In Search of Hope (17 page)

They were able to set off by one o’clock the following day, and as Libby had predicted, Ned did fall asleep almost immediately. Trish had told her he was starting to interact with the other children, which was excellent news.

‘A penny for them?’ Joss said quietly.

‘No prizes for guessing: I keep worrying about Steven.’

‘We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.’

‘We?’

‘I’m a trustee … and your closest neighbour … and, I hope, a friend now.’

She heard her voice soften. ‘Yes. Definitely a friend.’ She hadn’t hesitated to say that, still hadn’t worked out what it was about him that made her feel so sure of it. If she weren’t in this situation, she’d hope he could become more than just a friend, because she found him very attractive, but she knew – she just knew – that one day she’d have to run or move to a women’s refuge. Whatever he said or did, her ex hadn’t experienced Steven’s bloody-minded stubbornness when her ex wanted something.

As they began to drive uphill from Littleborough towards the gallery, Joss grimaced. ‘This seems a strange place to have an exclusive antiques gallery, don’t you think?’

‘People may enjoy visiting it as part of an outing, and I suppose he’ll be selling stuff online as well. I’m looking forward to seeing it, I must admit, though we’ll have to keep an eye on Ned. I’d hate him to break something valuable. Didn’t you say it’s more than a gallery, though?’

‘Yes. It’s advertised as an antiques centre, with a main gallery of upmarket pieces belonging to this Edward Chadderley, and another area shared by various vendors.’

‘Does the main gallery specialise in anything in particular?’

‘I only have a brochure, and that’s very general. I don’t know enough about the antiques world to say what Chadderley specialises in.’

‘What made you want to come here?’

‘A friend mentioned it, said it was worth a visit.’ Joss wished he could tell her more, hated to fudge the truth with her.

When they arrived, Joss said, ‘Let me check the exterior first.’ He took a minute to study the sign from the car park. A board ran along the side of the building with Chadderley Antiques on it. It looked very simple, very classy.

It was obvious that the place had once been a pub, but he walked to the upper edge of the car park, from which he could see some connected buildings behind it. He smiled at himself. He still automatically checked places out, as if he were on a case. He rather thought one part of the complex might be eighteenth century, or even earlier. It had an ancient look to it, something about the brickwork maybe; he wasn’t an expert on historical architecture.

Libby and Ned came across to join him. ‘It’s big,’ she said. ‘Bigger than I’d expected.’

When they went inside, she clutched Ned’s hand firmly. The antiques were shown in small groups, with appropriate lighting, and it was obvious that they were expensive pieces. You could just tell.

She was entranced by one group of cranberry glass pieces with silver fittings. She’d seen cranberry glass before, and loved it, but this had that indefinable air of quality. No wonder Joss fancied a piece like that. If she had a stable life, she’d lust after a decanter, too.

She turned away. Beautiful objects like these were not for her at the moment. Perhaps one day.

A woman smiled at them from behind a discreet reception desk to the left-hand side, such a nice smile that Libby smiled back without thinking.

‘Do feel free to walk round,’ the woman called.

Libby looked down at Ned who was jigging about in a way that sent a message. ‘I think we’d better visit the loo first, if that’s all right.’

‘Of course. Go to the rear of the second display area and turn right. The loos are just along from the café before you get to the Old Barn.’

When Libby returned, Joss was in a discussion with the woman. He beckoned her over. ‘This is Emily. Emily, this is Libby. I’ve been telling her about your grandmother’s ornaments and Mr Chadderley will be happy to value them for you. He’ll be back in half an hour.’

‘It doesn’t … cost anything?’

‘No. Valuations are free.’

‘In the meantime, we can go on looking round. Anything you’d like to see more clearly?’

‘That.’ Libby indicated a group of 1930s Art Deco figurines, slender women holding graceful poses. Again, she was struck by the high quality of the pieces and the attractive way the figurines were displayed, two of them on little turntables that made them seem ready to leap gracefully into the air. She studied them enviously. ‘If I ever get rich, I’m going to buy myself a figurine like these.’

‘They are beautiful, aren’t they?’

They were intending to go to the Old Barn, where there were stalls with less expensive goods, but when Joss saw the café, where four people were sitting round a table with drinks and snacks, he stopped. ‘Aha! Ned and I need something to eat and drink.’

