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and note-writing, Jess picked up her shopping bag and purse and walked down to the shop.
    ‘That was some start to the week,’ Gill said from behind the post office counter and clicked her tongue. ‘Seen the chapel have you?’
    Jess nodded. ‘Thank heaven the firemen got here so quickly.’ She nodded to Sandra who was scanning items from a wire basket while two women waited.
    ‘My husband come home with holes burned in his shirt and trousers,’ one said.
    The other nodded. ‘Sparks was flying like fireworks. They done well to save what they did.’
    Jess picked up a litre of milk, a carton of eggs, and a bag of self-raising flour and went to the counter. As Sandra passed them over the scanner, Jess dug out her purse.
    ‘Here,’ the second woman demanded, nudging Jess. ‘Is it right Karen Trewearn have had a black baby?’
    ‘Has she?’ Jess said, handing Sandra a ten-pound note.
    ‘Come on,’ the woman scoffed. ‘Way I hear it you know everyone’s business.’
    Jess smiled politely. ‘Then you heard wrong.’ She turned to Sandra, accepting her change and receipt. ‘Thanks. Must run, I’ve got cakes in the oven.’ As Sandra winked, Jess grabbed her shopping and left. Did people really think that? No, it was just one person’s opinion. Yet even if half the village thought that of her, there was nothing she could do about it.
    She switched on the kettle, put her shopping away, and took cheese and a jar of green tomato chutney from the fridge. A sandwich would see her through until evening. As she cut two slices from the crusty loaf there was a knock on the door and Viv looked in.
    ‘I’ll go again if you’re busy.’
    ‘I’m just making a sandwich. Want to join me?’
    Viv shook her head. ‘Couldn’t stomach it.’ She closed the door.
    ‘My sandwiches aren’t that bad.’
    ‘’Course they aren’t. That wasn’t – I’ll have a cup of tea if you’re making one.’
    Jess glanced round. ‘Come and sit down and tell me what’s wrong.’
    ‘How do you know –?’
    Jess simply raised her brows then continued buttering the bread. She had discovered that people often found it easier to talk if she appeared busy with some everyday task. She glanced up. ‘Are you worried about Charlene and Darren?’
    ‘No, well, yes. But this – I haven’t come about them.’ She pulled out one of the kitchen chairs and sagged onto it, resting her elbows on the table and propping her chin on both hands.
    Jess rested the point of the knife on the chopping board. ‘What’s wrong, Viv?’
    ‘I think Jimmy have got another woman.’
    Relieved, Jess laughed. ‘Don’t be so daft.’
    ‘I aren’t joking. And ’tisn’t funny.’ Tears gathered in Viv’s eyes then spilled down her cheeks.
    Jess was horrified. ‘Viv, I’m sorry. Of course it isn’t. I didn’t mean – It’s just – I can’t believe it.’
    ‘You think I want to?’
    Sitting opposite, Jess pushed the board aside and reached for Viv’s hand. ‘Why on earth would you think such a thing? Have you seen him with someone?’
    Viv shook her head and pulled free to reach into her trouser pocket for what looked like a crumpled wad of toilet paper. Jess fetched the box of tissues, put them in front of Viv, and sat down again.
    ‘No. But he haven’t been near me since April. He won’t even cuddle, like he’s afraid I’ll want more. ’Course I do. We always been close that way. But this past three months he been finding excuses to stay up, or go to bed early so he’s asleep by time I get there.’
    ‘Is he worried about anything?’
    ‘I asked him. He said he wasn’t and to stop fussing. I even asked Wayne if everything was all right at the garage. I thought maybe someone hadn’t paid or wasn’t happy with a job. But Wayne said business is good. He did say his dad have been a bit quiet. I even asked ’n if Jimmy have been going off anywhere during the day.’
    ‘Oh, Viv.’
    ‘Wayne looked at me like I was half-baked and