‘Oh, then it’s even lovelier to meet you,’ said Iris. ‘And welcome to Driftwick Bay.’ She excused herself to go over and help a man who was in the section dedicated to thrillers. Faye had noticed him when she came in because he kept looking over as if he wasn’t sure what he was doing.
When the door to the bookshop opened a couple of minutes after their arrival Faye wasn’t sorry to see Theo coming inside. And when he smiled her way she felt the same flutter she’d had when they bumped into each other on the beach.
She focused on Midas instead, who must have been in his basket behind the counter but emerged at the sight of his owner. It was easier to focus on the dog than look at Theo although he was busy anyway ushering a group of children inside.
There had to be at least ten kids here and they obviously all knew Midas because after Theo greeted his loyal pet, little hands reached out to the dog, who let them stroke his coat, around his ears, give him cuddles.
‘You’re a teacher,’ she said to Theo after Iris had said hello to her son and he’d instructed the kids that they must be quiet and well behaved and they were to go over to the story corner.
‘I sure am. I work at the local primary school.’
‘How old are this lot?’
‘Mostly six-year-olds; some of them have turned seven.’
Faye could imagine him in front of a class, especially a class in this age group. He had a way about him, a patience and a kindness. It felt, even though she didn’t know him, that he might want to make a difference for people who needed it. It wasn’t something Faye had known before, certainly not with Brad.
A cute little girl with red hair in plaits came to Theo’s side and tugged on his arm, but when Midas trotted back to the story corner with her it was clear it was the dog she really wanted.
Theo explained, ‘That was Amelia. She won’t read out loud to anyone but Midas.’ He gently reprimanded two overexcited little boys running circles around a book stand.
‘She reads to a dog?’ Faye asked quietly.
‘Give them a minute to settle, but you’ll see.’ And then he was back to his job.
Faye looked around for Margot and spotted her standing in the self-help section. Faye wouldn’t mind betting she was looking forward to reinventing herself after being trapped in a marriage for so long, playing the role of wife and mother with little else in the way of friends or closeness.
She turned back to watch Theo with the kids and indeed, there was Midas lying next to Amelia who had opened up a book on her lap and was reading.
Iris leaned in and confided, ‘Amelia is one of many children who don’t like to read out loud to a class or to their peers. It sounds strange but dogs don’t judge, they sit and listen, they won’t make fun.’
‘How long has Midas been a therapy dog?’
‘For a few years now. My daughter has special needs and her therapy dog, Roxie, was a godsend for her. Theo already had Midas and when he saw how Beth was helped with Roxie by her side, he decided that Midas might be a good candidate to go through the training. He passed with flying colours of course, then started working at the school some days and here on others.’
‘He seems really content,’ said Faye, her focus at the back of the shop.
‘Midas or Theo?’ Iris asked.
Faye turned to see the light layer of amusement on Theo’s mum’s face. She only hoped she wasn’t blushing. ‘Midas, of course.’
‘Well, I wasn’t sure.’
Iris went off to sweep the floor by the entrance and Faye watched Amelia close her book and join the group of children on the rug. She realised she might be staring a little bit too much, so gave Theo a nod and went over to Margot who was engrossed in a book about changing your career.
‘Find anything you like?’ Faye asked her.
‘I can’t seem to narrow down a choice.’ She put the title she had hold of back and looked over at the group of children. ‘Aren’t they cute?’
‘Very.’ Faye picked up a book near the window and noticed the same man who had been in the thriller section earlier peering in through the window. He didn’t seem to be looking at the books, but at her.
She turned away, uneasy.
‘Watching these children reminds me of when the boys were really little,’ Margot shared. ‘When Sebastian was at school, I’d go in to hear him and other kids read. I did the same with Alistair too. I really enjoyed it.’
‘Why don’t you try teaching?’ Faye suggested.
‘I don’t really think it’s me.’
