Chapter 28
That first date set the tone for the next two weeks. Life became a whirlwind filled with laughter and whispering and love-making. They spent every spare moment together, and Josie was as happy as she’d ever been.
When Sam mentioned doing a car boot sale one Sunday, Josie invited herself along. Her phone rang as Sam arrived to pick her up. Seeing it was Jack, she shoved the phone back in her pocket, feeling slightly guilty. He’d tried to call her a few times over the last few days, but he had a knack for calling at a bad time. She’d definitely call him back soon.
“Dinner will be ready at five,” Annette called as Josie hurried out the door. They’d already had this conversation. Lizzie and Max were coming over and Annette had told Josie to invite Sam too.
“I know,” she called over her shoulder. “See you later.”
“Have fun!”
Sam greeted her with a kiss when she climbed into his van. “Ready for your first car boot sale?”
“I’m so excited.”
“Don’t be,” he said, as they set off. “It’s pretty boring.”
“I don’t believe you! By the way, Annette’s cooking. We’re supposed to be back by five for dinner. Lizzie and Max are coming over.”
“I know. Max called me. Seems like they wanted to make sure they got us all together …”
“What’s that look for?” she asked as he smirked.
“I just think there might be some sort of announcement, that’s all.”
“She’s not pregnant!” Josie insisted, yet again. She looked out of the window as they drove through the village. “Lizzie would have told me already.”
“People wait until they’ve had scans and stuff.”
She shook her head. “I’m telling you I’d know about it.”
“We’ll see!”
***
It was only a twenty-minute drive to Exeter racecourse, and Josie was surprised at the number of cars and vans as they pulled into a spot beside the racetrack. There were rows and rows of vehicles and people unloading various items.
“It’s not boring at all,” she said to Sam. “It’s exciting!”
“I promise you’ll be bored after sitting here for three hours.”
“I bet I won’t.” Her eyes were fixed out the window, taking in the bustle. “I didn’t expect it to be so busy. This place is huge.”
“There should be a good crowd since the weather’s so nice. Hopefully I can get rid of everything. I hate taking stuff home again.”
“I’m excited about bartering,” Josie said, hopping out of the van. It was a glorious day with a bright blue sky and warmth in the air.
“I hate it,” Sam said, walking round and heaving the side door of the van open. “I’m usually thinking about the effort of reloading the van with anything that doesn’t sell, so I mostly just take whatever people offer.”
“That’s not very good business.”
He dragged a cardboard box out of the van and placed it on the ground before beginning to unload the furniture.
“I told you – it’s a hobby not a business.”
Josie opened the box and peered in. “Wow! Where did you get this stuff from?”
“People give me things,” he said, setting Brendan’s old table carefully down. “Everyone in the village knows I do car boot sales. Any time anyone has a clear out, they give me their junk!”
“This isn’t junk.” She held up a beautifully ornate teapot. “It’s treasure! I’m tempted to keep it.”
Sam chuckled and climbed into the back of the van. He passed things out to Josie, who thoroughly enjoyed setting everything up. “It’s like playing shop.”
“Yep.” He jumped down from the van. “You made it look a bit more organised than when I do it.”
“How much do you want for Brendan’s table?” she asked, running a hand across the smooth surface. It was a good-sized sturdy table in perfect condition.
“I gave him twenty quid for it so if I get thirty I’ll be happy.”
“I’m sure you can get at least fifty.”
“I think you might be slightly optimistic. Everyone here is after a bargain. They really like to haggle. I’ll be surprised if I get thirty.”
Josie glanced at a couple opposite, unloading their car. “Ooh, I like that vase,” she said to no one in particular. She migrated over for a closer look and then strayed to the other sellers nearby to have a look what was on offer.
It was another half hour before customers began to arrive.
Sam was amused when Josie told him off for selling the tea set too cheaply – just a measly two pounds. Then he sold a nice little set of drawers for six pounds and a set of two stools for a tenner. Every time he sold something, she chastised him for letting it go too cheaply.
“It’s a car boot sale!” He casually draped an arm around her shoulders as they watched the couple walk away with the stools. “People want cheap stuff.”
“That’s not true.” She leaned into him, enjoying the weight of his arm around her. “They want a bargain. There’s a big difference.”
“You can go and have a wander around,” Sam said when he caught her looking up and down the row. “You don’t need to stay here.”
She set off to explore with a smile on her face. “Just don’t give everything away for free while I’m gone.”
He shook his head in amusement and she turned her attention to the other sellers nearby. When she got a whiff of hotdogs she felt a pang of hunger. Then she thought of Annette cooking a roast dinner and decided she’d better wait.
