was about to place her order. “You’re looking very summery today.”
    She turned and smiled. “Oh, hello, Brad.” She turned to the barista and asked for an Americano. “Make it two,” said Brad to the woman at the counter, holding out a five-pound note, “and take them both out of that.”
    â€œIt’s very kind of you, but I’d really rather pay for my own,” protested Catrin.
    â€œIt’s just a cup of coffee, Catrin,” he said. “No big deal.”
    The woman handed them their coffees and a few moments later they stood on the cobblestones of the town square.
    â€œWell, thank you for this,” Catrin said, raising her cup slightly. “I don’t have long for lunch, so I’d best get on.”
    â€œGoing back to the shop, are you?” asked Brad. “I’ll walk back with you.”
    â€œActually, I was going to…” She caught a glimpse out of the corner of her eye of a woman with grey hair leaving the post office. Mrs. Lloyd’s head turned toward them and she walked briskly in their direction. “Yes,” Catrin said, “I’m just going back to work.” She tipped her head in Mrs. Lloyd’s direction. “I don’t know what people have been saying, but I don’t want to give anyone reason to talk, and I don’t want anyone getting the wrong end of the stick. It’s probably best if we aren’t seen together.”
    Before Brad could reply, Mrs. Lloyd was upon them. She smiled at each one in turn, said hello, and then continued on her way to the Llanelen Spa.
    Her appetite gone, Catrin set off at a fast pace to the shop. She replaced her lunch in the little fridge and tipped the untouched coffee down the sink. Honestly, what was the world coming to when you can’t even stop to say hello to a man in the street without rumours starting up that there’s something going on between you. She didn’t even fancy Brad. She’d been that surprised when Tegwen had asked if they’d been seeing each other. She hadn’t known how to tell her, in a tactful way, that she wouldn’t fancy Brad if he was the last man on earth. So full of himself. He reminded her of her father, in the worst possible ways. And Mrs. Lloyd coming along just when she did was really bad luck. Catrin shuddered.
    It wasn’t until she had slipped on her smock that she felt calmer and back in control. As she approached the makeup counter, the chemist’s wife threw her a grateful look.
    â€œOh, look,” she said. “Here’s Catrin back early from lunch. Catrin, this lady would like to know how to create a smoky eye, whatever that is. Can you help her?”
    Catrin put on her best professional smile. “Of course.” She made a mental note to suggest to the chemist that a proper makeup chair and large mirror would pay for themselves in no time.
    *   *   *
    Mrs. Lloyd pushed open the door to the Llanelen Spa. Tegwen Driscoll stood at the reception desk, tucking her credit card in her purse. A mischievous smile played at the corners of Mrs. Lloyd’s lips.
    â€œHello,