Page 24 of The Cotswold Christmas Bookshop

‘Well, that’s the plan,’ said Isla, laughing.

‘I’m off to do my errands now, and have some lunch, and I shall have another one of these with my afternoon tea,’ he said, holding up his box of cakes. He looked around to check there was no one in earshot and lowered his voice. ‘Now have you thought any more about telling anyone yet about your job?’

‘No, but I will do. I promise.’ Perhaps it had been a mistake to confide in Henry because she now had the weight of his expectations on her shoulders too.

‘You don’t need to do it for my sake, love, but I always think it’s much better to be upfront and honest about these things. As it is about most other things, I’d say. Something else…’ He turned to look at her, a light shining in his eyes. ‘That young man who’s always in here, chatting to you?’

Isla nodded. She didn’t need to ask him who he was talking about.

‘Well, he clearly likes you, and you clearly like him, so probably best to mention it to one another, rather than dancing around each other the whole time.’ Henry chuckled to himself. ‘Just some advice from an old guy. I’m full of good advice,’ he said, heading for the door. ‘Good luck, Isla!’

17

‘I can’t believe how busy it’s been!’

It was the first of the late-night shopping evenings and Finch’s had seen a continual flow of visitors through the doors. A lot of customers were looking for the books mentioned in the Sunday papers, the ones recommended on the Christmas gift lists which fortunately they had stocked up on. Isla had ensured that this year’s most popular reads were prominently displayed at the front of the shop. Other people came with recommendations jotted down on a piece of paper or in their phone which they would pull out and show to Isla and most times, she would have an eureka moment and go off to immediately locate it for them on the shelves. If they didn’t have it in stock, then Isla would always offer to order it in because there was still time for any special deliveries to arrive before Christmas.

The pre-wrapped books had proved to be so popular that Isla had decided to offer a gift-wrapping service for all sales for a small charge, complete with ribbon and a tag to write on. Isla was surprised by how many customers took up the offer, even if it had meant that poor Penny had to spend most of her shift sitting at the counter wrapping books as Isla’s wrapping skills weren’t really up to the task. She quickly grew impatient, and although her first attempt turned out well, things only deteriorated rapidly from that point.

‘Here, let me do it,’ Penny had offered. ‘You get on with serving the customers.’

Isla was much happier with that arrangement, especially when there were so many new faces, and some familiar ones too, arriving at the shop.

‘Hi, Ryan, great to see you!’ she said as he came through the door, dressed in jeans and a checked shirt. She’d not seen him since that evening in the pub, but he was one of those people who was immensely likeable and easy to talk to, picking up exactly where they’d left off.

‘So this is where you’ve been hiding?’ he said, his eyes shining with humour.

‘Yes, it’s not bad, is it?’ she said, although she suspected that Ryan hadn’t been inside a bookshop for years. He’d told her as much the other evening. He spent most of his time working in the great outdoors, and when he wasn’t working, he was either to be found in his workshop restoring old tractors or down the pub with his friends. Isla appreciated how quickly they’d been able to establish, without implicitly saying so, that their friendship was simply that, without any of the complications of romance.

‘Are you looking for a book?’

‘No,’ he laughed, as though that was a preposterous idea, and she couldn’t help laughing along with him when just at that moment, Guy Madley poked his head around the front door. Seeing how busy it was and how Isla was occupied, he simply raised a hand and mouthed that he would pop back later. Isla turned her attention back to Ryan.

‘There’s a group of us meeting in The White Hart on Christmas Eve afternoon. It’s a bit of a local tradition, so I’m rounding up the troops now. If you fancy it, then why don’t you come along?’

‘Thanks, Ryan. That’s really kind of you to think of me. In fact, a couple of the other shop owners in the mews had mentioned it to me, so I’m hoping to be there.’

‘Excellent,’ said Ryan with a thumbs-up. ‘We’ll hopefully see you then.’

As Ryan left, a group of women, glamorous and well-dressed, who looked to be in their late forties, wandered in through the door and were clearly in high spirits, laughing and bantering with each other.

One of the women swooped upon a book that she spotted on a nearby shelf and held it aloft in the air.

‘Hey, Tess, look at this. It’s exactly what you need. It’s called How to Kill Your Husband. You should be able to pick up some good tips in here.’

‘Thanks very much, Gina,’ said Tess, with an indulgent eye-roll. ‘Must admit, that might have come in handy a few months ago, but I’m over that now. Onwards and upwards, that’s what I say!’

‘Can you tell she’s got a new, younger man in tow?’ another of the women piped up, directing her question at Isla. ‘Honestly, it’s a cure-all for every problem in life. I would recommend it. Not that I would know, personally, but I’m ever hopeful.’ She giggled at her own comment before she stopped and peered at Isla more closely. ‘Although I don’t suppose for one minute that you would need any advice from an old bird like me. Look at you, you’re young and gorgeous. I expect you have men falling at your feet. Oh, to be young again!’

‘Dilly!’ the woman called Tess chided. ‘This lovely young lady doesn’t need to hear your dubious life advice.’ She turned to Isla. ‘I’m so sorry. We’ve been to a bottomless brunch today and we may have overstayed our welcome!’

‘Do you know what would make this bookshop even better?’ said Gina, looking around her. ‘A Prosecco bar! Can you imagine how popular that would be? I’d be here all the time if that was the case.’

Isla smiled, immediately warming to this group of women who were obviously good friends, and were having so much fun together.

‘It’s an idea,’ she said, joining in the fun. A very doubtful one. ‘I’ll bear it in mind.’

‘Actually, it’s a rotten idea,’ said the other woman, who seemed the more reserved and sensible of the bunch. ‘Especially with you lot. This is a place of sanctuary and calm, or else it was until we all turned up. Besides, you’d get bubbles over the pages of these lovely books and ruin them all.’