“So you haven’t considered taking on an apprentice?” Carrie asked.
“Bookbinders don’t often get inundated with work,” he said, with a smile. “Peter only took me on because he wanted to go part-time. I love it though. Thankfully I also love repairing books and buying and selling old books, so I have a few strings to my bow. Your aunt seems to revel in sending me on seemingly impossible quests for the most obscure tomes.”
“That definitely sounds like my aunt.”
“I also rope Layla in to help me if I need an extra pair of hands. I can vouch that she’s a good worker.”
“I don’t doubt it,” said Carrie, taking a sip of her coffee.
They chatted about the town and how it had changed over the years, and about Auntie Mary and what Michael was planning to do with Layla over the holidays. Carrie wondered why Layla’s plans had changed but didn’t feel it her place to ask.
Carrie was enjoying herself so much, that time got away from her. She glanced at the clock on the wall.
“Oh my goodness, we’ve been here for over an hour! I really must get back to the shop and relieve Seren from serving.” Their eyes met briefly and Carrie felt a sudden desire to stay here for far longer with this man. She mentally shook it off.
“Yeah, I also have a business I’m supposedly running,” Michael said with a grin. “Thank you, this has been really nice.”
“It has,” agreed Carrie, fiddling with the strap of her bag.
Michael walked Carrie back next door. “I’d like to do that again sometime,” he said.
“Me too,” said Carrie. “But next time is my treat.”
She stopped as she was going into the shop to watch him go into his own. Turning, she saw Seren looking at her, a smile on her face.
Chapter 7
Layla arrived on time for her first shift on Saturday, bringing Tabitha along with her. “I think she much prefers it here to Dad’s workshop,” she confided. “My theory is that she can’t stand all the 90s rock Dad plays while he’s working. Can’t blame her to be honest.”
Carrie laughed. “She’s always very welcome here. She even lets Poppy sit next to her now.”
“That’s a big step. She’s not usually the friendliest of creatures.”
Poppy was determined to follow Layla around as Carrie talked her through everything she needed to know as best as she could, considering she’d been working in the bookshop less than a week herself.
The shop was busy, so it was lucky Carrie had decided not to leave Seren and Layla to it. Carrie and Seren took it in turns helping Layla to serve customers while one got on with other things.
Poppy even wanted to join Layla on her break. Carrie tried to distract her by getting her to tidy up one of the shelves, but Layla said she didn’t mind the little girl tagging along with her. “She can come with me. I was just going to go next door and let my dad know how my day was going.”
“Are you sure?” Carrie asked. She didn’t want to upset her daughter but at the same time it wasn’t fair on Layla if Poppy was driving her a little bit crazy.
“Of course,” said Layla with a shrug. She took Poppy’s hand and they went out together.
* * *
Poppy had clearly had a wonderful time when they returned twenty minutes later. “Michael showed me how he sticks the covers on books,” she said. “And he let me have a go.”
“I hope your dad didn’t mind Poppy disturbing his work,” Carrie said quietly to Layla when Poppy was out of earshot.
“Nah,” said Layla, laughing. “I’ve been messing up his work since I was born. It doesn’t bother him.”
It was soon time for lunch and to close the shop for an hour. “Layla and I can manage this afternoon,” Seren said. “You and Poppy go and have some fun.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. She’s picked everything up so quickly and I’m pretty much done in the office.”
“Thanks, that would be great,” said Carrie. “It’ll be nice to have a chance to explore a little bit.”
