Part 16

One morning, one of the other drivers asked Darcy if she could cover his round for a couple of days. His round was made up of bakeries, where they made meat pies. She looked at his route and worked out that she could just do it, if she went straight to the Cavendish from her last call. It would mean that she would have to keep his van overnight, leaving her car at the plant, so Fortnum and Mason would have to stay at home for those trips.

Action fills a gloomy void

Diverts the mind from solitude

Rouses spirits, peps the mood

And shields sad thought from platitude

Think positive and sow the seeds

To fortify essential needs

It was whilst Darcy was returning the van to the plant the following week that she met the plant’s mechanic. At first she thought Tony wasn’t her type at all, but once she saw past his rather scruffy facade, she found an eclectic sense of humour. His shift usually ended as hers began so they took to meeting for a coffee between shifts and found they had plenty to talk about.

It was whilst they were having coffee one afternoon, that Darcy learned of Tony’s hobby, adapting old cars for use on the race track. After that, many weekends were spent with Tony, at an old airfield, either playing with the dogs and picnicking on the grass, or helping him test his latest project on the crumbling runway.

As fate brings forth variety

An opportunity shines bright

Bravely take a chance and see

If what life needs comes into sight

Prepare to follow each new thread

We never know what lies ahead

Adventure calls in different ways

Covertly shrewd and loudly proud

Arresting unsuspecting prey

Providing new unlikely crowd

Diversion of routine intent

With challenge of some new event

A whole new world was opening up to Darcy’s young and eager mind. It had the potential to be exciting and challenging... Just what was needed right now.