Winnie and Sarah at Lunch
 

Winnie Peeg watched the entrance to Andy’s for her friend Sarah McGee, it had been awhile since they had a chance to talk so there was much to catch up on.

Sarah came in and glanced around smiling when she saw her friend Winnie, “Hello Winnie,” air kisses and hugs.

“Sarah how good to see you.”

They settled down and accepted menus from Molly quickly making decisions about their lunch order and now it was time to get down to business.

“I have the most wonderful news Winnie, Travis and Toni are expecting a baby.” The happiness shone from her eyes.

“Really…well that is welcome news I’m sure,” Miss Peeg’s mind went straight to Mr. Roberts. Oh how would he take this news?

“It would have been nice if they had waited but nature has taken it’s course. Bill and I are very excited about it and so is Tee, he’s to have a cousin at last.”

“When is the happy event to take place?”

“She’s due in March,” Sarah took a drink from her water glass.

Winnie did some quick calculations and smiled that had been quick. “How is Bill, I’ve seen him up the street working on the butcher shop.”

“He’s happiest when he has a project like that to work on. He was very involved in building our house, fancies himself a carpenter.”

“I’m really looking forward to having a butcher’s nearby. Have you been over to Nonnie’s?”

“No, I had hoped to do that today after lunch, it looks a treat through the windows.”

“Her Uncle Stephen Scott has give Mr. Roberts a case, I’m afraid I got involved and got a lump on my head for my troubles.”

“Winnie! Whatever were you doing, what happened?” Sarah was aghast.

“I can’t really talk about it only to say I walked into a most unpleasant situation and was knocked on the head. Oh I’m perfectly fine now, nothing to worry about.”

“You will get yourself into trouble, do be careful Winnie. I can’t imagine the solicitor allowing such a thing.”

“He had no idea how serious a situation it would turn out to be. He has so much work right now it was a way I could help out, of course it didn’t turn out that way.”

Sarah didn’t care for the solicitor especially since the inicident with Travis. “One hears much gossip about the solicitor.”

“Yes unfortunately that is true and I know the source of much of that, detestible old man.”

“Mr. Jessup, yes he is and to think we both thought how nice he was. I wonder how much of that gossip is true, you know where there’s smoke there’s fire.”

“Well I wouldn’t know Sarah, I don’t pay much attention to gossip you know. Michael says he’s been out to your house and it’s lovely I must find the time to come and see for myself.”

“Winnie, why not come to dinner one night, Michael’s a frequent visitor to Glenridge, ask him to come with you Bill and I would love the company. Friday night would suit us let me know.”

“I will, I will ask him,” Winnie smiled. She hadn’t seen him in a few weeks. “His son, the one who is attached to the foreign office was visiting him for awhile.”

“He brought him out to Glenridge to see Toni. He’s a lovely young man regardless of his parentage. I don’t put much by that anymore. Bill was upset with Travis when he brought Toni home but he soon got over that, she’s very charming and devoted to Travis. I have never seen Travis happier in his life. I know you are a supporter of the solicitor Winnie but if you could see them together you would understand.”

“I work for Mr. Roberts and think a great deal of him Sarah but I am not blind to his faults. I felt a little sorry for him when his marriage broke up but I was aware that his actions were the root cause for the breakup. I’m glad your Travis is happy Sarah I’m quite fond of him.”

“Oh this looks very nice, thank you dear,” Sarah’s salad plate arrived.

“Thank you Molly, this soup looks wonderful. You do know Andy’s been very ill?”

“No I’ve not heard.”

“He’s had the flu and poor Lucy, pregnant running up and down the stairs looking after him and the bakery at the same time. He’s on the mend now.”

“I wish I’d known I would have brought a dinner or something.”

“I believe Mrs. Roberts did that one day, Lucy was waiting on her when I went in for my teacakes.” Miss Peeg dipped into her soup.

Sarah didn’t like to hear Toni called Mrs. Roberts, she chewed her salad greens. “Toni’s house is for let if you come across anyone looking for a place let us know. Travis didn’t want to put it in the hands of an agent at least not yet.”

“Shame about that house, it’s really lovely and the gardens used to be so nice. I will keep an ear out Sarah. Amanda has her school open now not many children there yet and most of them very young but she’s doing what she wanted to do. She has Kim Barrett’s daughter now, her mother is in hospital.”

“Kim Barrett of Barrett’s here in The Glen, I wasn’t aware he had a daughter…oh wait a minute they were at the BBQ. I must say I didn’t know it was his.”

“Her name is Kimberley, rather nice named after her father. There seem to be a lot of babies about in the Glen, half the population is pregnant.”

“That means the village is growing, Winnie I understand it might become a township very soon. Bill found that out when he got the approval for the butcher shop.”

They finished their lunch and paid their tickets, “Do you think you might have a minute to have a look in Nonnie’s with me, have you time left on your lunch break?” Sarah asked.

“Five minutes won’t make a difference Sarah, I’d love to.”