Liv finally told Jake what had been going on in her life and he was supportive and understanding.
She called Hank and spoke to him in person. ‘I’m so sorry to break the bad news to you,’ she said.
‘Oh, jeez, I can’t believe it. Ess has really gone?’ he said. ‘How? What happened?’
‘She’d been fading for some time and passed away on November the first.’
He was quiet for a while. ‘Thatdate,’ he said.
‘Yes.’ Liv swallowed, wondering if it sounded suspicious.
‘Heck, it’s the day she’d have chosen,’ Hank said. ‘She published her first book that day, she won her great prize.’
‘She’d just finished her new book, too.’
‘I’m glad ’bout that. It gives me real comfort.’
Liv spoke to Chloe next.
‘I’m glad I stopped digging into Essie’s private life, hon,’ the journalist said. ‘I’d have felt so guilty. The article celebrates her life, and the lives of her fans. She’ll live on through Georgia Rory forever.’
The internet and news channels everywhere were soon awash with announcements about Essie’s passing. With no recent footage of the author available, they focused on Georgia Rory fans instead. Clips showed crowds gathered outside bookshops in London, America, Japan and Australia.The Moon on the Waterand several other of Essie’s books rocketed up the charts.
Liv and Anthony passed on information that Essie’s funeral would be held privately, as per the author’s request, without guests in attendance. When they spoke to each other on the phone, the air was still thorny between them.
‘We should hold some kind of memorial service for Essie,’ Liv said.
‘That’s not what she would have wanted.’
‘Maybe it’s whatIwant. People who were part of Essie’s life should have the chance to say goodbye to her properly.’
‘I don’t suppose there’s any point arguing with you,’ Anthony said.
Liv contacted the owner of the Bookshop on the Square and arranged to hire the café, in mid-November. She invited Ted, Sven, Hank, Marlon, Meg, Chloe and Anthony to attend.
She now stood in front of a long table that ran down the middle of the room. Delicate cakes and scones sat on tiers of floral china, and tiny triangles of sandwiches lay in lines. White roses and gypsophila sprung from apothecary-style blue vases. Jake had printed several postcard-sized booklets, featuring photos of Essie from across the years, and helped set them out on the table.Tears pricked Liv’s eyes when she looked at them.
A shaft of November sunshine sliced through the window, and she stepped into it, so it warmed her skin.Come on, Liv, she said to herself. How can anyone feel down in a bookshop?
Instead of dressing up, she wore a Blondie T-shirt, jeans and Converse, and hoped Essie wouldn’t mind. She picked up a ham sandwich and a hand promptly shot out and slapped it. ‘Ouch,’ she said, pushing the bread into her mouth.
‘Wait for the guests,’ Matilda demanded.
Liv had asked Essie’s ex-PA for help with the food order. She swanned around the room in a puff-sleeved yellow chiffon dress more suited to a cocktail party. She straightened cake forks that were already perfectly positioned.
‘I expected the smoked salmon sandwiches to be served on brown bread. And the cucumber is sliced too thickly.’ Matilda flicked a speck of cress off the tablecloth.
‘It’s a tea party, not the Oscars,’ Liv said. She could see Matilda’s eyes were shiny with tears.
‘We both knowMedusawas a stickler for details, and we want to get this right for her.’ The ex-PA sniffed. ‘Are you serving breakfast tea?’
‘Yes, and Darjeeling, Earl Grey and some herbal varieties. The Moët & Chandon is on ice.’
‘Super. Very organized,’ Matilda said. ‘I’m so gladMedusagave me my reference, before she—’
Liv fixed her with a stare. ‘Really?’ she said.
‘Anyway, I’m starting a new job tomorrow, a permanent role at Alchemy.’
