Poppy took it with a big smile.
“I’ll be up to tuck you in in a little while,” Carrie promised.
Poppy led Layla upstairs, chatting all the way about her favourite books.
“What a sweet girl,” said Nat. “How lovely of her to look after Poppy.”
“She is,” agreed Carrie, still wondering what on earth could have possessed Layla, who seemed so quiet, kind and thoughtful, to have considered stealing earlier.
* * *
Carrie had great fun at the book club getting to know everyone, especially Lucy who was so friendly.
Carrie was really pleased that she’d happened to have read the book, purely because she’d heard so much hype about it that it had felt silly not to. She’d never been to a book club before and was fairly sure that most of them weren’t as relaxed as this one. The women voted for a different book each month, always a romance, and they ordered copies through the shop to support it. It was a sweet idea and got more locals using the shop. Were there any other events that would drive in more local custom she wondered? What a lovely thank you it would be to her aunt if she brought in some new business...
At half eight, Carrie went upstairs and found Poppy all tucked up in bed waiting for her. Layla had read her lots ofTheEnchanted Woodbut Poppy promised to tell her mum everything that had happened over breakfast the next morning.
Carrie gave Poppy a kiss goodnight and came back into the sitting room.
“I’m very impressed that you got her so chilled and ready for bed. I thought she’d be begging to stay up for hours yet.”
“I think she’s pretty sleepy,” said Layla.
“Are you completely sure you don’t mind staying until the book club’s over?” Carrie checked.
“Of course not. Is it OK if I read something from here?” Layla asked.
“Absolutely, and thank you so much,” Carrie said. “There’s tea and coffee and hot chocolate in the cupboard above the kettle if you’d like some.”
“Awesome, thanks,” said Layla, scanning the bookshelves.
Carrie returned to the book club, sitting down next to Lucy.
“Your coffee shop looks lovely. I’m looking forward to trying it out properly soon,” Carrie said. “Your pains au chocolat were absolutely delicious!” She was quite sure she’d mentioned those already but they truly had been. It had been so kind of Lucy.
“Thank you. It’s definitely been a labour of love.”
“Are you from around here?” Carrie asked. “Your accent...”
“Oh, no. I moved here to open the café just over a year ago now.”
“You look busy whenever I’ve walked past.”
“The nice weather helps. Winter when the tourists aren’t around is much more challenging.” Lucy let out a sigh. “I’m just trying to make the most of the summer months and hope that carries me through. Running your own business is definitely not for the faint-hearted it turns out.”
* * *
By the time they were wrapping up over an hour later, Carrie’s cheeks were hurting from laughing so much. They all posed for a selfie for the shop’s Instagram account, which Carrie hadn’t even known existed but apparently Seren was in charge of, before she helped to tidy up and let them out with lots of promises to join them again next month when they’d be chatting about an Emily Henry book. Carrie had promised to put the orders in for everyone’s copies the next morning.
Layla was reading on the sofa when Carrie went upstairs.
“Is she asleep?”
“Haven’t heard a peep,” said Layla proudly.
“That’s fantastic! Thank you again,” said Carrie. “I’d like to give you something for your time.” She got her purse out of her handbag and took out a twenty-pound note which she held out to Layla. “Please,” she said. “You really helped me out tonight.”
“You don’t need to pay me,” said Layla. “I was happy to hang out with Poppy. She’s really cute. Plus, I used to loveThe Enchanted Woodwhen Dad read it to me. It was nice to read it again. And I liked being able to help you after you helped me earlier.”
