‘If you sit in my chair, you’re out.’ He shouldn’t have made me wait for the bathroom. I hear him chuckling from down the hallway, which, to my surprise, makes me smile.
The warm rays of a golden sun greet me as I step outside. On my way to the bookshop, I grab a takeaway coffee, and I’m about to turn onto the cobbled street where Once Upon a Spine is located when I spot a white handkerchief on the small wall. Someone must have found it and placed it there. The cluster of pink embroidered flowers on one corner and the stitched initials, J.C.E., make me stop. That belongs to Mr Ellis. The handkerchief belonged to his wife. He must be upset about losing this.
I pick it up and put it in my bag. When I get to work, I find his telephone number and call him. I don’t want him worrying.
‘Mr Ellis, it’s Nelly Blake from Once Upon a Spine bookshop.’
I hear a cough and a sneeze. ‘Hello, Nelly,’ croaks Mr Ellis. He sounds terrible.
‘You don’t sound well,’ I say.
He coughs again. ‘I’ve been poorly.’
‘I am ringing to say I’ve found your handkerchief.’
‘Oh, Nelly,’ he croaks. ‘I lost it yesterday on my way to the pharmacy, and I’ve had a sleepless night.’
‘Let me know your address and I’ll drop it over later.’
He erupts into a sneezing fit. After his sneezes have subsided, he provides me with his address and asks about the book. I feel a twinge of guilt. Mr Ellis has been here several times, and I’ve been so absorbed in my curse and Oliver that I haven’t even started searching for it. I need to do something to help him.
‘I am going to find it, Mr Ellis.’
We say goodbye, and I get to work searching for it. The bookshop is quiet, and Miranda isn’t coming in until this afternoon, so I have time to hunt forBarbara Plum’s Family Cookbook.
It’s mid-afternoon, and I haven’t had any success. None of my usual contacts in the local second-hand bookstores carry a copy. I’m beginning to lose hope.
Besides searching for the book, I’ve also been courageously reaching out and touching as many people as I can. My list of those affected by my curse is long, yet Oliver remains the only person whose interactions cause it to malfunction.
The doorbell jangles, and in walks Sam and his new wife. He grins at me as they head for the romance section and I watch as he places his hand on the small of her back, which makes her giggle. My heart aches. That could have been me with him if he hadn’t have kissed her behind my back. While his new wife browses the display table, he looks up at me and holds my gaze.
What does he want?
I need to ignore him.
Luckily, a woman asks me to find a copy of a travel book on Athens. After guiding her towards the travel section, I notice he’s still looking at me. His new wife is busy flicking through a book, unaware.
A familiar face appears at my counter and distracts me. It’s Rosie Flint, the author who came in here to do a talk on her book on magic, and it was her who gave me the bay leaf advice.
‘I saw you at the till and thought I’d pop in to see if the bay leaves worked for your friend… the one with the curse?’
I’m about to tell Rosie Flint the truth about how the bay leaves didn’t work, that my friend is still struggling with her curse, and she needs to rethink her magic advice, when Miranda rushes over to the counter. She arrived an hour ago looked flustered.
‘Rosie, I’m sorry to hear about your husband,’ she says. ‘How is he doing?’
Rosie smiles. ‘He’s still in the hospital, but we think he can come home in a few days. It’s been a stressful time for us all.’
‘I’m so pleased,’ says Miranda. ‘I did worry when I heard about his accident.’ She surveys the bags Rosie is carrying. ‘They look heavy.’
Rosie nods and drops the bags to the floor with a thud. ‘I’ve been sorting out his late mother’s house. She passed away a few months ago, and he’s been meaning to take things to the charity shop for weeks but never got round to it. I was at a loose end, so I thought I’d make a start.’
Sam is heading for the counter. Oh, God. ‘Can you help me find a book, Nelly?’ he asks.
Miranda gestures for me to help him as she’s busy talking to Rosie.
An uncomfortable feeling passes over me as he smiles, continuing, ‘I’ve forgotten where the psychology books are in here. Could you show me?’
I point to the far end of the shop. ‘On the back wall.’
