Eliza Vandas Button Box chapter sampler

good. ‘Only because it’s winter,’ she added. ‘In summer we’re booked out. Mostly.’ An electric saw screeched in Spindrift’s attic, shattering the peace. Milly and Eliza Vanda both looked up. ‘Oh, um, that’s only Dad,’ Milly stammered, as if somehow that made the noise less noisy. The saw shrieked again. Milly winced and glanced nervously up the road before remembering with relief that Mrs Meaney was out. She turned back to Eliza Vanda and found the woman smiling at her enquiringly. ‘Dad’s making an upstairs bedroom for me so Flora — that’s our new baby — can have mine,’ Milly babbled in confusion. ‘Flora had to stay in hospital because she came too early and Julie — I mean, my stepmother — stayed with her, but they’ll be home soon so Dad’s rushing to finish —’ She realised she was talking too much and stopped abruptly, feeling her face grow hot. ‘Oh, fiddle-dee-dee!’ said Eliza Vanda, flapping her

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