Victoria Connelly - A Summer to Remember

‘Oh, congratulations!’

‘Thank you,’ Olivia paused and then her forehead crinkled, ‘only there’s so much to organise! We’ve never thrown such a big party before. We’re having a marquee set up in the garden and a band and balloons and flowers – the works! It’s almost as much fuss as our wedding day.’

‘It sounds like it’s going to be a lot of fun,’ Nina said, remembering the times she’d joined the Miltons for lunches and dinners at the mill and how splendid they’d made even the simplest of meals, with the great table set with silver, glass and fine china. She couldn’t imagine how splendid an anniversary party was going to be.

‘And you must come along, Nina! We’d love to have you as our guest,’ Olivia said. ‘Now, would you mind awfully if I looked in your basket? I’ve come out without my shopping list and I’ve gone completely blank. I can’t remember a single thing we need.’

‘Of course I don’t mind,’ Nina said, trying not to grin as she remembered the wonderful forgetfulness of her former employer.

Olivia looked thoughtful. Milk, bread, a tub of margarine, a small box of nasty-looking soap powder, bananas and an economy pack of tissues.

‘See – I haven’t got any of those. TOILET PAPER!’ Olivia shouted, startling a passer-by before taking off into the next aisle, leaving Nina to stand guard over her trolley. She really was a case. Nina had never managed to work out how she could host a dinner party for twelve and bring up three boys, but never know where to find her lipstick.

‘Here!’ Olivia said, returning with two bumper-sized packs of toilet paper. ‘Thank goodness I ran into you. My head is spinning so much with everything at the moment that the simplest things seem to elude me. Anyway, I simply can’t believe how many years it is since we all saw you. There’s so much to catch up on.’

‘Yes,’ Nina said, trying to remember exactly how many years it had been since she’d last visited the mill. She’d stopped babysitting for the Miltons after going to university, and that was ten years ago now.

‘So, what are you doing with yourself these days?’ Olivia asked her.

Nina bit her lower lip. It was the question bound to be asked sooner or later, but she hadn’t had time to prepare an adequate answer, not thinking she’d ever meet anyone she knew during a weekday trip to the supermarket.

‘Secretarial work,’ she said. ‘Actually, I’ve just finished a job that was – well,’ she paused, ‘it wasn’t right for me and I’m trying to find something that fits, you know? Something where I can really make a difference and feel valued.’

Olivia nodded. ‘Well, you were always valued at the mill. You were our favourite babysitter. You had such a way with our boys. You deserve nothing but the best,’ Olivia said, smiling kindly and then her eyes seemed to glaze over for a moment. ‘Goodness,’ she said. ‘I’ve had the most wonderful idea. You said you’re looking for a job?’

Nina nodded. ‘Yes,’ she said warily.

‘Then I might just have the very thing for you,’ she continued, her eyes widening. ‘How about popping over to the mill tomorrow morning. Are you free?’

‘I am,’ Nina said.

‘Excellent!’ Olivia said. ‘Oh, how exciting this is. I can’t believe it. First, Dommie nearly runs you over and then I run into you! I tell you, this is fate, Nina. It really is. Now, don’t forget about tomorrow – mid-morning?’

Nina nodded, wondering what on earth Olivia had in mind for her.

‘Oh, God! I’ve forgotten the mince!’ Olivia suddenly exclaimed, grabbing her trolley and executing a quick three-point turn, narrowly avoiding the tins of custard. ‘See you tomorrow, Nina!’

‘Goodbye, Mrs Milton,’ Nina called after her, watching Olivia waltz away with her errant trolley.

Grabbing a bottle of tomato sauce in a brand she’d never heard of, but that was offering twenty per cent free, Nina felt a definite skip in her step as she headed towards the check-out. She was going to visit The Old Mill House. With the river rushing by it and buttercup fields and bluebell woods on the doorstep, it was a little piece of paradise in the heart of the Norfolk countryside. It had been years since she’d been there, years since she’d even thought about it, but it had always held a special place in her heart. It would be wonderful to see it again – wonderful to see the boys again. Perhaps, Nina thought, this was the very door she’d been looking to open.

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