It wasn’t just worries for her dad that had been on her mind. Every time the bell jangled, Florrie’s heart had jumped in her chest, fearful she was going to look up and see Dawn or Luella, or both. But so far, there’d been no sign of them. And the longer the morning went on, the more Florrie was hopeful they’d taken Ed’s words on board; maybe even headed back to London, though she told herself that was wishful thinking.
She was beginning to wonder when she was going to be able to get a chance to give the reading room a check over when Jack landed unexpectedly.
‘Now then, folks, by it’s a grand day out there,’ he said in his broad, gravelly accent.
‘Morning, Jack, it is. Let’s hope it stays that way for this evening,’ said Florrie.
‘Aye, too right. I’ve just dropped Jen off to get her hair done for the event, so I thought I might as well pop in, see if there’s owt I can help with; make myself useful, like.’
It was so like Jack to offer to help and muck in. Despite his fame – he was increasingly getting referred to in the press as a ‘national treasure’ though whenever anyone mentioned it to him, he joked that it was a typo that had been latched on to and what they really meant was ‘national disaster’ – he didn’t have a starry bone in his body and had never shown so much as the tiniest hint of diva behaviour. His dour resting face – which was solely responsible for his reputation of being grouchy and moody – belied his cheerful disposition. He was always quick to crack a joke – usually at his own expense – and enjoyed a good belly laugh. And since he’d moved to Micklewick Bay, he’d been taken to the townsfolks’ hearts and regarded as one of their own. It was a position he was enormously proud of and never took it for granted.
‘Tell you what, why don’t I start by sticking the kettle on and making us all a cuppa?’
‘Ooh, music to my ears, Jack lovey. I could do with a cup of tea before I head back home,’ said Paula. ‘Unless you’d like me to do it, of course?’
‘Not at all, you look like you’ve got your hands full there.’ He switched his gaze from Florrie to where Paula was adding more books to the display table they’d placed next to Jenna’s in readiness for the reading. This one was for Jack’s books, and Ed had instructed Florrie’s mum how best to utilise the props he’d given her specifically for that display. ‘I’m happy to be the bookshop’s teaboy this morning.’ Jack grinned before heading off to the kitchen with Ed calling after him that he could do with a cuppa, too.
‘Righto, lad!’ Jack called back.
Jean arrived not long after Jenna whose warm chestnut locks were looking extra glossy thanks to the caramel highlights that had been threaded through them. The two women joined Jack in the reading room with the two authors setting out chairs for the audience, while Jean stacked copies of their books next to the till on the wall at the front of the room. Once that was done, Jack and Jenna headed home to prepare for the reading.
The afternoon whizzed by and before they knew it, the sound of the church bells announcing five o’clock chimed in the distance. Leah didn’t waste a moment. She dashed over to the door, turned the sign to closed and slid the bolt across. It was always a quick turnaround when they had a window reveal, with only an hour until things got started. In the early days of the window reveals, Florrie and Ed would head back to Samphire Cottage – they always drove to and from the bookshop on such days – grab a quick bite to eat, then head back, minus Gerty since the Labrador found all the fuss and influx of people unsettling. But today, they’d agreed that just Ed would drive Gerty back to the cottage so he could get changed out of his paint-spattered clothes – being aperfectionist with his work, he always found a last-minute tweak for his window scenes. He’d leave Gerty at home, then head back to the bookshop where he and Florrie would quickly wolf down some food and wait for the rest of the staff to arrive.
‘If it’s okay with you, I think I’ll stay here,’ said Leah.
‘’Course it is, you can keep me company while Ed takes Gerty home,’ said Florrie. ‘And there’s no need to ask.’
‘Thanks.’ Leah smiled, looking relieved. ‘Thing is, if I go home now, I’ll only end up getting stuck helping Tilly with her homework and I really don’t want to be late for when all the fun starts here. I mean, I don’t mind helping her, but she always leaves it so last minute and it can get quite stressful, especially if I have to be somewhere. I’ve told her I’ll help when I get back; it’s not as if a couple of hours is going to make much of a difference.’
‘True.’
Leah still lived at home with her parents and was regularly expected to help her younger sister with her homework which had often made her late for going out with her friends or Marty. Florrie was fond of Leah and felt that Tilly leant a little too heavily on her older sister – from what she could gather it was subtly encouraged by their parents – and took advantage of Leah’s good nature. But, tempted as she frequently was to gently guide her away from doing so much, and in the process hopefully weaning Tilly off her reliance, Florrie felt it was ultimately none of her business, so kept her thoughts to herself.
‘Have you got something to eat?’ she asked.
‘Yeah.’ Leah nodded. ‘I grabbed a piece of quiche and some salad from the tearoom and put it in the fridge in our kitchen.’
‘Good thinking. Ed and I did the same; I was going to say you could share ours if you didn’t have anything,’ said Florrie, giving Leah a warm smile. ‘Maybe we should have it now while it’s quiet instead of wolfing it down two minutes before things get started – wouldn’t be the first time,’ she said with achuckle. ‘Ed can grab his when he gets back.’
By the time Ed returned, a substantial crowd had gathered on the pavement in front of the bookshop. The air was alive with high-spirited chatter and anticipation. A small cheer went up as he reached the door, and an even bigger one followed when Jenna, Jean and Jack arrived not long after.
Florrie was thrilled to see her dad looking brighter. He’d arrived with her mum about ten minutes after Ed had left, and though he was still looking pale, he seemed more like his chirpy self, chatting away to Jack where they were perched side by side on their seats next to the door. It was their usual place when the bookshop was holding an evening event, checking to make sure only people with tickets gained access to the shop, the two men jokingly referring to themselves as ‘bouncers’.
‘Ey up, there’s the film crew,’ Charlie said, peering out through the glass of the door before adopting a David Attenborough-style tone. ‘We’re here, on the wild plains of Victoria Square in the North Yorkshire town of Micklewick Bay, cameras poised, ready to film the huge variety of wildlife that inhabits the area. It’s a place where the locals gather together in a ritual unique to the region and known as The Great Window Reveal. This fascinating display of behaviour happens only a handful of times a year and we feel incredibly privileged to have the opportunity to film it.’
Everyone fell about laughing, particularly so Florrie, who was thrilled to see her dad back on form.
‘The crowd seems bigger than ever,’ said Paula, peering out beside her husband. ‘Ooh, and there’s the reporter from the local newspaper, too. See, Charlie?’
‘Aye, I can see, lass.’
Word of Ed’s amazing displays had spread quickly when he’d first taken over decorating the windows of the double-fronted Victorian shop. They’d garnered such interest that the local newsroom and newspaper sent reporters to record the unveiling. Florrie always made sure to announce it, together with Jack and Jenna’s reading, on the bookshop’s social media pages, as well as dotting leaflets and posters advertising it not only around thebookshop, but the tearoom, too; she was aware that some of their older clientele had no interest in the internet or social media. It went without saying that the two authors’ events sold out within minutes.
Jack checked his watch. ‘Right then, Ed lad, it’s nearly six o’clock and folk are starting to look a bit nithered out there. You just say the word, and as soon as you’re ready, I’ll get my butt outside, feed myself to the lions – to continue in the spirit of Charlie’s wildlife documentary theme.’ He grinned at Charlie, the pair chuckling like mischievous schoolboys.
Charlie didn’t waste a moment, picking up on Jack’s cue. ‘And here we see the alpha male preening himself as he prepares to strut his stuff in front of his adoring minions who’ve been waiting patiently in what can only be described as inhospitable conditions.’
‘Strut my stuff. Ah, I love it!’ Jack gave a throaty cackle.
