The door was ajar and when she entered, she gasped at the sight of a figure with its back to her, sitting beside the Aga.
‘Couldn’t sleep either, my love?’
Lola, of course it was. Audrey scolded her own whimsy, but was surprised to see her, nevetherless.
‘Sit down and I’ll make you a cuppa... or a hot chocolate?’ Lola was already out of her chair and was drawing another in by the Aga that was radiating a gentle warmth. She was dressed in an Oriental patterned housecoat. Her white hair was loose and when she looked up to face Audrey, the skin beneath her eyes was puffy as though she’d been crying.
‘Tea would be lovely, let me make it for you.’
‘Not at all. Sit down, love.’
‘You couldn’t sleep either?’
Lola moved to the bench and half turned her head as she began to spoon leaves into
