Page 15 - Book 8 Matty Hedgehog and the Paper Chase

Matty Hedgehog and the Paper Chase 13
from the coast. When they moved into their new home, Dolly had given them furniture, linen, crockery and bedding – none of them would ever forget her generosity.
Tilly wiped her eyes on her apron, smoothed her brow and gazed at the scattered books, toys, clothes, fur brushes, shoes and tools.
‘I can’t sit here moping – up you get! There’s work to be done.’
Charlie’s days were spent working, supporting families, maintaining the woodland and worrying about his growing daughters. Tilly accepted that he needed time for himself and was ready for a friendship, but was surprised to hear that he’d mentioned Velvet to his daughters. He’d gone to great lengths to keep his relationship private until then.
When they stayed with his brother at the coast, Charlie agreed to work on a new animal housing development some distance away. He was shopping for a new chisel when he met Velvet and her elderly mother, Fleur, selling tools at a market.
He’d asked if they could recommend a guest house where he could stay during the week. At weekends, he returned to see his daughters. Fleur had offered him a room in her home and made him welcome.
Later, when Charlie and his girls returned to the valley, he and Velvet began to exchange the occasional telegram and he would tell her about his family and Barns Wood.
After a brief illness, Velvet’s mother died, and she had had to sell their entire stock of tools to pay their creditors.