Love Mends Read Online Free

okay if I take a look around?” Tom asked.
    “Of course. Be my guest.”
     
    The store was tiny, and there was very little by way of choice on the shelves. Tom stocked up as best he could on the basics, and then spent almost fifteen minutes talking with Walter who seemed genuinely interested in the island's newest visitor. The conversation was quite a contrast to the hurried 'have a nice day' platitudes thrown around by the bored sales staff Tom often encountered on the mainland.
     
    On the way back, Tom insisted on carrying Anne's shopping.
    “How does he make a living from the store?” Tom asked.
    “He doesn't. Before he retired, he used to work on the farms. His wife, Maisy, ran the store. She died a year after Walter retired. I think he feels close to her when he's in there.”
    “What will happen to the store after...?” Tom hesitated.
    “Walter dies?”
    “Or can't run it any longer.”
    “I don't know. I haven't given it any thought.”
    “Aren't you worried?”
    “Why worry? Things will work out—they always do. Anyway, most of the islanders are self-sufficient.”
    “Surely, there are some things you can't grow.”
    Anne stopped and turned to face Tom.
    “Do you always worry so much?”
    He shrugged.
    “That's not the island way,” she said. “What will be, will be. No point in worrying.”
    “I guess not.”
    “Come on.” Anne pointed to the horizon. “Those clouds will be here soon. We're going to get soaked if we don't hurry.”

Chapter 9
     
     
    Tom graciously declined the offer to join the Masons for dinner. It was tempting to allow someone else to do the cooking—especially someone as talented in the kitchen as Jean Mason, but he didn't want to take advantage of their generosity.
     
    “Why didn't Tom have dinner with us?” Katherine asked. She and Anne were in the older sister's bedroom.
    “Mum did ask him to join us, but he said he wanted to make his own dinner.”
    “Can he cook?”
    “I'm not sure. Grandma's cooker is difficult to use at the best of times.”
    “Mum said you went to the store with him.”
    “She needed bread and tea.”
    Katherine smirked.
    “What?” Anne snapped.
    “Nothing.”
    “Come on. What is it?”
    “It's just... It was only last Friday that Mum did a shop. I'm surprised there was anything she needed so urgently.”
    “Isn't it your turn to sweep the kitchen floor?”
    Katherine knew her sister was trying to change the subject.  “Do you think Tom is handsome?”
    “I haven't thought about it. Anyway, I have things to do. Go on—go and do your chores.”
     
    Anne was relieved when her sister eventually left her alone in the bedroom. She'd enjoyed the walk to the store with Tom. Although she had no wish to leave the island, it was interesting to talk to someone from the mainland. Not that Tom had told her much about himself. He'd been the one asking most of the questions. She hoped she'd get another opportunity to find out more about him before he returned to the mainland.
     
    **************
     
    Turning down an invitation to dine with the Masons had been a mistake. Tom might be able to strip and reassemble a generator in record time, but operating the cooker in the cottage was another matter entirely. It made no sense. He'd struggled for almost an hour, and had still not mastered the controls. He knew he could ask the Masons, but he didn't want to disturb their dinner.
     
    'Their dinner' —his mouth watered as he imagined what they might be tucking into at that very moment. He'd been reduced to making toast, and even that hadn't turned out well. One side of the bread was black; the other side was still white. He cut a few slices of cheese, and dropped them onto the toast. Tom made himself a promise that he wouldn't turn down another dinner invitation.
     
    The cheese on toast hadn't really filled the gap, so Tom opened the packet of chocolate finger biscuits which he'd picked up at the general store. He was a third of the way through