Ned beamed at him and Joss helped him to choose a fruit and nut bar as well as a drink of apple juice.

‘You’re a good trencherman,’ Libby told Joss.

He grinned and picked up a second piece of cake. ‘Have to keep up my strength.’

A quick glance into ‘The Old Barn’ showed them about a dozen generously proportioned stalls with tempting arrays of goods.

‘We’ll go in there later, or even another time,’ Joss said once they’d finished. ‘It’s nearly time to see Chad. I’d better bring in the boxes of ornaments from the car. Do you want to bring Ned out for a run round the car park?’

‘I’d better. He’s been good but he’s getting a bit restless.’

They were just going back into the centre when a luxury car drew up. Libby bent to listen to something Ned was trying to tell her.

Suddenly a voice behind her said, ‘Emily, have you seen—’ Then the man broke off. ‘Oh, sorry! From behind you looked just like my partner. I’m Chad, one of the owners here.’

Libby smiled at him. ‘Emily said you’d be back soon. We’ve brought my grandmother’s ornaments to be valued, if you’d be so kind. They’re probably not worth a lot but a few of them seem quite old, so we wanted to check.’

‘Happy to oblige.’

They walked inside together and after greeting Emily with a kiss and a hug, he took them into a side room furnished only with three tables.

‘Perhaps you could unpack the ornaments here? I’ll be back in a minute.’

‘I’ll look after Ned; you unpack,’ Joss said.

‘Thanks.’ Libby began to unpack the ornaments, putting them on three different tables. ‘I’m sure we’re wasting his time, though. The pieces in his gallery are so beautiful.’

Chad came back in just as she was finishing, and she explained about the groupings.

He checked the ones she didn’t think were worth anything first, putting most to one side, but taking two of them and examining them more closely. ‘These would suit one of the stallholders. I’ll call her in afterwards. They’re worth about eighty pounds each but of course she won’t give you that much. She has to make a profit.’

‘I’m surprised.’ Libby wrinkled her nose.

He chuckled. ‘Ceramic animals are not to my taste, either, but some people love them.’

On the second table stood the ones they thought might have some value. It yielded up four ornaments which Chad said would be sellable for prices between £50 and £100, and three items which he said were worth in excess of £200.

Libby was astonished.

As he was starting to study the items on the third table, a young man peeped into the room.

‘Come in, Toby! Tell me what you think of these.’

Libby and Joss exchanged surprised glances, because the young man appeared to have Down syndrome.

Toby went to stare at the ornaments on the third table, head on one side, touching nothing.

Chad put one finger to his lips to signify that Joss and Libby should be quiet.

After a few minutes Toby picked up one ornament, a pretty bowl, and said, ‘I like this one best.’

‘So do I,’ Chad said. ‘Well done. You’re very clever. You always pick the best piece.’

Toby gave him a beaming smile. ‘I like old things. I found something else in town today.’ He held out an object wrapped in newspaper.

Chad unwrapped it, shook his head as if in disbelief. ‘Emily! Have you a minute?’

She came in to join them.

‘Toby’s done it again. Where did you find this, Toby?’

‘In a little shop near the market. Ashley said it was ugly, but I like it.’

‘It’s very valuable so look after it carefully.’

Toby nodded, wrapped it up and went off somewhere.

Chad turned to his visitors. ‘Toby’s got a gift for finding valuable pieces among junk. He’s not at all interested in money and valuations, and he’s had no training, so it’s amazing how good the things he finds are. I must take him to a car boot sale one day soon. Who knows what he’ll turn up there! Now, let’s get back to your pieces.’

He rearranged the older pieces into two sets. ‘I can give you five hundred pounds for these; for the others, three hundred pounds for each piece.’

Libby gaped at him. ‘That much?’

‘I’ll get more for them than that, but unless you have contacts in the antiques industry, you’ll find it hard to better the price I’m offering. I’ll let you think about it, shall I?’

She looked at Joss, who gestured to her to speak. ‘I don’t think we need time. We’re happy to accept your offer.’

‘I’ll get Jen in to see the others. She has a booth in the barn.’ He strode off, leaving Libby still speechless.

