I thought you might need cheering up.’
Stella smiled at Trish standing in the doorway. She had been at a loose end ever since her gran’s funeral a few weeks before, and had never been so glad to see her best friend.
‘Come in,’ she told Trish, giving her a hug. ‘I’ll put the kettle on.’
Trish took her jacket off and hung it up.
‘What’s that?’ she asked, eyeing the object on the coffee table with great interest.
‘Oh, that’s my gran’s old jewellery box,’ Stella told her. ‘There wasn’t much I wanted to keep when we were clearing out her house, but I used to love playing with this when I was little.’
She set their mugs down on the table and opened the scuffed wooden lid to show Trish. Once upon a time the spinning ballerina and the tinkling sound of The Blue Danube had filled her world with magic. But the music hadn’t played in years and the little figure was still now, folded in graceful repose.
‘It doesn’t work?’ asked Trish, picking through Gran’s eclectic collection of costume jewellery.
‘No, it hasn’t for a long time,’ said Stella. She remembered sneaking into her grandparents’ room when she was little and opening the lid really fast, trying to catch the ballerina asleep. She’d never succeeded, of course, though the happy memory always brought a smile.
‘It’s a nice memento,’ said Trish, gently touching her arm. ‘You’re going to miss your gran – and all her matchmaking.’
Denne historien er fra August 11, 2020-utgaven av WOMAN'S WEEKLY.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra August 11, 2020-utgaven av WOMAN'S WEEKLY.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Patchwork PROJECTS
Easy ideas to show off English paper-piecing techniques
Night train to BERLIN
Germany's exciting and varied capital is now reachable by train from the UK
French FANCY
Raymond Blanc's right-hand man, Benoit Blin's favourite bakes
Are you missing out on BENEFITS?
Here's how to find out what you are eligible for
TRAY bien
All-in-one tray bakes, packed with flavour
We took a grown-up GAP YEAR!
Who says taking time out is just for students?
'I'm obsessed with reality TV!'
THIS WEEK'S COLUMNIST Author and presenter Louise Minchin
What to eat and do for A HEALTHIER GUT
Fix those problems and boost your wellbeing
Picture palaces
In an age of cinema complexes, we celebrate five historic and beautiful picture houses that have stood the test of time
'My diet during Bake Off is cake and alcohol!'
Dame Prue Leith on the popular baking contest