She giggles. ‘I know he’s a bit rough around the edges nowadays, but I think he still looks divine.’
‘How’s Frank?’
Her groan is loud and dramatic. ‘I think I might be invisible. My fashion stylist is shocked he still hasn’t said anything about my outfits.’
‘Maybe you need to change fashion stylists?’
She casts me a horrified look. ‘That young woman is worth every penny.’
‘Shall we open up?’ I ask, trying my best to distract her.
‘Of course.’ She giggles, before hurrying over to the doors.
After serving a customer and observing a vision about how the love for his girlfriend will end when he catches her in bed with his… twin brother, I suck on a boiled sweet and wait for the sounds of the bookshop to come back.
I hear a familiar voice. ‘Hello.’ It causes a fluttering in my chest and compels me to glance up from tidying up the pens and notepads on the till. Oliver is here and is standing in front of the counter.
His hair has been tamed, his stubble has been tidied, and the beard has been removed. He’s swapped his T-shirt and worn-out jeans for a fitted blue shirt and beige trousers. He looks almost polished.
Miranda spots Oliver and squeals. She rushes over to greet him. He smiles and gives her a huge hug. I turn away as seeing others hug is difficult for me.
‘How’s my favourite bookshop owner?’ he exclaims as they break apart. Wow – he knows how to light Miranda up. She casts him a coy look and twirls her brown hair around her finger. ‘All the better for you seeing you, Oliver James.’
Two young women in the romance section look in our direction. Oh, God, they must have radars for ears. I watch as they hurry over. ‘OMG, it’s Oliver James,’ cries one, nudging the other who’s rummaging inside her bag. ‘Where is my sodding phone?’
Miranda slips her hand through the crook of Oliver’s arm. ‘He’s better in the flesh – isn’t he, ladies?’
The two women gaze adoringly at him, like he’s the lead singer of a boy band.
‘Oliver, come and see your books,’ says Miranda, dragging him away.
After taking a step, he turns back and does something I was not expecting – he smiles at me and not at the two women. My heart performs a somersault.
Miranda’s playful squeals and exuberant laughter echo throughout the bookshop. I can’t believe Oliver’s jokes are that funny.
I try to ignore what’s happening in the romance section and get on with my work.
‘Hello again.’ I look up to see Mr Ellis. He’s smiling at me. I haven’t even started hunting for his cookery book. ‘I’m still searching for your book, Mr Ellis.’ It’s a lie because I don’t know what else to say to him, and I’m still unsure about whether a copy of his wife’s beloved recipe book will help him.
‘Ah – good. I was walking past the shop and thought I would pop in.’
After he walks away, I write down his name on a scrap of paper and slide it into the back pocket of my jeans.
‘Excuse me,’ says a woman. ‘My name’s Alice. I’ve moved into the cottage next door. I’ve only been living here a few weeks.’
‘I’m Nelly. Nice to meet you, Alice.’
Alice looks like she’s around my age. She has dark hair pulled back into a ponytail and almond-shaped brown eyes. She surveys the bookshop. ‘This is a beautiful place. Living next door to a bookshop is going to be terrible for my bank account, as I love books. Are you the owner?’
‘No, Miranda is the owner, and she’s busy. Can I help at all?’
‘Do you live locally?’
I nod. ‘Yes, I do. Why?’
She points to the plastic bag she’s carrying. ‘I found this balloon in my garden last night.’
‘Balloon?’ I think of Amber.
