The jangle of the shop doorbell rang out and the shouting was joined by more voices, though these were softer. It was followed by a loud bang then a blood-curdling scream. Florrie’s heart started pounding as she and Ed rushed towards the reading room door. She was only half aware of Jack telling everyone to stay calm and remain in their seats, Jenna’s voice featuring somewhere in there, too.
Florrie’s gaze swept quickly around the bookshop, a bolt of alarm shooting through her when she realised there was no sign of her parents. Her eyes alighted on the door which now stood wide open, making her pulse up its speed. Memories of Dodgy Dick’s attempts at sabotaging a previous bookshop event sprang to mind. Surely Ed’s parents weren’t in cahoots with him and his disreputable cronies in the hope of bullying them into handing over the bookshop?
‘Oh no!’ The alarm in Ed’s voice drew her attention to where he was standing in the doorway, his hand pressed against hisforehead.
‘What is it?’ But he didn’t get a chance to answer before he rushed out into the street.
Florrie raced after him, her heart thudding hard in her chest.
Outside, dusk had fallen and a sea fret was creeping in, making the air damp and chilly. She stopped in her tracks, her hand flying to her mouth as her gaze went to where Ed had come to a halt over by the kerbside. Under the hazy glow of the vintage streetlamps, she could make out a figure curled up on the floor, a woman bent over it, Ed’s hand resting on her shoulder. It took her a couple of seconds to register what she was looking at.
No!Panic seared through her, making her whole body tremble.
‘Dad!’ she screamed.
TWENTY-ONE
‘Stay there, Florrie! Stay where you are!’ That Ed’s voice was filled with such concern only added to her fears. ‘Don’t come over here.’
‘Ed’s right, you stay there, Florrie.’ As distressed as she was, Florrie still picked up the shake in her mum’s voice.
She froze to the spot, hot tears scorching their way down her cheeks, her fingers knotted in her hair. Her mind was racing, a maelstrom of confusion, fear overriding her every thought. Her brain was sending her myriad conflicting messages: that she should do as Ed and her mum said and stay where she was; that she should rush over and comfort her father; that if she did so, her panic could risk adding to his distress; that she needed to help; that she should ring for an ambulance; was he conscious? Was he… was he going to be okay? Oh, God! That didn’t bear thinking about.
This was the worst kind of awful. She clamped her hand over her mouth as great wracking sobs took over her body. The last time she’d felt this utterly helpless was when she’d found out her mum was ill.
Seconds later, Stella appeared beside her. ‘Florrie, what’s happened?’
Hot on her heels was Jasmine. ‘What’s all the shouting about?’Clocking her friend’s tears her voice softened. ‘Florrie, are you okay?’
Behind Jasmine, Florrie vaguely registered Alex and Max, both men wearing worried expressions.
‘It… it’s m–my… d–dad… he’s f–fallen… over,’ she stuttered, as a shadowy thought floated into her mind, wondering what his fall had to do with all the shouting that had brought them rushing outside.
‘I’m sure he’ll be okay, flower.’ Stella put her arm around Florrie, giving her shoulder a reassuring rub. ‘Do you know if anyone’s called an ambulance?’ she asked, her voice calm and in control.
Florrie shook her head. ‘I d–don’t kn–know.’
‘On it,’ said Max, quick as a flash pulling his phone from his back pocket.
‘Thanks, Max.’ Stella turned to Alex. ‘Al, can you go and get the wool throws from the back of the leather chairs in the reading room? We’ll need to keep Charlie warm while he’s on the pavement.’
‘Sure.’ Alex shot off.
Florrie turned to see Lark and Maggie, Bear and Nate heading towards her, their faces wreathed in concern, their questions tumbling over one another’s. Florrie registered snatches of what they were saying; Jack and Jenna were staying in the reading room with the audience while Leah and Jean were in the bookshop, rather than have people spilling out onto the street while they still didn’t know what was going on.
Stella quickly filled them in on what little she knew, her words acting as a catalyst for Florrie. She wriggled free of Stella’s arm. ‘I need to go to my dad.’
‘Florrie, are you sure?’ asked Jasmine, gently taking hold of Florrie’s arm.
‘Dad!’ she cried, her voice cracking with anguish as she slipped free from Jasmine’s grip. She needed to see him, needed to tell him to be okay, that she loved him.
‘C’mere.’ Ed held out his arms, enveloping Florrie in a hug. She rested her head against his chest, allowing herself to melt into the familiar warmth and reassurance of his embrace, finding comfort in the rhythmic beat of his heart. He hugged her close, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. ‘Your dad’s going to be okay. I promise.’
After what had happened, Florrie wasn’t sure how he could make such a bold statement, but she kept her thoughts to herself and hoped with all her heart that he was right.
They were alone in the bookshop, the audience long since gone, a strange silence hanging in the air, like the aftermath of a heavy storm. Despite their friends offering to stay or run her to the hospital, Florrie had declined, preferring instead to be alone with Ed, hoping to get her thoughts in order, make sense of everything that had happened. They meant well, but she simply didn’t have the mental capacity for conversation right now; she felt numb, punch-drunk. But she knew, without question, they’d understand; wouldn’t take offence at her not wanting them around her right now.
It wasn’t long after she’d rushed to be near her dad, that an ambulance had arrived, the paramedics carrying out the necessary checks before they eased him onto a stretcher and into the back of the emergency vehicle. They’d been cheerfully professional and compassionate throughout. Her mum had travelled to hospital with him. Florrie had been struck by how stunned she’d looked – frightened even – her face drawn and pale as she’d promised to let them know as soon as she had any news. Florrie’s heart had gone out to her.
