Page 64 of Twilight at Croftwood Library
‘Just got to pick up Eunice and Dottie now,’ said Steph as they headed for the village where the Hawthorn Lane stop was on her mobile library route. Eunice lived in the middle of the village in a Victorian semi. She pulled up outside and Tom jumped out onto the pavement.
‘I’ll go,’ he said and jogged up the path where Eunice was already opening the front door.
Bill opened the side door of the minibus and stepped out onto the pavement ready to lend a hand.
‘Ever the chivalrous gent, Bill,’ said Steph with a grin.
She watched Tom offer Eunice his arm as they made their way down the path with Dottie behind them. Tom was just as chivalrous as Bill, it turned out. Steph could live with a bit more of that in her life. Maybe it was her age, but she wanted a man who was considerate and thoughtful. Like Tom.
‘Good evening, ladies,’ said Bill with a small bow as he held the side door open for them to climb into the minibus.
‘Goodness gracious me!’ exclaimed Eunice, holding her hand to her chest as she stared at Bill.
‘What is it Eunice, are you feeling alright?’ Dottie asked her.
‘It’s William Templeton!’
‘Yep, it’s our Bill alright,’ said Steph, surprised to see that Bill was blushing. ‘You two know each other then?’ Might as well get the awkward reunion out of the way before they carried on to Croftwood.
‘William Templeton, well I never.’ Eunice was still shaking her head and smiling at Bill as he took her hand and assisted her into the bus, leaving Dottie to close the door behind them. Tom took his place next to Steph.
‘Do you think they used to be an item?’ he whispered to her. She shrugged and widened her eyes in amusement at Eunice’s reaction then checked her mirrors and pulled away.
‘It’s very flattering of you to remember after so many years,’ Bill was saying to Eunice.
‘I lovedWhere Love Lingers. I saw it at the picture house in York with my friend, May. Twice. You were very handsome, William.’
‘You’re making an old man blush…’
‘Eunice.’
‘What a lovely name, Eunice. It’s a pleasure to meet you.’
Steph glanced in the mirror and saw that they were sitting in seats across the aisle from each other, both looking at each other and smiling. It was love at first sight right there, in the minibus. She turned to Tom and could see that he had noticed it too.
When they arrived in Croftwood, Steph pulled up right outside Oliver’s so that everyone could jump out while she went to park the bus nearby. Bill was out first, holding out a hand for Eunice and escorting her into Oliver’s while she gazed at him, still with the same look on her face.
‘Did you know he was a film star, Steph?’ asked Flora.
‘No idea. I do remember thinking that Templeton had a fancy ring to it though.’
‘Blimey,’ said Jerry. ‘That’d be like me meeting Kate Winslet.’
‘Oh, for god’s sake Jerry,’ said Flora. ‘She’s twenty years younger than you. Bonnie Langford, she’s more your type.’
They waited for Audrey and then went inside while Dottie hung back, looking nervous.
‘Tom, go in with Dottie, would you?’ Steph asked him as he went to climb back onto the bus.
‘Fed up with me already?’ he said, grinning. ‘Course. She looks terrified. See you in a minute.’
Steph drove around the corner and parked the minibus in the church car park. She was excited about the evening ahead. Aside from being thrilled that Tom had wanted to tag along – he had insisted – she was looking forward to seeing the book club in action. Hopefully, it would bring the whole thing to life for her customers and spread the word around the villages that the mobile library had something extra to offer.
The smell of mulled wine greeted her as she opened the door and she saw that Tom and Dottie had wasted no time in taking advantage of it.
‘Hi Steph, grab a seat wherever you can,’ said Linda who was on the door. ‘Your crowd are split between the Lady Glenconnor book and the psychological thriller.’
‘Thanks, Linda, is Lois around?’
