Mim had taken her place at the front of the teashop and in her usual style she clapped her hands and the room fell silent.
‘Tonight, I would like to welcome our very own published writer, Elle Cooper,’ she announced. Everyone turned towards Elle and clapped again.
Elle smiled gratefully around the room, then caught Irene’s eye just as she was wiping away a proud tear.
‘Thank you,’ Elle replied once the applause had died down.
‘Elle will be attending a very special ceremony on Saturday evening where her plaque and published story will be presented to her by the bestselling crime author … Mr Sam Stone.’ Everyone in the teashop let out a whoop. ‘So tonight we have a little change to our proceedings. Firstly, I want to know – if you had one question to ask Sam Stone, what would it be? And secondly, Elle has agreed that she’ll read us a short extract from her winning entry ahead of Saturday.’
Everyone turned towards Elle with admiring looks and clapped again. Now she was feeling really nervous; this would be the first time she’d let anyone know about her past except those closest to her.
‘We’re also expecting the local paper to turn up in the next hour to take some photos and interview Elle,’ Mim added.
Elle grinned at Pippa. ‘That’s why you have a full face of make-up, isn’t it? You’re hoping to get in on the action.’
‘You know me so well.’
‘So,’ Mim continued, ‘if you could ask Sam Stone one question, what would it be?’
Immediately Isla waved her hand in the air. ‘I’d ask: what inspired you to write your latest book?’
‘What did you learn while writing your latest book?’ added Felicity.
‘What’s your favourite underappreciated novel?’ asked Eleni.
‘Ooh, good question,’ said Mim. ‘Any others?’
Then Pippa piped up. ‘I know one question you need to ask him.’ She stared straight at Elle.
‘Which is?’
The whole room fell silent.
‘How did he know it was your birthday, and how did a signed copy of his book end up on your desk at work?’
‘Yes!’ Mim cried. ‘Don’t forget to ask him that!’
Elle’s eyes widened. ‘You’re right, that’s the question I’ll be asking at the very first opportunity.’
‘Elle, would you like to read us an extract now?’ Mim asked as she shushed the room. All eyes turned towards Elle, who swallowed and took a deep breath. Irene gave her a reassuring look of encouragement. Elle prayed she could hold her emotions together as she looked down at the piece of paper in front of her.
Elle began to read.
‘I remember my seventh birthday like it was yesterday. The winter brought another cold and dreary night and it was at times like that that I wished I could melt away like the snow outside and stop the ever-present pain. No one acknowledged my birthday. There was no cake, no cards, no presents and no friends for tea. I remember wanting the day to be over and after I put myself to bed I cried. No one came to see if I was okay… No one ever came. I knew I wasn’t like any other seven-year-old, but I didn’t know why. Why couldn’t I have a loving family that rode bikes together, went for walks and enjoyed an ice-cream by the river?
‘Lying in bed, the sense of abandonment felt raw – night-time was always the worst. Then, there it was again. The hushed whispers and the creaking of the stairs. The door opened slowly and light seeped into the room. I’d been here so many times already. I was bundled from my bed, wrapped in a coat that was way too big and told to wait by the front door. It felt like the middle of the night. The headlights of a moving car were fast approaching. The car stopped outside the gate. The only thing I was holding was my shawl. An owl hooted as a hand clutched mine and led me towards the car. I didn’t look back.
‘“She didn’t fit” are the words that echoed all around me. Why did no one love me? Maybe I didn’t deserve to be loved.
‘Loneliness seemed to be my only dependable friend.’
Tears blurred Elle’s eyes as she paused. The whole room was silent and as Elle looked up, she saw there wasn’t a dry eye in the place.
‘I don’t think I can read any more.’
Someone started to clap and the rest of the audience followed their example. Then suddenly everyone in the teashop was up on their feet.
‘I’m sure I speak for everyone at book club when I say we’re super proud of our very own Elle Cooper,’ Mim called across the room, smiling at Elle through her tears.
