Nancy chuckled. 'Cally, this is our Penny. She lives next door to me. Penny, this is our Cally. She’s over the deli for now.’
‘Oh, I didn’t realise you were just by the green there.’ Cally said, referring to the area of St. Lovely green where Nancy lived.
Nancy chimed in. ‘Sorry, she is my neighbour, but she’s not on the green but along the back there. You know the little lane that brings you out at the church? Amazing views there down to the river and the bay. True blue Lovely. We were at school together.’
Cally nodded. ‘Ahh, right, yes. Nice spot.’
Penny smiled. ‘It is a good bit of Lovely, where I am now.’
‘Been there long?’ Cally enquired.
Penny laughed. ‘Ahh, just about all my life. Not this actual house.’ She turned to Nancy. ‘How long have I lived there now, Nance? Do you know? I couldn’t tell you.’
Nancy blew air out of her lips. ‘Has to be at least ten years. You were there well before me.’
‘Yep, true.’
‘Well, lucky you,’ Cally said with a smile. ‘I’m hoping to get a place in Lovely one day. I keep my fingers crossed at all times.’
Nancy smiled. ‘Anyway. What have you been up to?’
‘Nothing much and busy at the same time. I’ve been doing loads of stuff for Nina.’
‘Oh, yeah. How’s that going?’
‘Fine. It’s a job. Clearing out rich people’s clutter has to be one way of making a living. How about you? Busy?’
Nancy rolled her eyes. ‘What with doing this shelter volunteering and being in charge of the Chowder Festival, I don’t know if I’m coming or going, to be quite honest with you. I’m a glutton for punishment. It keeps me busy.’
Penny widened her eyes. ‘It sounds like it’s going to be some festival this year. Colin is beside himself about it.’
Nancy nodded enthusiastically. 'He is. There's nothing quite like the buzz of festival day, though.’
Cally nodded. ‘I’ve heard. There’s been so much talk about it in the chemist.’
Penny continued addressing Cally. ‘The people you meet at the festival – honestly, you’ll get a crash course in Lovely Bay culture. So many locals come out of the woodwork or come back if they’ve left Lovely. It brings all sorts. I love festival weekend and the lead-up to it.'
‘I’m looking forward to it. It will be different now I actually live here.’
‘Yeah, it will be good.’
Nancy turned to Cally and joked. 'So, how are things going with that handsome fella of yours? How’s Logan, or should I say lord of the manor?'
Cally attempted to sound casual. ‘It's going well. Actually, I’ve been invited to a fancy family event at the races.'
Penny's eyebrows shot up. 'The races? Oh my, that is posh.’
‘I'm a bit nervous, to be honest. It's not exactly my usual scene.'
Nancy let out a low whistle. 'Well, aren't you moving up in the world, our Cally? Rubbing shoulders with celebrities before we know it. We’ll need to curtsy to you next.'
Penny nodded. 'They all have that air about them. That Henry-Hicks lot.’
Cally grimaced. ‘It's a bit intimidating, if I'm honest.'
Nancy eye-rolled. ‘You're every bit as good as those fancy folk, and don't you forget it.'
‘Ha. I don’t feel it.’
