Page 81

‘Count me in.’

Noémi’s heart lifted in her chest. Christmas with Shay would be the best treat ever. She might need him there to either celebrate her bookshop-saving success or pass the tissues.

And she would try not to overthink that Shay was allowing the smallest of roots to settle. The evening before he’d spoken about extending his lease at the shop and, in the spring, arranging voluntary speaking gigs at local colleges to talk about heart health and creating a more realistic fun-rest balance – something he’d been discovering since spending time with Noémi. Then they’d used their imaginations to think up ideas for Shay’s future adventures in and around the Cotswolds.

Noémi could already see herself getting involved in some of them – as long as they could come home and curl up with a book. Maybe in Shay’s flat above the shop, which she was trying her best not to imagine decorating with him, picturing adorable scenes involving ladders and paint brushes, and trips to Ham’s Hardware or that lovely shop in the square that sold throw cushions. Because other people’s temporary décor was none of her business. And yet …

Shay dropping her off outside the bookshop came far too quickly, although at least it gave her the chance to experience a luxuriously long kiss before he drove back to The Tipsy Squirrel carpark. Then he was off on a bike ride before visiting his granddad for dominoes.

As Noémi stepped out of the van, she was a little sad to see the snow had been melting. Though it had lasted far longer than usual, and it was probably a good thing. It meant Hazel View Avenue was even busier with Christmas shoppers. And she no longer had to deliberate whether disappearing snow meant that winds were changing and Shay would be off. Snow was just snow. And he’d said he was staying – at least for another season or two.

Shay honked his horn loudly, as if it wasn’t embarrassing enough to have just climbed out of his bed on wheels with her overnight bag, probably looking pink-cheeked and like the embodiment of a heart-eye emoji.

‘Nice trip?’ asked Texan Jim with a wink, as Noémi tried to dodge Goatrude and her usual persistence in nestling her head into a person’s bum.

Though nothing could bother her today.

‘Perfect.’ Noémi could tell her smile almost reached from ear to ear as she thought about falling asleep in Shay’s arms and waking up feeling safe. More kissing. A morning trek through the snow. Hot chocolate and thick Welsh pancakes with honey. The whole trip had been like something from one of her favourite Christmas movies, with its cosy log-cabin bar and its garlands galore. Yes, she was coming to enjoy a real-life adventure. She couldn’t wait for Shay to visit that evening for a spot of quiet reading. Amongst other things.

‘I hope I find some of that sparkle at the bookshop’s Merry Singles Mingle tomorrow night,’ Jim replied.

Noémi beamed again and waved Jim off, taking a moment to look around the street. Things were on the up for them, at last. She could see a coach parked at the end of the road with new, smiling visitors disembarking. The Christmas lights glowed, and every shop front was alive with festive fun. Even Spirit’s plant shop had a window display of poinsettias in more beautifully inviting colours than Noémi knew existed, even if it was still called Leaf Me Alone.

There was definitely room for improvement, with the large bakery at the other the end of the road still empty and the butterfly garden beyond overgrown. At Noémi’s end, whilst Chai’s van was buzzing with customers grabbing lunch and lattes, it was parked on a patch of land with a tumble-down wooden lodge in need of some love. But if they managed to keep shoppers interested after the excitement of Christmas, perhaps new shop owners would come, or the businesses here would continue to grow and bloom. Between them, they could surely scrape together the funds to bring the whole of Hazel View Avenue back to its best.

Yes. This might just be the beginning of incredible things for them all. She hugged her Coat of Many Books around her with the joy of it, wondering absently whether Prisha had sewn one of her fabled magic wishes into its hem. And then Noémi swept into the bookshop with a grin that would have made the Cheshire Cat look grumpy. Because there were six days left until the shop was shut for Christmas, and she was determined to make sure she’d be happily flinging the doors open for many years to come.

Chapter 47

Noémi’s heart continued to swell as she floated into the bookshop. The scene before her was everything she could have dreamed of: customers quietly browsing books, Tanveer and the twins enjoying her newly revamped children’s area, a collection of youngsters swooning over book-lover mugs and merchandise, and Daniel and Tommaso making an excellent wrapping-and-card-tapping team behind the counter.

It would always feel a little sad not to see Felix dusting the books in one of his quirky bow ties, and there was no sign of Mrs Jingleman. However, the sofa and armchairs were happily occupied by people she recognized from up in the village, reading their purchases and devouring the candied ginger and honey cookies she’d baked before she’d left.

Noémi gave everyone a delighted wave.

‘We’re enjoying a mindful moment with a book,’ said one of the snazzy pushchair mums.

‘Bliss,’ said another. ‘We’ll be coming to do this more often.’

‘These cookies go perfectly with this,’ said the woman who’d forever be remembered as the one with the brandy cream, waggling yet another carton. Did she always carry one in her handbag? And how did that not get messy?

Though right then, Noémi wouldn’t have minded if she kept three tarantulas and the Grinch of Mount Crumpit in her faux-leather shopper, because everything was simply wonderful.

Once Noémi had complimented them on their book choices and suggested future cookie pairings, she drifted to the till, where she was met with an unnecessary amount of wolf-whistling from her cheeky staff of two. She gave them a bashful look, joked that her date gossip was none of their business, and checked they could look after the shop while she went to freshen up.

As she arrived in her flat, she had the strangest urge to swirl around, hugging herself with glee like something from a Disney film. Or to throw open the windows and yell to the world that she was in love.

She stopped in her tracks. Wait. What? In love? When had that happened?

When had she allowed it to happen? She dropped her bag, one hand flying to her forehead. Could that really be true? Though once again, a smile sneaked its way across her face. In love. Yes, that was exactly it. Stupidly, terrifyingly so. She had no idea if Shay would ever settle anywhere beyond his tentative six-month plan and she hoped she’d still have a thriving bookshop to run. It was reckless to let her heart go bouncing all over the place like some crazy rubber ball. That was the surest way for it to get stuck in a hazel hedge and get eaten by squirrels.

So perhaps she’d keep that wild truth to herself.

She certainly couldn’t go blabbing it to Shay. It was too soon and far too unexpected. The poor guy had made clear he could barely stay still without getting restless. He’d run for the Rocky Mountains if she started declaring her undying love. And it felt a bit rash to go blurting it out to friends. Daniel might worry. Catherine and Carrie would probably tease about Hottie Totty babies. Prisha would start sewing a wedding dress. Gossip had a way of escalating, so this didn’t feel like a truth to share right then.

Yet if she didn’t utter a word of this exciting new feeling, she might just burst. Fantasy Man. Yes! He was the perfect person to confide in. The one person she would never meet. Noémi looked at the clock. She had no idea what he did in the daytime, and she didn’t often check in with him at all these days. But none of that mattered. Her fingers needed to type what her voice didn’t dare to speak.

Book Girl: