Page 95 of The Secret Holiday Kiss

‘But a tiny, special section,’ she said. ‘Then we’d get proper stock in from Gardner’s, have all the departments – non-fiction, memoir, art and design. Paperbacks and hardbacks, special editions, romance and thriller, romantasy and sci-fi and historical. Imagine a new improved version of The Book Ends, here on Perpendicular Street again.’ She thought of what Avery had said. ‘And it’s not that I don’t think Mistingham is good enough, that I want to come here and improve everything. It’s not about that, but—’

‘Hey.’ Harry put a hand on her shoulder. ‘I know that. Avery knows that. And this building would be so much better as a thriving shop instead of a decrepit, empty space in the middle of the main street, bringing the mood down. It’s a great idea, I have thought about it a lot, and if I cut down my consulting work, then maybe.’ He shook his head. ‘But it’s a big thing, running a successful shop – I’m learning that from Sophie. I was never involved when Dad was in charge of this place, so it’s not like I have experience, and before we even opened it, there would be so much to do to get the building usable again.’

‘I know,’ she said. ‘It would be a huge project, but it would also be exciting, right?’

‘Why are you so interested in me reopening the bookshop all of a sudden?’

Daisy looked out over the village green, the people eagerly following the treasure hunt clues, the queue outside Dexter’s bakery, the oak tree still sparkling and impressive despite the props holding it up.

‘You were right about Mistingham,’ she said, turning back to her brother. ‘It’s thriving and it’s beautiful, and I wish I’d realized it years ago. It’s not sad or lonely or bleak, that was just how I was feeling; it wasn’t anything to do with the place. And I think … Dad loved the bookshop. Mum did too, before …’

‘Yes,’ Harry said gruffly. ‘They both loved it.’

‘So what if it stayed in the family, and we reopened it and we … we brought it back to life?’

‘We?’ he laughed. ‘Daisy, you have your own business in London. You could call and offer me moral support, talk through any issues. But I don’t know if Sophie and I could manage two shops, even if they are next door to each other.’

Daisy nodded, stuck on the action like a dog on the parcel shelf of a car. This was the moment: no going back. She glanced down the road, could see a tiny sliver of the sparkling sea in the distance, and felt her heart lift. She faced Harry.

‘What if I came back to help run it?’

‘You mean for regular visits?’

‘No, I mean permanently. Think what an amazing project it would be, restoring this place and turning it into a modern, moreish bookshop? I could do window displays, change things around all the time. I’ve been running my own business – a service business, not retail, so I would need to go on some courses, do a lot of research, but I could learn. I could get tips from Fiona and Sophie, and … I could sell the flat.’

‘The one you’ve just bought?’

‘The one I’ve just bought,’ Daisy said with a laugh. Saying it out loud, it felt right: exciting and terrifying, but exactly what she wanted to do. ‘You might need to put me up for a bit, at the manor. I know it’s your and Sophie’s home, but—’

‘It’s yours, too,’ Harry said. ‘It was left to both of us, and we haven’t had the discussion about me buying you out, or—’

‘Well, now you won’t have to,’ she said. ‘Not for a while, anyway.’ She waved a hand. ‘That’s a concern so far down the list it’s not even on the first page. Or the second. As long as I can have my room for now?’

‘For as long as you want.’ Harry sounded – and looked – stunned. ‘You’re moving back?’

‘I love it here,’ she admitted. ‘So much more than my flat. And all those hotels abroad? I’ve done that now; it feels like a past life. I can help Lars with his café, then I can focus on the bookshop. I can do Mary and Winnie’s interior design, if they want me to, if Avery is happy for me to.’

‘Avery,’ Harry murmured, shaking his head. ‘Avery will be overjoyed.’

‘Avery isn’t talking to me.’

‘Because he thinks you’re leaving.’

‘He might still not want to—’

‘He cares about you, Daisy. Anyone can see that. Even Felix is clued up on how much he likes you.’

Daisy pressed her lips together. She couldn’t let herself believe that, not until she’d spoken to him. ‘And if I want to keep my hand in, there will be other places in Mistingham, other places in Norfolk that need someone with interior design skills—’

‘There’s a lot left to finish at the manor.’

‘It looks great, Harry. You’ve done a brilliant job.’

‘I was thinking about turning the loft into something.’

‘I can help with that.’

‘And my binding room could use some work.’