Silversmiths had a sign up already, and the front was busy with shopfitters. It wasn’t raining, which probably helped their mood. Rather than stare at what was going on, I called into a bookshop that specialised in antique children’s books, something I’d started collecting as a child. I looked through the Elsie J Oxenhams they had, searching for one of the last remaining titles I needed to finish one of the collections, keeping an eye out on Silversmiths for Laurie.
I’d just paid for two books and was debating a third when I saw her, skinny jeans, trainers and an oversized hoodie that I recognised as one of Carter’s making her look younger than I thought her to be.
My heart rate increased and my mouth felt dry. I already knew that if I saw her, I’d want to speak to her, just to see what she was like. She was laughing with one of the shopfitters, pointing inside and then shaking her head.
I left the safety of the children’s bookshop and headed over to her, remembering who I was, curiosity winning over sensibility. She smiled when she saw me.
“Rose! Carter’s friend!”
I hated the title. I’d never thought myself a possessive person until this moment right now.
“Laurie. We met briefly the other Friday.” I forced a smile, hoping it looked sincere.
“We did. I’d just landed that day and jetlag was real, so I’m sorry if you thought me slightly insane – well, if you did you’d be right anyway. Want a hot drink? I’ve managed to get a kettle set up and I’ve got tea bags and instant coffee, which isn’t the best but it’s drinkable and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. I never thought anywhere would be as expensive as New York, but here we are.” She was garbling, and I realised she was probably nervous too.
What had Carter told her about me? Did she know about the kiss on Friday? She was wearing his hoodie, so was this more than just friends? Wearing someone’s clothes was a sign of intimacy.
“I’d love a tea. Are you sure you’ve got time?” I was surprised with how calm I sounded, and I remembered again who I was. Carter had called me a swan, perfectly still where people could see and having a ginormous meltdown where they couldn’t.
That was me now.
“I definitely don’t have time, but I don’t think I’ve had a drink for about six hours. Come through, don’t trip over anything – actually, if you’re going to trip, fall that way, there’s less debris.” She gestured to where there was definitely less debris, but there was a man with a drill and an exasperated expression on his face.
“Laurie, are you sure this is where you want the fixed table?” he said, tone gruff, expression no-nonsense.
“Absolutely sure, Wes. There are no more changes, I promise. Can I make you a cup of tea – do you say ‘brew’ for tea?”
The word brew sounded strange in her New York accent, at least, I thought it was New York.
“Proper tea, two tea bags because those things you’ve bought are shite. Try getting some Yorkshire Tea or Tetley’s in for tomorrow and I’ll show you how to make a proper brew.” Wes shook his head. “None of this Prince Grey or whatever it’s called.”
I laughed, Wes clearly teasing her. Laurie looked like she wasn’t sure he wasn’t being serious.
“Ignore him. It’s the English sense of humour. You’ll learn to ignore it.” I followed her through the doorway into the back, the area as chaotic as the front of the shop. “When are you opening?”
“A week on Saturday,” she said. “Because I’m insane, which you’ve probably diagnosed already. Carter told me that you’re a psychologist. I think I’ll need my own full time one after this.” She untied and retied the bobble in her hair. “How do you take your tea?”
I looked at the brand she’d bought. “I’ll make it. I’ll do one for Wes as well. You’re opening a week on Saturday? Isn’t that rather – well – close?”
“Yep, but I got lucky with an author who’s around that day and had time to come be my first signing author. Carter’s currently got two thousand books, plus another thousand copies for this author to sign taking up his front room. I have taken over his house.” She sat down on an object that I wasn’t sure was meant to be sat on.
I tried not to spit out that the house was mine first, even though it wasn’t. It was the child still within me, defensive and fearful of newness. It was also something akin to jealousy. I named it. Now I needed to own it.
“He’s pretty laid back so I’m sure he won’t mind.” I poured water from a bottle into the kettle and turned it on. It was an expensive brand and covered in dust. I remembered what Fallon had said about Laurie being from money.
“Oh he minds. I’ve barely seen him this week. I think it’s all a bit too much.”
Her words threw me. If they were a couple, and she’d just moved here, I’d have expected them to have been spending as much time as possible together. “Is Carter not helping you out here?” He’d always been handy, one year helping me paint my bedroom, although he had been grumpy about it.
“No. This is my project and he has better things to do with his time. He’s helped me out enough as it is. Anyway, how was your weekend in Stratford-Upon-Avon? I’m dying to visit there. I’ve been to England – and Scotland and Wales, of course – loads of times before but we never made it to Stratford.” She seemed genuinely interested.
I imagined how I would feel if I were in her place; just moved to a new country, in a rush to get a business up and running and not having anyone really, apart from one person, to support. It would be intense.
I thought of Harriet who’d be moving soon and in a similar position. I hoped she found friends to talk to as soon as she moved there. I softened towards Laurie.
“Stratford was great. One of my best friends and my house mate is moving there, so it’s a big change, but she’s going to love it. It’s full of history but really good shops too.” I filled the room with descriptions of Stratford and what we’d gotten up to while the kettle boiled and the tea brewed. Laurie watched me intently, as if she was trying to learn what to do.
“How do you have your tea? Sugar?” I asked, putting three teabags in each mug and not looking too hard at how clean those mugs were. The boiling water I added would kill off any bacteria.
