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‘Likely story,’ Daniel replied. ‘Your delivery has arrived – and I know you can’t resist poking around in a box.’

Ooh. With some of the income from the antique books she’d sold, Noémi had invested in a few more things for the shop. Inspired by Shay always being on the move, she’d ordered audiobook gift cards, which she’d display on a new, prettily painted carousel. There were also cosy Gruffalo-themed floor cushions for the children’s area, which would go nicely with the woodland-inspired net canopy Prisha was making. And, of course, a range of items for the new bookish gifts corner – because who could resist a reusable canvas bag that said 100% book nerd?

It felt a bit daunting, buying things in when she was meant to be safeguarding every penny to make sure she could keep their beloved bookshop afloat and pay for her mum’s safe and happy home. But you had to speculate to accumulate, and the Christmas countdown was on. Shoppers would be buying, and she had to stock up with gorgeous things and make everything inviting.

Noémi popped her coat on and used the delivery as a welcome excuse to step out into the street.

‘Blind date with a book,’ said Texan Jim, making Noémi jump. He was standing just outside the shop door, Goatrude taking the opportunity to headbutt her in the bottom in her oh-so-adorable way.

Noémi edged away and gave the goat’s furry head a fuss. ‘Yes, that’s right. Available soon, if you’re interested?’

‘Who do I get to go on a date with?’

Noémi laughed. ‘Oh no, it’s not …’

‘Aye, I heard about this,’ said Carrie, apparently on her way to the craft emporium, probably to bend some spoons. ‘Have you got any Hottie Totty on your list? I’ll have a date with one of those.’

‘You don’t get to …’

‘That’s a good idea,’ said Mr Ham, who’d been cleaning his shop window but had come over for a nosy. ‘Haven’t been on a date in years.’

Noémi held up her hands. ‘I’m not offering a matchmaking service. You just buy a book before seeing what it is. It’s wrapped in brown paper.’

‘No man?’ Carrie cocked her head.

‘It would be better if there was,’ said Daniel, coming out of the shop behind Noémi and managing to dodge the goat’s advances.

Noémi spotted the head of a human-sized Yule log cresting over the brow of the hill and cut the conversation short before Shay could wonder what she’d invited him to take part in. She hid her mild disappointment that he was busy with his adventurers and got on with accepting her delivery.

It wasn’t long before she was back in the shop, enjoying the peaceful task of making a pyramid of mugs that read Talk Darcy to Me, which would surely sell like hotcakes. Tommaso was busy with a flurry of customers at the till, having honed his giftwrapping skills. Daniel was packing online orders of books and ‘Cosy Up with a Book’ boxes to take to the post office. Mrs Jingleman was sitting in a chair reading a book for free, as usual, and looking grumpy that Felix wasn’t around to fluff her cushions.

Yesterday, Noémi had hosted the very first Choose Your Own Adventure Book Club, which, to her relief, had seen the shop bustling with new and familiar faces – everyone enjoying their own choice of book with a lot of Christmas cookies and no arguments. They’d decided to put off any walking tours until better weather, because Noémi had no intention of being in charge of anyone’s snowshoes. But everyone had put their names down for the next gathering after Christmas and had bought more books to read, based on other people’s recommendations. Her No Shelf Control T-shirts had gone down a storm.

If she could just keep this up, they were in with a chance, weren’t they? Daniel’s encouraging smile from across the room told her he was right there with his pompoms. Because they would make this a better Christmas. The alternative did not bear thinking about.

Noémi’s next task was to email people about the Christmas Eve meal and Book Flood, then she would pull the blackboard in and write the details on there too.

The Christmas Eve plans were somehow coming together in a haze of menus and lists. Many of the shop owners – from their street and the main village – had offered to bring food and drink, so hopefully it wouldn’t cost a small fortune. Barbara was taking charge of the children’s nativity play, which seemed to involve a surprising number of dinosaurs.

The events for Christmas Eve were free, as a way of bringing the whole village together – which to Noémi, perfectly encapsulated the spirit of Christmas – especially when times felt tough. And because there was always someone who needed help more than you did, Noémi had decided they’d collect donations for the heart charity that Shay cared so much about. Then they’d finish the evening off with Felix’s Icelandic book flood tradition, where they would gift each other books and cosy up to read them with hot chocolate and Noémi’s cookies. Even though it was giving her a lot to do, and goodness knew if she could pull it off – if Christmas magic was on her side – it might just be wonderful.

The bell above the door jingled and Noémi’s head shot up.

‘Carrie said you were running some dating thing?’ It was Betty Boo’s blue hair sticking around the door. ‘Some of us Tequila Jammers would be up for that.’

Noémi tried not to sigh, because she’d just explained to Carrie exactly what blind date with a book was and wasn’t. Clearly, she wasn’t getting her point across.

‘There’s no actual dating, Betty.’ Noémi clarified the concept again. ‘The book doesn’t come with an added human.’

Betty Boo looked disappointed.

‘Don’t worry, BB. I’m working on her,’ said Daniel. ‘If your name’s on the mailing list, we’ll keep you posted.’

‘Excellent! I do hope I get a shot at the hot Irish guy.’

‘Join the queue,’ Tommaso shouted over from the till.

It was a full thirty minutes before Mrs Jingleman spoke properly, for the first time that day. ‘Felix coming to your dating thing?’