Page 114 of The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery

‘Maddie, we have to go,’ Theo says. ‘Our train goes in less than an hour.’

‘Couldn’t you stay the night?’ Louise says.

Theo shakes his head. ‘I bought tickets for an exhibition at the National tomorrow, remember? My parents are joining us.’

And Maddie, who normally loves an exhibition, looks crestfallen. ‘You booked it for tomorrow? Could we not get a later train?’

He shakes his head. ‘Not on the tickets I’ve bought.’

Louise hugs Maddie, whispering, ‘Come home soon. Thank you for everything. I’ll miss you.’

It’s true. She will. They’ve gone from an awkward stepmother–stepdaughter relationship, to a deep friendship. Or even, Louise thinks, to something resembling a mother–daughter relationship. She doesn’t know what it feels like to be a mum, but can’t imagine loving Maddie more than she does right now.

‘I’ll miss you too,’ Maddie says. ‘I’m still sad, you know, that Dad didn’t come.’

‘I know. You could show him the photos?’

‘Yeah, I will.’

And he’d better at least feign interest, Louise thinks. For Maddie’s sake.

She offers Theo her hand. He shakes it stiffly. And then they are gone.

‘What a shame,’ Tom says.

‘That they had to go early?’ Louise says.

‘Yeah, and that.’ He pauses for a moment, then says, ‘Did you ever find out who sent that horrible stuffed toy dog?’

Louise shakes her head. ‘No, not yet. Probably never will.’

‘A stuffed toy dog?’ Sheila seems surprised. ‘With a knife in it? Covered in red paint?’

‘Yeah.’ Louise is baffled. ‘How d’you know? Did you…? Oh, you got one too.’

‘Certainly did. Did you report it?’

‘No, I didn’t bother,’ Louise says. ‘I didn’t think the police would be interested. Bit of a prank from a disgruntled reader.’

‘I reported it,’ Sheila says. ‘Turns out the death threats and the stuffed toy all came from the same man. The police have given him a warning. He sent one to the publishers too.’

‘Was he… do you think he could be violent? Actually try and carry out his threat?’ Louise feels suddenly anxious, especially at the thought that she’ll be living alone in the flat now Maddie’s gone.

‘No, they don’t seem to think so. He’s just a bit of an oddball. Someone who really needs help, but who’s slipped through the cracks in the system.’ Sheila sighs. ‘They didn’t tell me much, but he still lives with his mum and she was furious with him when she found out. The police think that’s the end of the matter, Louise. I don’t think you need to worry.’

‘I hope not,’ Louise says.

‘If you’re ever scared, I’m just down the road,’ Tom says. ‘I can give you my mobile number. You can call any time. Day or night.’

She smiles at him, gratefully, then thinks of Maddie. Why would anyone opt for Theo when Tom clearly has the hots for them?

And then she hears a loud voice from outside. Someone is standing right by the snow-covered window.

‘It was my son’s idea, you know, to create all these magical little spaces here in the garden, rather than building an extension on the main building, which would be what most people would do. I’m so proud of him. His mother and I always knew he’d do something creative. From the earliest age, we could see he had talent.’

Louise moves nearer to the window, and glances out. As she suspected, it is Richard, with the proudest look on his face. She suspects that the conversation with his father isn’t going to be as difficult as Jack thinks.

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