‘That sounds like a plan.’
Faye pulled the bag from behind her, the bag which she’d had on over her hoodie. It was one of those small backpacks that almost sat flush against the body so she couldn’t have much inside. She took out a bottle of water, some tissues, a book. ‘Why does whatever you need fall to the bottom?’ But she soon added a gleeful smile when she retrieved her phone from the bag’s depths.
She tapped away on the phone screen for a few seconds. ‘I’ve messaged her.’
A bleep came almost as soon as Faye put her phone on the arm of the chair. She picked it up again. ‘Margot is on her way. I told her that I’ve fallen off my bike and need a hand getting home, and that my helmet is somewhere near the bike rack down the hill.’ She smiled. ‘We’ve not known each other that long, at least not in person, so it’s really nice that she’s coming.’
‘Howard told me you were a closeknit bunch in the book club.’
‘We are. And we miss him so much already.’
But Bonnie wasn’t listening because she’d noticed the paperback on Faye’s lap, the book that had been pulled from her bag in search of her phone.Wildby Cheryl Strayed. And it had the same little tear in the bottom right-hand corner of the cover that she recognised.
‘Bonnie?’ Faye’s voice came into her psyche softly. ‘Are you okay?’
‘I should be asking you that,’ Bonnie replied.
‘You look like you’ve seen a ghost.’
‘It’s just… that book…’
‘This?’ Faye held it up. ‘I grabbed it from the telephone box library and left one in its place.’
Bonnie put a hand against her chest. ‘Does it have an inscription inside?’
Confused, Faye opened it up. ‘It does.’ She read it out: ‘“From Miriam, safe travels”. Wait, how did you…’
‘It was Howard’s.’
Faye looked at the book, placed her palm on the front cover. ‘Then I feel honoured to have it. But… if you want it back, I will totally understand.’
‘Oh no. Howard loved leaving books in the telephone box library – you keep it.’
‘I will treasure it.’ Faye looked once again at the cover. ‘What was the story behind the inscription?’
‘Miriam worked with Howard in the civil service. When he retired she knew that he and I planned to travel one day when I stopped working, so she bought him that for inspiration.’ Bonnie rolled her eyes. ‘I’m not quite sure what she thought we would be doing – I haven’t read it but by the sounds of it, I’m lucky he wasn’t so inspired that I ended up long-distance hiking and sleeping under canvas.’
Faye’s laughter filled the walls of the cottage and it was so delightful Bonnie found herself feeling happier than she had in a long while.
Faye told her, ‘I’ll take care of the book and put it back in the telephone box when I’ve finished. Someone else can enjoy it then.’
‘Howard would’ve liked that. He was of the view that libraries of any kind lead you to find some of the most interesting titles around, books you’d never think to read.’
‘I’m inclined to agree with him,’ said Faye.
A warmth settled inside her. ‘Howard told me that reading what you and some of the other members recommended made him feel younger.’
‘He said that?’
‘I believe he even used the word “hip”.’ She chuckled.
‘He was veryhipin his pyjamas each week.’
That had Bonnie laughing even more until a knock at the door interrupted them. ‘You finish your tea; I’ll get that.’
She stood back to let Margot, who was holding what had to be Faye’s bike helmet, in, out of the cold. ‘I’ll let Faye explain,’ she said as Margot wiped her feet on the mat. And feeling lost as to what else to do she offered Margot a cup of tea after she pointed her in the direction of the back room.
She’d trapped herself now. They’d at least be here until Margot finished her drink. But was she a tiny bit glad about that?
