FOLLOW YOUR HEART

Chapter 12 - Can't Get Rid of Me

Tally dropped them off at the top of the High Street on his way to his Scrabble tournament and they looked at each other nervously. Camila had braided her hair and wore sunglasses and no makeup, but although he wore a baseball cap and sunglasses and a long sleeved shirt to cover his tattoos, Shawn was afraid his height and the swallow tattoo on his hand gave him away to anyone who knew who he was. They would just have to hope they weren't spotted.

Things started off fine, which is probably why they got complacent. They were carrying a number of bags of delicious item and beautiful crafts when they found a place that sold vintage t-shirts, one of his favourite things. It was too hard to see properly with their sunglasses on so they removed them and it didn't occur to either of them that someone who sold band t-shirts might be a bit more up with the music world, until they noticed him surreptitiously recording them with his phone. They put their sunglasses back on and left the shop but it was too late. As they headed back up the line of tents holding the different stalls, a gaggle of people began to follow them, to point and whisper.

"They know who we are," Camila said, almost urgently. There had by this time been a number of photos and videos taken. They sped up and rounded the top of the aisle, slipping around to the next before they were spotted.

"Come with me," came a voice, and an elderly woman with a smart silver bob pulled them into her stall and let the tent flaps fall closed then went out to her table. The crowd passed and she called to them so they could hear her.

"Stay there, they are starting to disperse. They think you've gone."

Shawn was holding Camila tight, stroking her hair. "It's OK," he said. "It was bound to come out sooner or later. We'll just ignore it. It's better it happens in little bits like this anyway, people will get used to it before we make any sort of announcement."

The flap opened and they jumped.

"It's only me!" she said. Shawn wasn't great at picking ages but he'd say she was in her eighties, although she looked great for her age. He picked up a jar from the table beside him.

"Mrs Frederickson?"

"That's me, Valerie Frederickson."

"Tally told us to get some of her mustard pickles...." Camila said.

"You know Russell Talbot?" she asked in surprise, then her face cleared. "You're Garry's young friends. I've heard a lot about you over the years. Are you staying at Unger Hall?"

"Yes," they said in unison, sharing a glance. Nobody was supposed to know why though.

"Tally told you about us?" Shawn asked in confusion.

"No, of course not, it was Garry," she smiled sadly. "God rest his soul. I miss the old chap."

"He was a friend of yours, Mrs Frederickson?" Camila asked.

"Val, please. Oh yes, Garry and I knew each other for a long, long time, since we were four years old and went to nursery school here in the village."

"Wow, that IS a long time." Camila said.

"It was, but I wasn't here the whole time, my husband was in the RAF, and we were posted a lot of that time. We all grew up together and Hal and Garry joined up together too. Look, would you like to sit and have a cup of tea? I'm just going to get my granddaughter to watch the stall." She pulled out a smartphone and briskly typed a message and waited for a reply which came quickly. "Great, she's on her way. Make the tea, I have mine white with one, and I'll get some of Jacqui's scones and we can have them with our tea."

Shawn pulled up a canvas folding chair for both he and Camila and they sat around the red vinyl card table.

"Do you think she knows anything about Garry's life in Malaya, or what happened in Vietnam?" Camila asked.