‘Aye, of course. I’m not knocking you for wanting to be positive and to clear your head…sorry, your negativity attic. Where did you get it?’
‘Oh, at this gift shop in the village. It was so cute, and the owner was lovely…’
Jamie swallowed so hard Alicia wondered if he had a baby potato caught in his throat. Or something bigger. A sackful of potatoes?
‘She invited me to an event with the author,’ Alicia added. ‘This week at the local bookshop. There’s going to be nibbles and mulled wine. We could make a night of it... Jamie?’
‘What? Sorry?’
‘You’re miles away. Are you okay?’
‘Um…yeah, I’m fine. So, what is this event then?’ He pulled over the flyer she had put on the table.
‘Would you not rather do something at home?’ he asked. ‘We could have Dawn and Tony over for dinner. Or Sean and Nate. They both have puppies.’
While this sounded endearing, Alicia knew the answer had to be no. ‘I’m a sucker for a puppy as much as the next girl but it would be good to get out, do something different. I don’t want my new normal to be hiding inside. You aren’t ashamed of me, are you?’
‘What? Are you insane? I’d dance through the streets in tartan underpants with you, if you were up for it. I’m only a little hesitant because… Well, look, the lady that runs the gift shop…that’s Katie, my ex.’
‘Oh! Oh, I see.’ A bowling ball dropped into Alicia’s gut. ‘I’m sorry. I’m not quite used to living in such a small place.’
‘You’ve nothing to apologise for. I just want you to be fully informed when we go to the book signing.’ Jamie's eyes searched Alicia's face, his hopeful expression betraying his wish that she might reconsider attending the event now that she had this information.
‘We don’t have to go, Jamie. I would never have suggested it if I’d have known.’
She had given Jamie an out, but he didn’t take it. ‘It’s fine,’ he said. ‘We can’t hide away forever. Best get on with things. That is, if you’re comfortable with the situation. Plus, you want to learn about clearing out your negativity attic, right?’
‘I’m more interested in seeing inside lots of those quaint Kinshore buildings, and this seems like the perfect opportunity.’
‘Alright,’ he said with more enthusiasm than Aliciasuspected he felt, ‘let’s go to the signing and afterwards I’ll take you to dinner at the distillery restaurant.’
She smiled at the thought. Spending a brief time at the bookshop and then enjoying a private dinner with Jamie sounded like a perfect evening.
Chapter 27
Alicia
Afew evenings later, Jamie held Alicia’s hand as they strolled to the bookshop. Above them, the town’s Christmas lights twinkled merrily while their breath billowed out in puffs in the cold air. Jamie felt like he was in a Christmas movie.
‘How are you feeling?’ Alicia asked.
‘I’m great.’ He squeezed her hand reassuringly. ‘I’m looking forward to showing you some of the village nightlife and having a glass of mulled wine.’ He truly was, not to mention surprised that his enthusiasm for taking Alicia on a night out had surpassed his concern that part of it would be spent in the vicinity of his ex.
‘There’s still time to back out,’ she reminded him.
‘Aye, I know. You’ll love the bookshop.’
Jamie was right. As they entered the premises and a little bell chimed, he could tell Alicia was enchanted. The Christmas decorations in the bookshop never failed to charm. There were fairy lights strung across shelves and the ceilings and up the staircase to the mezzanine. Sprigs of holly and mistletoe garnished tables where colourful bookswere piled, and the smell of freshly printed paperbacks mingled with the cinnamon and clove spice of mulled wine.
Alicia gazed around in awe. ‘This is magical! And they have big, plush armchairs to sit in and read. It’s book lovers’ heaven!’
‘There are booths upstairs,’ Jamie nodded to the mezzanine. ‘When we were kids, my siblings and I used to sit in them and read. Well, I looked at the pictures and wondered why the words were jumping all over the page. It’s a special place alright.’ He was imbued with an inner peace whenever he was in this bookshop and being here now at this special time of year with Alicia only intensified that calm. Thank goodness this place wasn’t owned by Frank or anyone linked to him. He didn’t fancy being turfed out for not being the ‘right vibe of customer’.
Unfortunately, though, Frank was in attendance. As was Katie, along with some of their cronies from the spiritual book club. Thankfully new non-spiritual book club attendees were also filtering through the door. Jamie couldn’t help but think, cynically, that a lot of folk were here only for the free mulled wine. Speaking of which, he grabbed two glasses and took Alicia to a spot near the door. If they could stand at the back and mind their own business, this could be an enjoyable evening.
But no such luck. Katie had spied them and was slinking through the small crowd. As if in slow motion, Jamie watched her face computing everything. The customer she’d served in the shop – a Hollywood star – and her own ex-partner. She might claim to be spiritually balanced but Katie had a small-village hunger for gossip hardwired from birth. He had to force himself not to hold Alicia’s waist any tighter. It would only alarm her.
To give Katie her dues, she pretended notto be flabbergasted, but Jamie could read most of her facial expressions – except, of course, the one that said I’m having an affair and about to leave you for another man.
