Page 21 of The Cotswold Christmas Bookshop

Henry gestured for Isla to take a seat on the sofa, placing a mug on the coaster in front of her.

‘I’m afraid the only thing I can offer you is a rich tea biscuit. I know that’s not very exciting.’

‘No, don’t worry, I’m off to the dentist after here, so I shouldn’t really have anything to eat. Look Henry, I hope you don’t mind me coming round uninvited. I was just worried that we’d upset you somehow. I know Jon and Miriam aren’t around in the shop as much these days, but that isn’t to say that you’re not still very welcome.’

‘I don’t mind at all. In fact, it’s rather lovely to know that people care enough to think about me. If I’m being honest, I suppose I did wonder if I was getting in the way a bit at the shop. I’ve noticed how busy it has become in the last couple of weeks and I wasn’t sure how your other customers might feel about having an old codger always taking up the same spot.’

‘There’s no need to worry about that,’ said Isla fiercely. ‘Nobody’s said anything to me, and if they should, then I’d simply tell them that you’re one of our most esteemed customers.’

‘Well, that’s very kind of you, Isla, but you really don’t need to do that.’ A warm grin lit up Henry’s face as he picked up his mug of tea.

‘I can’t apologise for the shop being busy though because that’s exactly what I’ve been trying to achieve so if you’re looking for some peace and quiet then I would suggest you avoid the children’s story-time sessions because then it can be hectic. Honestly, I would avoid them myself if I could,’ she said with a grin.

There had only been two so far, but they had proved to be far more popular than Isla had ever anticipated, with lots of parents asking when the next sessions were and if they would be carried forward into the new year. Initially, Isla had been filled with a sense of dread, wondering why she’d ever thought it a good idea in the first place, hoping the children wouldn’t bombard her with questions that she had no answers to and deciding that this would be the very last time that she did it. Surprisingly though, something special happened during those thirty minutes, a transformation that took Isla back to her own childhood, experiencing the joy of being immersed in a story and transported to another world. It was wonderful to share her love of books with the children, seeing their eager, happy faces, and against all her expectations, she finished the story times with a great deal of satisfaction.

‘Oh, I don’t mind the children; I love to see them enjoying themselves. My Ruby always used to say that it was the greatest gift you could instil in children, a love of reading.’

‘I would definitely agree with Ruby on that front.’ Isla leaned forward to return her empty mug to the table. ‘Although we do like to keep all our customers happy. Anyway, Henry, I do hope we’ll see you back at Finch’s soon because I, for one, miss you. And I know Heathcliff does too. Sometimes, he curls up in your seat. I’m sure he’s keeping it warm for you until you come back.’

‘Really? Well, fancy that! When you get to my age, it’s easy to feel as though you don’t really belong, that perhaps it wouldn’t matter to anyone if you were here or not, so to know that you and the cat have missed me has made my day.’

‘Oh don’t say that! You matter to me.’ Isla placed a reassuring hand on his arm, and Henry chuckled.

‘It’s true. Besides, I do love the shop and I ought to make the most of it while I can because we don’t know how long it’s going to be around for, do we?’

Isla gasped. She didn’t like it when someone else voiced her own concerns. It only served to magnify the issues. All the time she was busy in the bookshop, serving customers and fulfilling orders, she could put to the back of her mind the future of Finch’s. Her focus was on the present and she wasn’t thinking beyond the end of the year on either a personal or professional basis. In her mind, it was as though once she got to the new year, everything would somehow magically resolve itself, but she knew deep in her heart that wouldn’t be the case. Now, with the reminder from Henry of the bookshop’s shaky status, the thought filled her with a sense of anxiety.

‘No, I have no idea. The bookshop is so popular. There would be a lot of disappointed people if it were to shut down for good.’

‘They need to get someone like you in to run the place. Then everyone’s problems would be solved. I know you have your high-flying job in London. Miriam told me all about that. You’re clearly very knowledgeable about the publishing industry and what will prove popular with the customers. It certainly explains how you’ve managed to breathe some new life into Finch’s. Now, if they could only find a replacement for you to permanently manage the place, it would solve all their problems.’

‘Oh God!’ Isla dropped her head onto the back cushion of the sofa. ‘Everyone’s so impressed by my bloody job.’

‘And so they should be!’ said Henry emphatically.

Isla fell quiet for a moment, examining the backs of her hands, before lifting her head to observe Henry.

‘Can I tell you a secret?’ she said morosely.

Henry nodded.

‘I’m afraid I’m a complete fraud. Everyone thinks I’ve got this amazing career in London when the truth is, I’ve actually been made redundant. I don’t have a job any more and I have no idea what I’m going to do next. I can’t have been that good to find myself in this position. And the really stupid thing is that I’ve not been able to bring myself to tell anybody! I feel so ashamed.’

Henry looked at her with genuine concern, shifting himself in the seat alongside her so that he was facing her. He took hold of her hand.

‘Now goodness me, why would you feel that way? You’re not the first person to have been made redundant and you certainly won’t be the last. Sadly, it’s becoming a more common occurrence these days, especially in these uncertain economic times. It won’t have been a personal decision, I’m sure, but a business decision.’

Isn’t that what the CEO had told her? Isla couldn’t really remember because the words had all jumbled together in her head as she’d taken in the news. Restructuring. Market forces. Difficult decisions. A whole string of platitudes that had only made Isla angry.

‘You must surely have told your parents, though?’ Henry asked, concerned.

‘No!’ She grimaced. ‘Nor Jon and Miriam. They’ll all be so disappointed. And worried about me. It will spoil Christmas for everyone.’

‘Now, I don’t know your parents, but I’m sure they’re decent people like Jon and Miriam. They would want to know because they would want to help you through what I’m sure is a very difficult time. No one worth their salt is going to think any less of you because you’ve lost your job. I would urge you to tell them. It will be a huge weight off your shoulders. And look, you’ve told me and the world hasn’t come to an end, has it? It’ll be all right, Isla, you’ll see.’

What must Henry think of her? She hadn’t intended to spill her worries onto this lovely gentleman, but there was something so kindly and calming about him that made him an easy confidant. And it felt much safer telling someone she didn’t have a close connection to.

It was a relief to say the words out loud, to admit that she wasn’t as brilliant and capable as everyone thought she was. She bit on her lip to stop the emotion that was brewing inside. It wouldn’t be the done thing to burst into tears in this poor man’s living room.