Page 39 of The Cotswold Christmas Bookshop

‘That’s different,’ said Diana, casting Jake a reproving glance. ‘We’ve had good reason to be.’

‘Cheers, Mum,’ he said, shaking his head at the slight, delivered witheringly by his mum.

‘It will work out fine,’ said Isla, gathering herself and her emotions. She hated seeing the sympathy in her parents’ eyes. ‘I’ve already been offered another job.’

‘You have?’ said Jake.

‘Yes, do you remember Laura, who I used to work with? Well, she’s now with Bookish Books and she got in touch to offer me a role as publishing director for the romance division. It’s a very similar role to what I was doing before, but with responsibility for growing the imprint into the global market.’

‘There you go!’ Diana clapped her hands together triumphantly as though it was the answer to all the problems. ‘It’s a shame about your job, but you have been there for a long time and perhaps this is the universe’s way of saying it’s time for a change. You’ve always been very well regarded in the industry so I can understand why a competitor has snapped you up so quickly.’ Diana touched her fingers to her face and glanced at her husband, looking proud. ‘You know we’re always here to support you, darling, through the good times and the bad times.’

Deep down, Isla had known that, but it hadn’t made it any easier to tell her parents about her redundancy, although over recent weeks, with time to reflect, she’d come to realise that the problem was all her own. It was a revelation to discover that she didn’t have to always put on her best front, to continually strive to be perfect, in every aspect of her life. She was allowed to show her vulnerabilities and weaknesses like everyone else. It was a lesson that she could be less exacting in her career and in her personal life too.

‘Bookish Books, though? They must be one of the top players, surely? And it might mean a wider selection of freebies for book club, then?’ There was a gleeful look in Diana’s eye. ‘Wait till I tell the ladies! They’ll be so impressed.’

‘No, Mum, please don’t tell them yet. I’m not meeting up with the team until the new year and besides, I don’t know that I’ll even accept it.’

‘What? Why wouldn’t you? It sounds like the opportunity of a lifetime.’

‘It is, but I’m keeping my options open. Who knows, there might be something even better waiting around the corner.’

25

‘I’m looking for the latest Mary Berry cookbook if you have it, please?’ A woman in her forties approached Isla at the counter.

‘Yes, of course. It’s over here.’ Isla walked across to the main display at the front of the shop and picked up a copy of the popular book. They had sold dozens of them already. ‘We also have some pre-wrapped copies too, if that might make your life easier.’

‘Perfect,’ said the woman with a smile. She picked up one of the display books and smoothed a hand over the cover. ‘I love Mary Berry, don’t you? Every year, my sister and I buy a copy of her latest book as part of our Christmas present to each other. We always know what’s inside the parcel, but that only adds to the pleasure when we open them together.’

‘That sounds like such a lovely thing to do. The only thing better than reading a book is reading it alongside someone else, so that you can share notes and appreciate it together.’

‘It really is. My sister loves to cook so she often tries out the recipes. I’m more of a baker, although I don’t actually do a lot of baking because I live on my own, and I would only end up eating all the cakes, but I still love to read the recipes anyway.’

Isla felt privileged that her customers felt comfortable enough to confide in her, to share some of their private and special moments so that she got a glimpse into other people’s worlds. It gave her a sense of connection, the feeling that she was far more involved in the community than she had ever been in London. She enjoyed the easy conversation, the way some customers would ask her name, consigning it to their memory with a smile and a nod, and then greeting her fondly by name the next time they came into the shop.

‘Hello, Isla! How are you today?’ they would say, as if they were old friends.

She glanced at her watch. It was drawing closer to the big day with a constant flow of customers through the doors and a slight sense of panic in the air as people came in search of last-minute presents and stocking fillers. As well as books, Finch’s stocked a lovely range of quality notebooks and pens, novelty bookmarks and jigsaw puzzles, so there really was something for everyone.

Penny was coming in later to cover the lunchtime shift as Miriam had been in touch with Isla yesterday to invite her to lunch with her and Jonathan, apparently as a thank you for all her hard work. They were going to Trattoria Amalfi which had been standing on the high street for almost as long as Finch’s had been in business. Isla had visited several times over the years and it had always been reliably good so she was looking forward to visiting again for a delicious lunch and a proper catch-up with Jonathan and Miriam.

The front doorbell tinkled and Isla looked up from where she’d been scanning the blurb of an historical thriller to see a couple of familiar faces.

‘Hi, Isla, how are you doing?’ Charlie Brace and his daughter, Amelia, approached the counter.

‘Very well, thank you! It’s great to see you both,’ she said, only momentarily taken aback by his presence, before realising that although it was indeed lovely seeing her ex-boyfriend and his daughter again, thankfully, her body wasn’t reacting in the same way as it had done on the last occasion he visited the shop. Then, all her senses had gone into overdrive, bringing all those old hopes and dreams to the surface, as well as the hurt, but something must have happened in the intervening weeks. Now, it was simply like running into an old friend again.

‘Is Heathcliff here today?’ Amelia asked, looking all around her.

‘Yes, I think he must be in one of the back rooms, either curled up next to the fire or against one of the radiators. That’s where we usually find him.’

‘I’m going to look for him,’ she said, running off in search of the cat.

‘So, how’s things?’ Isla asked Charlie when Amelia had left.

‘Good… hectic. Amelia has been staying with her grandparents for a few days because Sophia was at home laid up with a bug. You catch everything going when you’ve got small kids. Absolute nightmare. I’m heading back to London this afternoon to collect her, she seems to be over the worst of it now, so I thought I’d pick up some puzzle and sticker books for Amelia to keep her busy while we’re away.’

‘Well, there are plenty in the children’s section. I’m sure Amelia will love having a browse.’