Page 58 of Snowflakes Over Micklewick Bay

If she wasn’t mistaken, his eyes looked full.

‘Don’t forget I had my Auntie Coll. She was an amazing woman, and I was so fortunate she and Uncle Len offered me a home.’

‘Puts my problems back home into perspective, that’s for sure.’

‘I’m happy to listen, if you’d like?’ How easily they’d fallen back into this, she thought.

‘Aye, I would like, but maybe not here, not tonight. Makes me a bit maudlin when I think about it and I don’t want to cast a cloud over everyone.’

‘I know how that feels.’ In the next moment, Hannah gasped. ‘Oh, heck! What’s the time?’

‘Argh! The reading!’ He pushed back the sleeve of his jacket. ‘It won’t have started, but we’d better head there now. Come on.’

After quickly thanking Pim for their tea, the pair left The Cellar. Lachie grabbed her hand and they ran all the way to the campervan where they deposited Roly, before rushing off to the bookshop.

THIRTY-FIVE

‘Just made it!’ Lachie gasped as they sat down in the two remaining empty seats on the back row. The quiet hum of conversation filled the air, infused with a feeling of excitement.

Hannah had spotted the lasses as she walked across the room, each of them giving her a wave. She stole a look around her. The reading room had been tastefully decorated to emulate a gentleman’s study, the walls painted a deep, rich red and adorned with vintage prints, a great bookcase bulging with old books standing against one.

They’d just got settled when the lights dimmed, instantly creating a cosy, intimate air. Hannah took in the two leather wing-back chairs set either side of a large table, an angled table lamp shining down on a book that was open but had been placed face down. Set against the wall behind that was a table piled high with books, a till beside them. The after-effects of her encounter with Polly still circulated around her body, though they were losing their intensity.

A rousing round of applause accompanied by whistles and cheers went up as Jack and Jenna walked in. They were wearing matching wide smiles. Jenna was in a floaty midi-dress in her trademark dusky pink, while a pair of black leather high-heeled boots adorned her feet. Jack was equally smartly dressed in a tweed jacket and olive green chinos.

‘Ey up, Jen, we’ve got a right rowdy bunch in tonight,’ Jack said, making the audience cheer even louder. ‘Florrie must’ve been selling the tickets cheap.’ His eyes crinkled as he gave a mischievous grin.

‘You can’t say that about our loyal customers, Jack, pet.’ Jenna’s melodic Geordie accent stood in stark contrast to Jack’s gravelly North Yorkshire brogue. ‘Take no notice, folks, he’s only joking.’ She gave one of the throaty giggles she was well known for.

‘Right then, you lot, we’ve got a couple of treats in store for you this evening. Jen here is going to give you a preview of her latest book, isn’t that right, lass?’

‘Uh-huh, that’s right. It’s not for sale yet, so you’re going to be the first people to hear the intro chapters.’

Another round of applause and cheering rang out.

‘And the pair of us will also be sharing some exciting news during the course of the evening. But to kick things off’ – Jack pulled a pair of glasses from the inside pocket of his jacket and slid them onto his nose – ‘we thought we’d do a joint reading of a few chapters of Jenn’s last rom-com, You Had Me at Chocolate Cake. And since it was a bestseller, I know you lot love it.’

From the enthusiastic clapping and cheering that ensued, Jack was right, it was a popular choice.

Soon the audience were roaring with laughter as the pair took to their roles with great gusto, Jack’s facial expressions as entertaining as ever. Hannah couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed so hard. Lachie, sitting beside her, had been roaring with laughter too, his shoulders shaking hard.

With the readings over and done with, the authors moved on to the news they had to share.

‘So, Jack and me have been approached by the local television station to see if we’d be interested in presenting a series focusing on local gems.’

A wave of ‘oohs’ rippled around the audience.

‘And when we say gems, it can be places, people, local food. Owt really,’ said Jack. ‘And the gem we’re going to start with is none other than our beloved Happy Hartes Bookshop.’

That went down a storm with the audience and Jack struggled to get calm restored.

‘We haven’t got all the final details yet, but as soon as we have them, we’ll let you know,’ said Jenna.

‘And if any of you fancy getting your fizzog on telly, you know where to come.’ Jack gave a gravelly cackle.

‘That was fantastic,’ said Lachie. He and Hannah were standing outside the bookshop. Birdie was still inside chatting to Jean. They’d only stopped talking once the reading had started, and resumed their chat straight after.

‘It was.’ Hannah nodded.