‘You’ve made a good bit of money, so why aren’t you smiling?’ Joss teased.

She couldn’t manage a smile, just said ruefully, ‘I can’t believe it’s real. Life doesn’t hand things to me so easily.’

‘Maybe your life is changing.’

She shook her head. The Steven problem wouldn’t go away. She mustn’t be lulled into forgetting that.

When they’d completed their transactions, Libby took a weary Ned back to the car while Joss took a quick walk round the Old Barn, looking down the corridor that led off at the rear left, presumably to the older parts of the building he’d seen from the car park. He liked to get a rough floor plan of a new place fixed in his mind, and that had come in useful at times.

When he looked up at the roof beams, he was amazed at how old the barn really was.

After he came back to the main gallery, he got talking to Chad for a few moments and asked if he could come back another time and look round the older part of the house.

Chad studied him, then nodded as if he’d passed some sort of test. ‘Yes, of course. I’ll get Emily to show you. It’s her house, really.’

‘Is it haunted?’

Chad shrugged. ‘Some people see ghosts, some don’t.’

‘And you?’

‘I’m never quite sure.’

Clever answers, Joss thought as he said his farewells and walked out to the car.

And clever Leon, to think of this place for a temporary refuge.

When their visitors had gone, Emily tucked her arm in Chad’s. ‘I had a call from the estate agent. My nephew made an offer on my old house.’

‘And you said …?’

‘I said he had to pay twenty thousand over the asking price.’

‘Good for you.’

She sighed. ‘I do wish I could be a fly on the wall when George is given my response. The Americans have a phrase for it: he’ll throw a conniption fit.’

Chad laughed. ‘He certainly will. Where do you get such lovely phrases from?’

‘Here and there. His face will go red; he’ll puff up like a bullfrog and sputter with indignation.’

‘In other words, he’ll throw a conniption fit.’

‘I shan’t back down, though.’

When they reached Top o’ the Hill, it felt to Libby like coming home. She thanked Joss and said goodbye, sighing happily as she put her key in the lock and took Ned inside.

She noticed a red light blinking on the phone and stopped in surprise. It would be Mr Greaves, probably, because no one else except he and Joss had her phone number. She picked up the handset and pressed the Play Messages button.

Mr Greaves spoke slowly and clearly. ‘Could you please phone me back urgently, Libby. I’m afraid your husband got in touch with me today.’

She froze, terror icing her whole body.

Ned was clamouring for a drink and a biscuit, so she gave them to him, but beyond that she couldn’t think what to say or do.

Someone moved behind her and she swung round, her heart pounding. It was Joss, but for a moment she lost it and panicked, letting out a scream of shock.

‘What’s wrong?’ His voice was as quiet and measured as ever.

For answer, she pressed the replay button again.

He listened, then shook his head. ‘Your ex still won’t know where you live.’

‘He’ll find out. Steven always boasts about how good he is at finding things out on the Internet.’

‘Then he’ll have to face us both. I won’t let him hurt you again, Libby.’

‘He might not
hit
me again – in fact, he probably won’t because that leaves evidence behind – but he’ll find some way to hurt me nonetheless.’ Her glance fell on Ned. Steven knew where she was most vulnerable.

Joss’s gaze followed hers and his lips tightened. ‘I won’t let him hurt Ned, either.’

‘If a court says I have to give Ned back to him, how can you stop that?’

‘I have one or two friends in … unusual places. I’ll find a way. And we do have the photographs of Ned’s injuries.’

‘How do we prove Steven did them? It’s my word against his.’

‘And your neighbour’s word.’

‘Even she didn’t see it happen.’ Libby tried to control her emotions, but a tear rolled down her cheek and another one followed. She pulled out a tissue. ‘Sorry.’

Joss pulled her into his arms, moving slowly and gently. ‘You have nothing to be sorry about.’

She didn’t resist, went willingly and stood there, feeling safer.

But she would never feel completely safe as long as Steven had her in his sights. Eventually she pulled away from Joss. ‘I’d better ring Mr Greaves.’

‘He’ll be at home by now. He’s not one to work long hours. But I don’t think we should wait until tomorrow.’ He pulled a pad across the table and scribbled on it. ‘This is Henry’s home number. Don’t use it unless something is urgent.’