My Weekly Pocket Novel - 07 July 2022

196 Pages·2022·129.1 MB·English

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Vg AU $9.50, NZ $9.90 £4.50

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A Constant
Heart

By Toni Prette

Anna’s life seemed good on the
surface, but she was holding so
much in — her love for Dan, her sister
missing, her fear that she might lose
custody of her niece, Daisy...

As if that wasn’t enough, Sean came
on the scene just as her sandwich
shop business ran into difficulties!
Was it too much to ask that she
might finally get her happy-ever-after?
My Weekly Pocket Novels

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About The Author

“Living in rural Normandy with
spectacular views all around me,
it was no great hardship to stay
home during the lockdown periods,
and | made use of the time
to write this story.”
/DC THOMSON

Vic lL

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© Toni Prette, 2022
Cover: Shutterstock
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6
CHAPTER 1

Acre finished sealing another pack of
sandwiches, stood up and stretched. She
glanced outside. There were already two
customers waiting and it wasn’t nine o’clock yet.
She peeled off her plastic gloves and went to the
door, turning the sign hanging there to Open.

“Good morning, Mrs Ambrose,” she said
brightly as an elderly woman walked in, followed
by Mr Featherstone who was always one of the
first customers to come into the sandwich bar
every morning. “You're early today.”

“Yes,” said Mrs Ambrose. Her newly-permed
silver curls bounced as she nodded several
times. “I don’t want to miss those delicious
salmon and crispy lettuce sandwiches you've
started making.”

“They certainly are proving popular,” said Anna,
looking through the packs of sandwiches she’d
just prepared with their range of fillings. She hadn’t
had time to label them all yet but she knew exactly
what was inside the white, wholemeal, multigrain
or rye sliced bread. “Ah, here we are. One pack?”

“Perhaps I'll take two, to save me coming in
early tomorrow.”

“|! can always reserve them for you,
Mrs Ambrose, I’m Sure you'd like a change.”

The woman agreed and they chatted for another
minute. After Mrs Ambrose had been served,
Anna turned to her second customer of the day.

“And what can | get you this morning,
Mr Featherstone? Your usual cheese and pickle,
or would you like to try something different?”

Mr Featherstone was, as always, dressed

7
A CONSTANT HEART

smartly in a conventional dark suit, white shirt
and striped tie as if he were still going to the
office, although he’d been retired for as long
as Anna had known him. His abundance of
white hair matched his immaculate moustache
and his cornflower blue eyes twinkled. A folded
newspaper was tucked under his arm.

“You know me, my dear. Aman of habit. Cheese
and pickle on white, please, but...” He looked
over to the glass case on the counter, “One of
your delicious cupcakes will do nicely with my
afternoon cup of tea.”

Two more customers followed before Anna had
a chance to label and display the plastic packs
on the stands. She put her takings into the cash
tin and glanced up again at the clock on the
wall. Fourteen minutes past nine. She sighed.
Sophie was late again. No doubt she’d been out
until all hours with her new boyfriend and had
missed the bus. Anna had tried to stress upon
her seventeen-year-old assistant that the first
hour in the sandwich bar was their busiest but
she wouldn't reprimand the girl too strongly as
she was a good worker, always willing and with
a happy smile for the customers. Besides, Anna
had her own reasons for having given Sophie a
job in the first place.

A minute later Sophie came bursting into the
shop like a whirlwind, her auburn pony tail flying
behind her and her grey eyes animated. “Sorry,
Anna!” she cried breathlessly. “Would you believe
the cat got locked in the shed and | couldn't find
the key anywhere?”

“Not to worry, Sophie,” said Anna, “But could
you put the rest of the cupcakes under the glass
dome before the next rush of customers comes
in’? Then perhaps you can start making the potato
8
A CONSTANT HEART

salad and coleslaw for the lunchtime buffet.”

Apart from her sandwich bar, Anna had a
contract to prepare a buffet lunch for one of the
companies in the office block across the road. The
management supplied this service free to their
employees and it boosted the sandwich bar’s
income greatly as did the occasional conference
or private party when they came along, although
the last function they’d taken on was more
than a year ago. Anna had been approached by
another of the offices to do a lunchtime buffet but
she’d had to decline because there really wasn’t
enough time if she were to keep her afternoons
free to spend with Daisy. However, many of the
employees from the various companies in the
building came to buy their lunch.

By ten-thirty most of the sandwiches had been
sold and there were no cupcakes left. Anna knew
there would be another surge of customers as
lunchtime approached and she and Sophie stood
at the preparation table making more sandwiches.
Anna kept an eye on the clock. The office buffet
must be ready by twelve-thirty.

She was concentrating hard on the task at
hand when she heard a car pull up outside. The
engine sound was familiar and she smiled. She
was always pleased to see Dan, her cousin, who
had a half-share in the sandwich bar, but she
hadn’t been expecting him today.

“Hi, Dan,” she said when the tall, fair haired
man with the dimple in his chin came in. Today
he wore a crisp white shirt, grey trousers and a
traditional tie. “What are you doing here?” Her
brow furrowed. “No problem with Daisy, is there?”

Dan shook his head. “Relax. No problem at all.
Daisy went into school just as she always does —
full of enthusiasm.”

9
A CONSTANT HEART

“That’s because she has an art lesson on
Tuesday mornings. You know how she loves
drawing and painting.”

“| do,” said Dan, “Especially as she’s always
reminding me that she’s now in Year 2 and has
a proper timetable. No, | had an early meeting in
town so thought I’d call in for one of your fantastic
cupcakes.” He gave Anna his cheeky grin that
she was so familiar with.

“Then I’m afraid you’re out of luck. We’ve sold
out.” She pointed to the empty glass dome. “I
Shall really have to make more.” AS soon as
she’d spoken, she wished she could bite back
the words. She knew what Dan’s response was
going to be. She was right.

Dan frowned. “No you won’t. | know you stay
up baking till midnight as it is.”

“But the cupcakes are a real winner,” Anna
persisted. “We can’t say no to more business.”

“You work far too hard.”

Anna flapped her hand. “I’m fine.”

“Hmm. That’s what you always say but you
need to slow down. You have this place, the
lunchtime buffet, you’ve got Daisy to think about
and you do a lot for your mum as well. | still don’t
know how you fit it all into one day.” Anna looked
into his expressive hazel eyes that today were
sombre and concerned. He went on, “I know
I’ve suggested this in the past but | wish you’d
consider employing another assistant.”

“Dan, you do our books. You know better than |
that having the sandwich bar in such a convenient
area of Little Porchester near the park means
that the overheads are high. Paying someone
else would make a big dent in our profits. Then,
with autumn just around the corner, our trade will
ease off so | won’t need another assistant then.
10