THE TIME BEFORE THE FUTURE – PART 8 "Duncan, do be careful dear!" Molly cried alarmed as Duncan came perilously close to knocking a photo-frame from a shelf which he was trying to fit one too many books onto. "Sorry Molly." He said blushing, before dropping the offending book on the floor with a resounding thud & turning an even deeper hue of red. "Sorry." He mumbled again. Molly smiled kindly at him. "That's alright Duncan, no harm done, nothing broken, leave those & help me unfold this." She was holding a brightly coloured patchwork quilt. "It's lovely." Duncan grinned taking the 2 top corners. "Did you make it?" Molly couldn't help but laugh as she shook her blonde curls: "Good heaven's no! I couldn't sew in a straight line for all the tea in China. That's why I leave all the mending to Lexie! I bought this 30 years or more ago when Hector & I were first married. He had to go to Dundee or somewhere on business & I went along to keep him company, as you do. Anyway, whilst Hector was in his meeting or whatever, I went for a walk nearby & saw a church hall holding a fete. I looked around for a while & then I saw this at the very back of one of the stalls; I just couldn't resist it. I remember it cost me £2:00, a lot of money in those days, and Hector was cross with me because that meant we had to take a second class train carriage on the way home & we didn't have enough money for sandwiches. It was three days before he'd speak to me properly again!" Duncan giggled, he could see that scene all too well. They spread the quilt out by the slightly open window to air as Molly continued to chatter: "I'd always meant to use the colours in one of my pictures but never did get around to it." "It seems a shame to put it away." He replied. Molly looked at him as though he had flicked on a switch: "Duncan, you've just given me a marvellous idea!" "I did?" Duncan looked lost. "Yes dear. It needs to air properly, but then it would look lovely draped over this chair." By now, her hand was resting on the back of a red leather wing-back chair which sat facing the fire-place. Duncan beamed, pleased with himself: "Why do want this trunk upstairs anyway?" he asked emboldened by Molly's praise. "My studio is absolutely overflowing with sketch books; I thought I could put the full ones in here so that I know where they are when I need them." she replied. "Oh, right, good idea." Just then Hector walked in: "Hello troops, how's the 'grand relocation going?" Molly brightened even more: "Ah Hector, remember this?" Hector's eye fell on the quilt: "Yes, I most certainly do; I've never liked travelling in trains from that day to this!" he was trying to sound cross but his eyes were smiling. "You found it in the trunk?" "Yes, though how it got there is something of a mystery. But I've found the perfect place for it at last but it needs airing before I can use it. Can you take it out to Lexie whilst Duncan & I finish unpacking?" "A pleasure my dear, but then I'm off to Kilwillie's place to see that new hound of his he keeps banging on about!" The mention of his old adversary/next door neighbour/best friend, as ever, put a fresh spring in Hector's step. Molly hid a smile at seeing that: "Alright, but please at least try & be back for supper at six, & do ring if you're bringing Kilwillie with you! it's not fair on Lexie otherwise." She pleaded. "Yes, yes." Hector muttered, not really paying attention as he halved the quilt again, wrinkled his nose against the smell of moth-balls threw it over one arm and strode past with Monty & Rommel in toe, stopping to peck his wife on the cheek. Both Duncan & Molly chuckled slightly as Hector closed the door behind him. Archie was let into the shop by a kindly looking older lady. For the moment he was the only customer in Thomas' jewellers. Had this been such a good place to choose after all? The thought struck him that maybe the family already had a preferred jewellers; oh well, it was too late now & he wouldn't have been able to ask his father without facing more awkward questions than he & Lexie were ready for just yet. His nervousness about the whole thing must have been written on his face, for the assistant smiled reassuringly at him as he walked towards the counter. TO BE CONTINUED...