“Anytime. Now, I’d better get back to Mary’s house so I can start cooking. I’ll steal her away as well if you’re OK closing up the shop.”
“Of course,” said Carrie, before calling, “Pumpkin, do you want to come and shut up the bookshop with me before we go round to Michael’s to give Layla her presents?”
Poppy came running down the stairs. “Yes, please!”
Carrie’s aunt and mum headed off. There were a couple of customers in the store and Carrie listened to Poppy chat away to them as the little girl busied herself tidying up the displays and plumping up cushions on the armchairs.
Carrie straightened out bookmarks and postcards while trying not to think that this was the last time she’d be doing this.
The customers were in no hurry to leave at closing so Carrie let them have a few extra minutes to choose their purchases, enjoying seeing how excited they were to visit. They were from New York and were staying in London but had travelled to Cornwall to visit her aunt’s shop, visiting Bath for its Jane Austen connections along the way. As they took selfies and exclaimed over Seren’s drawings, it reinforced for Carrie just how special this bookshop was and how very lucky she’d been to be able to be a part of it this summer.
Finally, the tourists paid and left and Poppy locked the shop door ceremoniously. “Even though we’ll be unlocking it again to go to Michael’s house,” she pointed out.
Carrie laughed. “We’ll go out the back door so as not to spoil the effect of you doing the final close up of our summer.”
“I really hope Layla likes the card I made her,” said Poppy, carefully carrying Layla’s card and presents, as they went out of the shop’s rear entrance and into the garden.
“She will! It’s got all the cats on it!”
“I’m glad that Katniss is going to be staying with Michael and Layla and that Auntie Mary is going to have another one of the kittens. I hope the last kitten finds a good home.”
“Me too. I know Michael and Layla will make sure she goes to a lovely person.”
They went into Michael’s garden and were greeted by Monty.
“Be careful, Monty!” Poppy scolded as he jumped up at her. “You don’t want to squish Layla’s presents!”
Monty didn’t look the least bit sorry for his behaviour.
Layla came out to say hi.
“Happy early birthday, sweetheart,” said Carrie, giving her a hug.
“I can’t believe you won’t be coming to my party,” Layla said as she hugged her back.
“I know. I’m so sorry,” Carrie replied. “It sounds like it’s going to be so fun.”
Layla also gave Poppy a hug and accepted her cards and presents. “I love the card!” she said, immediately. “No way did you draw this all by yourself, Pops!”
“I did,” said Poppy proudly.
“Is it OK if I keep the presents to open until my actual birthday?” Layla asked.
“Of course,” said Carrie.
“I think you’re really going to like them,” whispered Poppy.
They went inside the house and Layla put her gifts and card on the kitchen table. Michael came into the kitchen and also made a fuss over Poppy’s card. Poppy went into the utility room with Carrie to check on Tabitha and the kittens.
“You guys are going to be so big when I see you next,” Poppy said to them. “I hope they remember me, Mummy.”
“Of course they will,” Carrie assured her.
It was painful watching Poppy saying goodbye to the kittens, but thankfully she was excited to be going to have dinner at Auntie Mary’s house and that seemed to distract her.
They got into Michael’s car and he drove them all to Auntie Mary’s house.
“It was so kind of your aunt to invite us as well,” said Michael as they went in.
