‘Not long enough.’ They stopped on the street corner, Lulworth Cove to the right in the distance, the hill leading up and out of the bay on their left. ‘And I’m worried to tell you the truth. Faye, I’m trained for nothing. I haven’t had a job since I worked in a shop when I was nineteen. I’m trawling through online listings every day and I’ve applied for a couple of things – waitress jobs – but so far no joy. And I’m looking for a rental property too.’ Now she had the money from the boys she’d be able to pay for six months to a year up front to give her some stability.
‘Have you filed for divorce?’ Faye asked.
‘No, not yet.’
‘I don’t know much about it, given I didn’t even make it to the altar, but going by things I’ve heard in the hairdressing salon from other couples in the same boat, I’d get in touch with a solicitor as soon as possible. You need to make sure you get a fair split of the assets. Just because you didn’t work outside the home, it doesn’t mean he can take everything. You looked after the house; you raised your kids.’
‘You’re very wise for someone in her twenties.’ She grinned. ‘I keep thinking you’re really young, but you’re not; I’m just getting older.’
Faye laughed. ‘You’ve got years ahead of you yet.’
Margot was worried about the cost and voiced her concern. ‘I’ll bet solicitors are hideously expensive.’
‘Cheaper than your husband taking everything and leaving you with nothing,’ said Faye.
‘You know what, you’re right.’ She looked down the hill. ‘I’m desperate to go and see the bookshop but first, should we try Bonnie again?’
‘Good idea.’
They walked up the hill and were soon outside the gorgeous little cottage but it took a few knocks before Bonnie opened the door, and even then it was only a crack.
Faye, a brilliant smile on her face, launched in with, ‘Hey, Bonnie. It’s me… Faye again. Howard’s friend from the Midnight Book Club.’
‘And I’m Margot,’ Margot quickly added in a jolly voice that even to her sounded like a teacher trying to cajole her class into showing enthusiasm in a subject they all hated.
‘Well, I’m afraid I’m just about to pop out.’ Bonnie opened the door a little more. She lifted her handbag up from the floor as if to prove her claim. ‘I can’t stop.’
Had Faye noticed the slippers too? If Bonnie really was going out, she wouldn’t still be wearing those surely.
‘Shall we come back another time?’ Margot suggested.
Bonnie looked surprised at the question. ‘Yes, yes, do that. Now I’d better get going.’
Margot and Faye left her to it and Margot closed the little gate behind them. Bonnie was still lingering at the door and Margot gave her a nod.
They turned to head down the hill in the direction of the bookshop.
‘I really don’t think she’s going anywhere,’ said Margot to Faye. ‘Do you?’
‘No, I really don’t.’
17
FAYE
‘Good afternoon!’ Iris trilled the second they went inside the bookshop. She swiftly passed them, a cloth and a bottle of spray cleaner in her hand. She went outside, sprayed the glass, gave it a good old wipe and came back inside very quickly. For some reason she’d only cleaned the lowest panels.
Faye assumed she’d been staring because Iris confided, ‘I like to be discreet. Kids press their noses against the glass so I nip out and give it a good clean at least twice a day. Howard was a stickler for keeping this place shipshape.’
Margot looked around. ‘The window and the lighting make it magical in here. I get why kids are drawn to it. And all the big picture books over there in the story corner look wonderful.’
‘Well, thank you for saying something so kind,’ said Iris. ‘I only hope I’m doing it justice, you know, since Howard…’
‘Of course you are,’ said Faye.
‘Well don’t either of you go pressing your noses against the glass.’ Iris wagged her finger in warning but added a big laugh for good measure. She had a friendly warmth and patted the super high bun on top of her head to ensure it was still in place.
Faye introduced Margot to Iris. ‘She’s a member of the Midnight Book Club. She knew Howard too.’
