Christmas At Thrush Green Read Online Free Page A

‘what about the present owner?’
    Nelly looked at her in surprise. ‘What? Piggott’s Sandwich Parlour?’
    Clare laughed. ‘No, I don’t think that sounds right. But what about Nelly’s Sandwich Shop? That has a really good ring to it.’
    ‘Well!’ exclaimed Nelly, going rather pink in the face. ‘Nelly’s Sandwich Shop, indeed! Yes, I have to agree. It does sound good, doesn’t it?’ She repeated the words slowly. ‘Nelly’s Sandwich Shop. Yes, I think that will do just dandy.’
    One of the last jobs that the solicitor, Justin Venables, had done before he retired for good was to look after the acquisition of the lease, having ascertained from the proper authorities that it would be in order for the nature of the business to change from gift shop to catering. There seemed to be no problem over this at the county council offices: Mrs Peters had ensured that The Fuchsia Bush had built up a very good reputation, and Nelly had proved herself a worthy successor. The planning department had, however, baulked at the request for two kitchens to be made into one, and Nelly had to accept that the best she could have was the large hatch and a connecting door.
    Before Nelly had had time to think about who was going to be in charge of the new sandwich bar, Gloria Williams, the senior waitress, had presented herself one morning in the little office and asked if she could be considered for the job.
    ‘You see, you’ve always admired my sandwiches, and liked some of the fillings that I’ve suggested. You’ll need a manageress next door and I just don’t see why it can’t be me!’ Then she shut her mouth firmly and gazed at Nelly in an almost challenging way.
    Nelly was taken by surprise. Now, there’s a thought!
    She leaned forward across the desk. ‘Well, Gloria, that’s certainly an idea. I will, of course, need a supervisor for next door. I hadn’t given it any great thought yet because we shan’t need anyone till the building works are done and the kitchen installed. But, yes, when the time comes, I’ll certainly consider your application.’
    Over the next few months, Gloria blossomed. When Nelly had first started working at The Fuchsia Bush, the girl had been uninterested and would rather file her nails than see to the customers. But Nelly had encouraged both her and Rosa, the other waitress, to be more a part of the establishment, and it now seemed that they actually enjoyed working there rather than enduring it. Gloria certainly worked hard, and the sandwiches in particular were very popular. The office workers seemed to come in earlier and earlier to buy their lunches before the sandwiches ran out. It was when one of the most regular customers - her bank manager - complimented her on ‘the superb sandwiches you provide for us’ that Nelly decided to put Gloria out of her suspense and appoint her manageress of the new shop.
    ‘Oh, Mrs Piggott, oh dearie me!’ Gloria looked as if she were about to burst into tears.
    ‘Now, now, Gloria!’ Nelly soothed. ‘Am I to take it that you accept?’
    Gloria looked at her employer with shining eyes, and nodded vigorously, quite unable to speak.
    ‘Good, that’s good. Now, could you ask Rosa to come in and see me?’
    Rosa had joined the staff of The Fuchsia Bush a few years after Gloria and the pair of them had set up a good partnership. They needed to be watched, of course, in order that they weren’t so busy chatting about what they had seen on the television the evening before that customers were kept waiting, but they were efficient enough.
    Nelly now told Rosa that as she was promoting Gloria to be in charge of the sandwich bar, she wanted Rosa to take over as No. 1 in the tea-room - after herself, of course. Although Nelly spent much of her time in the kitchen making the scones and cakes, and preparing the lunches, she would often pop out front to see that everything was going smoothly and perhaps to have a few words with any regular customers who