Jigging on the spot, Clive ignored her, instead asking, ‘Is everyone here?’
Effie wanted to shrink into herself as Maddie performed a head count.
‘Me, Zoey and Effie, so yes, unless you’re expecting someone else?’
Clive checked his watch. ‘Only Zach.’
Effie and Maddie exchanged a glance. Zach had been a thorn in Effie’s side whenever he decided to grace the shop with his glowering presence. Thankfully, he was rarely present, only dipping in and out in-between travelling or pursuing his next mad scheme. Maddie just thought he was a spoiled brat, living off his dad’s hard-earned money and that was why he was rude, but Effie knew differently.
‘What’s up?’ Zach asked, as he stepped into the room, taking up all the remaining space. He ran a hand through his hair, the stubble on his face more from laziness than style as he cast his eyes around the room, narrowing them at Effie.
She tried not to squirm under his scrutiny, but it was difficult, they had history she’d rather forget. They’d been at school together. He’d been the popular head of the football team, all the girls had swarmed around him, but still, he hadn’t been able to leave Effie alone. It was like her indifference challenged him. He’d enjoyed taunting her quiet bookish ways, but even though his cruel jibes had cut deeply, she’d never allowed him to see how much he’d affected her.
She hadn’t known he was Clive’s son until she’d been working at the shop a few months and Zach had waltzed in like he owned the place, destroying a display Effie had spent hours working on. Her heart had jumped at the sight of her teenage adversary but once again, she refused to let on that he was getting to her. The sly looks, the undermining of her efforts, were all tiresome, at least going to Polcarrow, she’d be out of his way. Effie just feared that her promotion would unleash a new level of torment.
Effie reached for a pink glazed doughnut and nibbled nervously, avoiding catching Maddie’s eye. Maddie had been trying all week to wheedle out of Effie why she’d been in Clive’s office on Monday morning. Effie was exhausted with the constant dodging of questions. Lying wasn’t in her nature, and she’d started to run out of excuses.
‘Right, OK.’ Clive clapped his hands together. ‘You’ve all got a doughnut? Good.’ He offered the box to Zach, who shook his head.
Maddie rolled her eyes at Effie, who buried her face in her cup of tea. Why on earth was Clive so nervous? He wasn’t the one moving across the county to open a new shop.
‘Anyway, the reason I’ve gathered you all here is that I’m expanding the business. A property has come up for rent in Polcarrow and I’ve taken on the lease. As the longest reigning member of staff, I’ve asked Effie to go over and set the shop up. Effie has such a good vision when it comes to this shop, so she’s perfect for setting up a new one. I’m excited to see what she has in store. So, if we could all raise our, erm, cups.’ Clive lifted his branded Books by the Sea mug.
Maddie and Zoey followed suit, chinking their mugs against Effie’s, both looking as baffled as they had when they’d come into the staffroom.
‘Sorry I didn’t discuss this with you all, but I wasn’t sure if I’d get the lease and I didn’t want to get everyone’s hopes up. I considered asking all of you, but Effie has the least commitments,’ he explained awkwardly.
‘No hard feelings, Clive,’ Zoey reassured him as she helped herself to another doughnut. ‘Although sometimes I’d love to get away from my two, Effie is your best bet.’ Zoey worked part-time in the shop whilst her two children, Isaac and Caitlin, were at school. She regularly claimed she came to work for a rest and a hot cup of coffee.
Relieved that Zoey and Maddie hadn’t caused an uproar over her promotion, Effie watched as Clive let out a sigh of relief and asked if anyone had any questions. Everyone shook their heads.
Effie caught Zach’s eye. He looked as if the wind had been knocked out of him. ‘Dad, what . . . How is this fair? I thought—’
‘We’ll discuss this in private.’ Clive threw him a look before turning back to the others. ‘There’s plenty more doughnuts, please eat up.’ Clive beat a hasty retreat, Zach hot on his heels.
The three women exchanged glances as the staffroom door slammed behind Zach.
Maddie, mouth full of doughnut, turned to Effie and mumbled, ‘Pub, later. Looks like you have a lot to fill me in on and we have some celebrating to do!’
Grinning, Effie nodded. ‘We certainly do.’
‘So, spill the beans,’ Maddie demanded as she plonked Effie’s pint of cider in front of her, followed by a bag of cheese and onion crisps.
They were in their favourite pub, all old beams, rickety floors and crammed to the rafters with seafaring memorabilia. Effie liked to imagine smugglers gathering in the darker corners. Being so old and warped, the pub had its obligatory ghost stories, although Effie had never had even the slightest spooky experience.
Effie took a fortifying, delaying sip and reached for the crisps, tearing into them as she sorted out what she was going to say to her friend and colleague. Maddie’s direct, no-nonsense manner made Effie feel as if she was constantly having to defend herself. They’d become great friends in the four years they’d worked together, bonding over a love of historical fiction and post-work Friday night pints. As Effie realised she would miss her and their little rituals, a cold sense of dread crept down her spine. She had made the right decision, hadn’t she? The locals would be friendly, wouldn’t they?
Effie opened her mouth but Maddie interrupted with, ‘And I want to know what actually happened. Were you expecting this? We had no idea Clive was thinking of opening another shop.’ Maddie sat back and took a sip of her red wine, a suspicious look in her eye.
‘I had no idea either until he called me into his office on Monday morning.’ Effie explained what had happened during their discussion. ‘You know I’ve always wanted my own bookshop and this feels as close to that dream as possible. Look—’ she pulled her phone out and showed Maddie photos she’d googled of Polcarrow ‘—isn’t it adorable?’
Maddie flicked through them. ‘Totally.’
‘You’re not upset I was offered the job instead of you, are you?’
Maddie shook her head. ‘No, well, maybe a tiny bit, but I can’t really up sticks and move like you can, anyway, I just want to come in, shelve some books, chat to some customers and go home. It’s always been more a calling than a job with you, Effie. Clive made the right decision.’
Effie gave her friend a squeeze. ‘Thank you. I’ll miss you though. It might be a bit lonely by myself.’