She hadn’t gone far when she glanced back in Sam’s direction. He was leaning casually against the van. He had half an eye on the middle-aged couple who were having a good look at Brendan’s table. Sam really was a terrible salesman, she thought to herself. She probably ought to go back and help him out.
It only took a moment to retrace her steps, and she stopped abruptly beside the couple, who were quietly discussing the table while Sam continued to hang back. They shuffled aside when Josie invaded their personal space. She acted as though she hadn’t even noticed them.
“You are going to save this for me, aren’t you?” she said sharply. She laid a protective hand on the table and glared at Sam.
He nodded dumbly.
“I just need to find my boyfriend to carry it, but I’m definitely coming back for it.”
“Okay,” he said, bemused.
“And you said fifty quid, didn’t you? We agreed?”
He nodded again.
Josie lowered her voice as she finally acknowledged the couple. “I saw one identical in the shops the other day. Four hundred quid! I was gonna go back and buy it next week.” She pointed at the table. “You can’t beat a good bargain, can you?”
They shook their heads vaguely and Josie waltzed away again. “I’ll be back soon,” she shouted loudly.
It was a couple of minutes later when she finally glanced back. Sam was deep in conversation with the couple but looked up long enough to catch her eye. She shot him a quick wink. How on earth could he say it was boring?
Twenty minutes later she ambled slowly towards Sam again. Now and again she glanced over her shoulder at the portly, balding man following close behind her. She didn’t really need to look to check she hadn’t lost him – his breathing was loud enough. He’d waved her away when she’d offered to help carry the armchair. It was a quirky old thing with a high back and blue velvet cushioning. As soon as she’d seen it she knew she had to get it for the kennels. She hadn’t realised quite how far she’d ventured when she asked him to carry it back for her.
He was huffing and puffing when she finally directed him to put it down beside Sam’s van.
“Thanks so much.” She hoped he wasn’t about to have a heart attack.
He nodded and forced a toothy grin.
Josie took out her purse. “Four pounds,” she said, handing over the cash. “Thanks!”
He nodded again, still unable to speak through his ragged breathing, and set off back the way they’d come.
Sam draped an arm over the back of the chair when she flopped into it. “You just paid the guy four quid for this and got him to carry it for you too?”
“Yep,” she said proudly.
He beamed down at her. “It must be nice being so pretty!”
“I notice Brendan’s table has gone,” she said. “I hope you got a good price?”
He grinned. “They gave me fifty-five.”
“It was a bit cheeky of them, really, when they knew how much I wanted it!”
“Excuse me,” a guy cut in. He was a tall, well-dressed older gentleman. “I’ll give you ten pounds for this nest of tables.”
“No way!” Josie called before Sam could get a word in. She swung her legs over the arm of her new chair and shuffled to get comfy. “They’re worth way more.” She shook her head and looked pointedly at Sam, then nodded at the nest of three mahogany side tables. They had leaves carved down the legs and looked very fancy. “I told you not to bring them here. You’ll never get anything close to what they’re worth. I saw some very similar on the Antiques Roadshow last week and they valued them at six hundred pounds.”
“I’ll give you twenty,” the man said.
“No, sorry,” Josie said before her gaze drifted back to Sam. “Put them back in the van, darling. I’ll take them to auction next week and get a decent price.”
“Forty!” the gentleman said when Sam moved towards the tables.
Josie curled her lip. “Fifty.”
He looked the tables over once more before taking out his wallet.
After the man had left with the tables, Sam went back over to Josie. “I feel like I’m hanging out with a con artist!”
“I’m not conning anyone,” she said. “I’m just making sure people see what things are really worth. They still got a good deal.”
“You know what I really can’t understand?” Sam said, amused. “How your acting career didn’t take off. I think your acting abilities are amazing.”
She chuckled. “I think this chair helps too. I feel like the queen, sitting here giving out orders!”
“The queen of the car boot!” Sam teased.
“’Scuse me, love!” a burly-looking guy called out. “Are you selling that chair?”
“I wasn’t planning on it. But feel free to make me an offer!” If she could make a quick profit she might just force herself to part with it.
“Twenty quid?”
She stroked the soft velvet as she mulled it over. Sixteen pounds profit with absolutely no effort sounded okay.
“Twenty-five?” he said, clearly taking the pause to be indecision.
“Go on then,” she said, jumping up from her throne.
When the guy lumbered away with the chair, she caught Sam gazing at her intensely. She looped her arms around his neck. “What’s that look for?”
His eyes never left hers. “I love you.”