‘I really think you’d like life in New York and at Alphabet,’ says Liz. ‘We can help with finding accommodation, and things like that. But I know it would require a big change for you, so how about you take a few weeks to think about it? Let me know your decision by Christmas, OK?’
‘OK, thank you. But it does sound like an amazing opportunity. I’m really flattered you thought of me.’
‘I think this could be an exciting next chapter – for both of us. Now, how about a toast to … the future?’
They both raise their glasses. Tilly thinks back to Joe’s latest letter where he asked her to think about what her future might look like. She pictures herself walking through the door of Alphabet Books in Midtown New York, a coffee in one hand (because in New York she will like coffee), her phone in the other, the buzz of activity and bookish conversation around her, the street thronging with taxis and traffic outside. It’s not something she could have imagined at the start of the year. But it’s a pretty good picture.
‘To the future.’
Tilly clinks her glass against Liz’s, trying to keep her hand steady, her heart pounding beneath her shirt covered in books.
When Tilly arrives home it’s to an email from Rachel.
From: [email protected]
Subject: Fingers crossed
Hi Tilly,
Hope the interview went well. So excited for you!
As promised, here is the first draft of my novel. Eek!! Please know there is no pressure at all to read it (or if you do, to like it!). I just really appreciate the offer, and I really appreciate you. I’m so glad we’re back in touch. See you soon.
Rachel xx
Tilly opens the document, pulling a blanket around her shoulders and sinking into the sofa cushions. She only intends to read the first few pages, but by the end of the second chapter she is hooked. By the third she has grabbed a notebook and pen and is scribbling away.
As she works, she feels the warmth of something growing in her chest. Something Elizabeth Gilbert might even call ‘big magic’.
51
For a bookshop that is on its last legs, Book Lane is busy with customers getting ahead on their Christmas shopping. Alfie can hardly keep up with restocking the shop, serving customers and shipping out online orders, even with Blue and Prudence helping.
He can’t quite believe that the crowdfunder is at £10,000. Or that both regular customers and complete strangers have donated to try to save the shop. Despite everyone’s generosity, and how busy it is, Alfie knows deep down it isn’t enough. He has until the end of the month. Just two weeks to somehow magic up the price of a building in one of London’s most desirable neighbourhoods.
‘Um, Alfie,’ comes Blue’s voice from the front of the shop, bent over her phone. ‘Have you seen Tilly’s latest post? Or checked our socials recently?’
Prudence has just finished up with a customer and joins Blue, pushing her reading glasses up her nose and leaning in to look at Blue’s phone. ‘Blimey!’
Alfie brings his own phone out of his pocket. It is alight with notifications. Since this morning they seem to have acquired hundreds of new followers. There are more comments and messages than he can process. He scrolls through.
So sad about your shop, it looks amazing. I’m going to donate and order something online!
*
Love the idea of Tilly Nightingale’s year of books. How can we buy our own?
He clicks on Tilly’s page and notices that her follower count has shot up too. Over the past few weeks she has shared photos and videos from the past year: her favourite quotes from Roald Dahl’sMatilda; photos of a completely blackened farmhouse loaf and an exquisite tarte Tatin (her worst and best cooking attempts fromDelia’s How to Cook); a picture ofBeach Readlying on white sand in Bali; her smiling face with the medal from the half-marathon around her neck. Alfie tries not to focus too much on the images of her face or the feeling each one brings to his stomach. He clicks on her latest video, of her roller-skating in the park. It has hundreds of comments. Near the top is one that makes him stop, reading the name of the commenter twice.
‘A book made me do this’, I love that. Great video, Tilly. I’m going to repost it!
Aimee Rain. As in, the pop star Aimee Rain. But surely it can’t betheAimee Rain? He clicks on the account to check. Three million followers. And there on her feed is Tilly’s roller-skating video, with Book Lane tagged front and centre.
‘Now I know I don’t know much about these things,’ says Prudence, pushing her glasses back into her silver hair, dotted with sprigs of ivy, ‘but Ithinkwe might be going viral.’
‘Just relax and ignore everything else,’ says the television presenter, smiling across the living room-style set at Tilly.
