Six hours after she flops into bed, her alarm goes off again, and she rubs her eyes, discombobulated, before she realises it’s Wednesday morning and the alarm is so early because it would normally be time for a piano lesson. She wiggles her fingers, vaguely scale-like, in tribute to that particular dream, dead in the water. Or maybe not. Maybe she’ll find another teacher. She was quite enjoying getting to know music theory and bashing out the odd tune. Okay, so a large part of the enjoyment was Sam’s breath on her neck, his general proximity, the beckoning of that sofa bed. But without those distractions, maybe she’ll stand a chance of actually becoming a better piano player rather than a constantly distracted one.
She’s awake now; she might as well get up. She’s not going to get back to sleep after the screeching of her alarm and now, of course, intruding thoughts of Sam. She reaches for her phone and opens her email app. There’s an email from Tessa, ostensibly a reply to hers– she was up late too, replied at midnight– full of enthusiasm. But it’s an unmistakable compliment sandwich, the universally recognised tool of the emotionally intelligent who have bad news to deliver.Love these brilliant ideas!it starts andSo great to see the enthusiasm for romance!it ends, and in between:If you’ve got a chance to talk today, I have something I need to tell you.
Lexi’s stomach drops. This isn’t good. She’s lost her, probably: her fifty-cent pay rise, ill-advised and forbidden by her accountant, definitely wasn’t enough to cover the increase in Tessa’s rent, even with the extra hours. She’s been doing extra marketing, spending ages battling algorithms and making TikTok and Instagram reels. Engagement stats are up and looking good. The shop can’t afford to lose her. But the shop couldn’t afford to keep her, either, and now look.
Sure, she writes.I’ll be in early today. 10a.m., before your shift starts?
Lexi lies back down, snuggles under the covers. She’s so tempted to stay there for a while. But she channels her grandmother, her endless energy that kept the shop going for forty years.
Needs must.
Chapter Forty
When Lexi walks into the shop and locks eyes with Tessa, her suspicions are confirmed. Tessa looks sad and guilty, and is already pulling on the ends of her cardigan sleeves.Here we go, Lexi thinks.Be kind, she tells herself. Tessa loves working here; she’s only leaving because she has no choice, and she gave Lexi forewarning.Be a good boss to the end, she tells herself.Be nice.
‘Do you want to do this in the office?’ Lexi asks Tessa. ‘Or we could go and grab a coffee?’
Tessa’s eyes light up a little. Understandably, the prospect of good coffee is hard to resist. But she swallows and says, ‘Your office is fine. It won’t take long anyway.’
Lexi’s heart is in her throat as she walks down the steps ahead of her. When they get to the office, close the door, and sit down, she decides to save Tessa the trouble of saying the words.
‘So, Tessa, what’s up? Are you leaving us?’
She bites her upper lip and nods. The tears come immediately. ‘I’m sorry. I love this place. But...’
‘Capitalism,’ Lexi says gently. ‘Love of a job doesn’t pay the bills.’
She nods again.
‘So is this your two weeks’ notice?’ Lexi tries to swallow her panic. Her sadness, too.
‘Yes.’
‘Okay.’ Lexi reaches out and squeezes her shoulder. ‘It’s okay, you know. I understand. I just wish I could have done more to keep you. You’ve been a real asset to the shop.’
‘Thank you for saying that,’ Tessa replies, studying her sandals, her fresh pedicure, the kind you get done for an interview.
‘Did you find a good new job at least?’
‘Yes.’
Lexi waits. Does Tessa not want to tell her? Is there a reason she doesn’t want to tell her?
Oh.
Oh no.
‘Is it another bookshop?’
‘Yes,’ she says. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘It’s okay,’ Lexi tells her. But of course it isn’t. And of course– ofcourse– she doesn’t need to ask which other bookshop.
She is going to kill him.
She is going to kill him with her own bare hands, if that’s what it takes.
Chapter Forty-One
