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“Mitch is going to notice such a difference when he sees you!” Blair announces, reaching for a mince pie.

“Mitch?” My heart skips a beat.

“Yes, he’s arriving tomorrow. Didn’t he tell you?” Blair smiles as Millie squeals at the thought of seeing him. “Wisteria Villas called the law firm because John Sullivan asked for an appointment with me. They said his grandson wasn’t coming until Friday and wanted to be there, so could we make it next week.” She takes a bite of the mince pie, oblivious to the way my heart is racing.

“I wonder what John wants to see you about?” Cate asks Blair. “Do you think he’s going to sell the shop?” She looks at me. “You’ve been to see him, right? Has he said anything to you?”

I shake my head, trying to stay calm. “No, but I wouldn’t be surprised.”

John Sullivan, the owner of the bookshop where I work, unfortunately suffered a stroke on the first of December. When he left the hospital a few days later, they took him to Wisteria Villas, a retirement home on the edge of town, rather than back to his flat above the shop, because he was unable to manage on his own. I’ve visited John a couple of times since then. He didn’t mention selling the shop, but it was clear to me that he’s unlikely to be able to return to work.

I’d hoped he’d let me continue to run it for him, but I suppose if he stays in Wisteria Villas, he’s going to need to sell eventually so he can pay for it, because retirement homes aren’t cheap. Shit. Am I about to lose my job, as well as my mum, my husband, and my home?

“They’ll have to pry him out of that shop with a shoehorn,” Harri says. “How long’s he been there?”

“It’s the shop’s fifty-fifth anniversary in January,” I reply. “I was going to organise something.” I go cold. If they sell it, will it remain a bookshop? And even if it does, would the new owners want me working there?

“I wonder how long Mitch is here for?” Emma asks.

“I imagine his school has finished now for Christmas as they tend to finish earlier down in Wellington,” Dad advises. “He’s probably coming up to sort things out for his grandfather, as his father is away.” His gaze meets mine, filled with sympathy. He knows how much I love working at the bookshop, and how much this will have shocked me.

I lower my gaze and drag the box of books toward me. “Okay, so shall I hand these out?”

“Come on Mills. Let’s get you to bed.” Dad picks Millie up, and everyone waves goodbye. I give her a kiss, and then he leaves the room, and soon we hear his feet on the stairs, the two of them talking all the way.

“He’s so wonderful with her,” Cate says as everyone hands out the books.

“Yeah, he loves being able to spend more time with her.” While I wait for everyone to refill their glasses and plates, my gaze drifts to the window. It’s close to sunset, and the sky is a beautiful lilac colour, with streaks and swirls of orange and gold, like a Van Gogh painting.

To my surprise, even though I’m nervous now about losing my job, I don’t feel as blue as I thought I would. That, I realise, is due to the fact that Mitch is coming home. My stomach flutters with pleasure and a little excitement.

He was Jayden’s friend and his best man at our wedding, and for several years, while he lived on Evermore, he was also my best male friend. I haven’t seen him since last Christmas, though, and although we’re friends on Instagram and Facebook, and I’ve messaged him a few times, his replies came back polite but brief. In the end I stopped contacting him, a little hurt that for some reason he didn’t want to talk to me.

He must have heard that Jayden and I broke up. Surely they would have stayed in touch? But he hasn’t contacted me since it happened, apart from sending flowers to Mum’s funeral.

When I recall my wedding five years ago, I feel a pang of wistfulness so strong it makes me sigh. Mitch was teaching at Dad’s primary school, and I fell pregnant with Millie soon after. The year ended with a long, hot summer, and I remember many happy, glorious days on the beach, Mitch reading to me beneath the big umbrella because I was too big to go surfing with Jayden.

But just after Millie was born, Mitch announced he’d handed in his resignation and was moving to Wellington. I never understood why, and I was devastated. He was a good friend, and I’ve missed him a lot.

I bite my lip. Okay, I’m not being honest with myself. It’s not just his friendship I’ve missed. It’s The Look. The one he gave me the first time we met, before he found out I was engaged to his best friend. The one he continued to give me when he thought I wasn’t looking. The one that made me shiver.

But a lot of water has flowed under the bridge since then. He has a girlfriend now, and so many other things have changed. I’m not even sure I didn’t imagine it all those years ago. And even if I didn’t, I’ve changed too. I’m older now. A single mum, complete with stretch marks and a harassed expression. Hardly every guy’s dream girl. I doubt he’ll even give me a second glance.

It’ll be nice to see him, though. Millie adores him, and she’ll be thrilled. Hopefully he’ll have some time to catch up before he has to go back to Welly.

“I can’t wait for this one.” Emma flicks through her copy of A Court of Thorns and Roses. “I’ve been meaning to read it for years.”

“I’m so glad you started up this group,” Cate says to me. “It’s been so good to get back into reading this year.”

Harri helps herself to another mince pie. “Yeah, it’s so easy just to doom scroll in the evenings. Now I’m reading every night, and I feel better for it.”

“Thank you all for coming every month,” I tell them. “I don’t know what I’d have done without you all. I feel like I’m channelling my mother when you’re all here.”

They all chuckle. My mother was well-known in Port Evermore, a focal point of the community around which a lot of the town’s social events revolved. I can’t even come close to being as active as she was, but at times like this, I feel as if I’m doing my bit.

I swallow hard—gosh, I’m emotional today. Must be my hormones. “Anyway, shall we start with last month’s book? Who wants to go first?”

Chapter Two