Laurie nodded. “He’s doing a signing in about an hour, so I’m expecting another crowd of people to turn up because he’s got an obsessive following – mainly middle-aged women. You’ll get it when you see him.”
“I’ll get a copy of his new book for my mum, she’s a fan, so that ties in because she’s middle-aged.”
“If you want her to wind your dad up, get a photo of Jay signing it for her. He’s easy on the eyes.”
“Especially your eyes.” I could tell she was still smitten.
“Well, yes. I guess. He hasn’t said anything about it yet. We’ve both been avoiding talking about what happened.” Laurie took a long inhale. “I’d better circulate. If you need a break, feel free to haunt the back. The machine’s stocked up on hot chocolate.” Laurie briefly touched my arm before striding off towards a man in a suit who looked rather formal, given most of the customers were either older and wearing sensible shoes for shopping, or hipsters.
I wandered about the shelves, catching brief glimpses of Harriet engaging in conversation with different people, speaking animatedly, her hands gesticulating like they did when she was enthusiastic about something. I suspected she was talking about the library in Stratford, the pile of books she was purchasing in a basket next to her.
She was going to do fine in Stratford-Upon-Avon, and I would be fine as well. I’d barely seen her the last couple of weeks because her life had been busier than usual, but that’d meant we’d made up for it when we did get time.
I was in the crime section, looking at the books by Jay Cornell, when Laurie approached me again, not looking as at ease this time.
“I need to let you know something.”
I stood up, tensing, because anything that was introduced with a statement like that wasn’t good. “What?”
“One of my grandfather’s business partners, for want of a better term, is stopping by, so Carter and I might look a bit familiar.” She didn’t look happy at the idea. “Briefly. I’ll have to introduce him as my fiancé.”
“What about Jay?” There were other questions I could’ve asked, but that seemed to cover most bases.
“I’m hoping he doesn’t notice anything. This is going to be the lowest of low key things. You might not even notice, butI didn’t want you to see something and think 'what the fuck?' Have I done the right thing warning you?”
She looked worried, as if my opinion really mattered. Then I remember why she’d moved over here, that she knew practically no one, and after the wedding and the handing over of her trust, she’d be without her family too.
“You have. I’ll keep my distance. I don’t need to see it.”
Laurie nodded. “Thank you. You might want to check in on Harriet, by the way. I think she has one of my authors planning on proposing to her, but he’s in his sixties and has a thing for young, vibrant females so she might need rescuing.”
“I’ll find her.” Which was kind of imperative, given how Harriet wouldn’t read what the author’s intentions were, unless they were written on a page for her to analyse. It would also give me something to focus on so I didn’t have to overthink what might happen and the awkwardness and jealousy it might elicit.
Harriet was deep in conversation with a man who had short white hair and a thick beard, but also had charisma and presence that meant he didn’t look in his sixties at all. He was looking at my friend as if she was going to be a tasty meal, and Harriet was utterly oblivious to it, talking animatedly to him.
I approached them, standing next to her and smiling, hoping she’d realise I was there.
“Rose, this is Ged Harrinburg, who wroteSeventy-Five Steps. Do you remember reading it?” She almost waved her glass of fizz all over me.
“I do.” I didn’t think the author looked like this though. “It’s great you’re here for the opening. It’s such an amazing store.” I’d watched my grandmother make small talk at countless parties and formal receptions, and I’d learned something of the trade.
I pulled his attention away for long enough for Harriet to get her shit together and realise what was going on. He was pulled away by a man he introduced as his agent, which gave me acouple of moments to fill Harriet in about Laurie and her family friend.
“I’ll keep my eye on it. You mooch in another room. Is Carter here yet?” She looked around almost discreetly.
“I haven’t seen him.”
A woman came over to us who clearly knew Harriet, and another twenty minutes flew by as they got stuck into a conversation about something to do with an author’s backlist.
I wandered away, nerves starting to flicker like butterflies that were just emerging and immediately saw Carter enter through the main doors. He spotted me straight away and smiling, heading straight in my direction.
“Hey.” He had his hands stuffed in his pockets.
“Hey. How was work?”
“Two emergencies. Both have made it through though. It was a good shift. Laurie’s messaged me about the extra guest.” He pressed his hands deeper into his coat pockets.
“She came over and told me. She’s really nice, Carter.” There was no doubt about it, Laurie was lovely.
