Page 49 of The Cotswold Christmas Bookshop

She held up her hands to the air, by way of demonstration, as though Jonathan and Miriam didn’t already know every high corner and each nook and cranny. Isla wavered a moment, being met with their silence, but she was committed now and ploughed on regardless. ‘You know how much I love this place, but I’m not the only one, by a long chalk. The thing I hear constantly from our customers is how much they value Finch’s. Some people come from miles away to visit us and I think you can tell from our takings over the last month that there is still a huge appetite for the business. We are providing an individual specialist service, but there’s so much more we could do to attract new customers through the doors. Finch’s is a wonderful institution that deserves to be preserved for future generations of book lovers. It’s your name above the door, Jon, your father’s name, and I think that is worth fighting for, don’t you?’

Isla wondered if she was meant to notice the side dig that Miriam gave to Jonathan as she shoved her elbow rather forcibly into his body. Or if Isla had gone too far in mentioning his father, having seen the almost indiscernible quirk of his mouth at the sound of his name.

‘I don’t disagree with you at all, but the truth of the matter is that Miriam and I are knocking on a bit now…’

‘Hey,’ said Miriam, her lip curling and her brow furrowing at his comment.

‘It’s true,’ said Jonathan, ‘and with the best will in the world, we’re not going to be able to continue in the way we have over recent months. We might be able to scrabble by for a couple more months, but we will only end up running the business into the ground, which I would hate to do. It’s been all well and good all the time you’ve been here, but we always knew that this was only ever going to be a temporary solution.’

‘Well, that’s what I’ve been trying to say, Jon, although I missed out the most important detail, clearly.’ Isla ran a hand through her hair, adrenaline coursing through her veins. ‘What I’m suggesting is that I take over the shop on a permanent basis. As your manager. Just like I’ve been doing for the last few weeks. I know that Penny and I can run this place effectively and with a few small tweaks, I’m sure we could expand the business even further. I’m talking about community nights, book clubs, children’s story times and author visits.’

Isla was filled with excitement just voicing her ideas aloud, although she knew this proposition must come as a huge surprise to the pair of them, judging by their expressions. Jonathan’s face had remained impassive while Isla was talking, but Miriam had been acting very oddly all the time she’d been listening to Isla. Her face had contorted into several strange positions, and it looked as though she’d was biting on her lip, making her mouth twist from side to side. She was wringing her hands as well, before giving poor Jonathan another dig in the ribs.

‘What a wonderful offer, but we can’t⁠—’

‘What about your job, though?’ Miriam interrupted, putting a heavy emphasis on the word ‘job’, delivering the question as though Isla was a child, her eyes wide and expressive.

‘Oh yes, my job! I don’t have it any more. I didn’t like to mention it, but I was made redundant last month, and while I’ve since been offered another job in London, doing a similar thing, I’ve decided I don’t want to take it. My heart is here within these four walls of this old building with all these books and I want to make a proper go of it. I can build on your success and ensure that Finch’s retains its reputation and presence at the heart of Bramlingham. That way, you can enjoy your retirement to the full and I will keep the family firm running, updating you on its progress at agreed regular intervals. You won’t even need to come into the shop if you don’t want to.’

The silence following her heartfelt speech was unnerving and her enthusiasm and determination wavered as she wondered if she wasn’t acting like a complete idiot. This was her dream and vision, not Jonathan and Miriam’s, and maybe they literally wanted to shut up shop and leave all this behind them. Although Jonathan had insisted that closing the business wasn’t a financial decision, the sale of the property would obviously secure them a comfortable and stress-free retirement, a factor which couldn’t be overlooked. Now she’d put them in a difficult position, and they were probably trying to think of a way to politely decline her offer.

‘Look, I realise this has probably come as a surprise, but all I would ask is that you give my idea some consideration. Obviously, I will understand completely if you decide against it, and there will be no hard feelings, but I wanted to extend the offer to you. It’s another solution on the table.’

‘Right, well, thank you very much, Isla. This is unexpected.’ Was that the smallest of smiles hovering on his lips as he glanced over at his wife? Isla wondered. ‘I hope you’re not doing this out of some misplaced sense of loyalty. I understand entirely your passion for the shop, but you need to put your own hopes and aspirations first. Working in a country bookshop cannot offer the same kind of financial rewards that a glamorous job in London would.’

‘Not at all! And I would simply repeat what you previously told me. It isn’t about the money. It would be my dream and privilege to take over the shop.’

‘In that case, we will certainly consider your offer, if you’re sure about it…’

‘Yes, yes, I am absolutely certain.’ Isla was relieved that Jonathan hadn’t totally dismissed the idea out of hand, but she wished she knew what he was really thinking beneath his steadfast exterior. ‘We could come to some kind of formal agreement if you’d be happier with that or try it out for a certain period of time to see how it works.’

‘Well, I don’t think that would be necessary,’ Miriam butted in. ‘We know exactly how it would work because it’s been working perfectly well these last few weeks with you at the helm. We were hoping⁠—’

Jonathan interrupted his wife. ‘There is the small matter of the flat as well.’

‘Of course,’ said Isla. ‘Well, I could certainly help you to find a new tenant. We wouldn’t have any trouble in letting the place out. It’s such a gorgeous flat and in such a prime position as well, you’d have people queuing up to take it on.’

‘I was rather thinking that you might want to take advantage of it yourself, if you were thinking of staying for a prolonged period of time. It would compensate for the cut in salary from your London job.’

‘Really? Oh my gosh!’ Isla’s hands flew to her face. ‘That would be amazing. I love my parents dearly, but returning to live permanently at home might be a step too far, even for me.’ Isla’s head was spinning as she tried to make sense of this conversation. Had she missed something along the way? She paused and frowned, before saying, ‘So does that mean you will actually think about my idea?’

‘There’s nothing to think about it,’ said Miriam, and this time, Jonathan didn’t jump in to stop her. ‘To be honest with you, it would be the answer to all our prayers.’

‘As long as you promise me one thing,’ said Jonathan gravely.

‘Of course, what is it?’

‘That you don’t change your mind and decide over Christmas that you want to return to London to work after all.’

‘Oh, Jon,’ Isla said, beaming, walking across to give him the biggest hug. ‘I can promise you, with all my heart, that’s never going to happen.’

31

‘Crikey, it’s absolutely mad out there!’ A young man came hurrying through the front door, his red bobble hat and the shoulders of his jacket covered in snowflakes. He gave himself a little shake, in the same way that a dog might do, and sprinkled white stuff all over the carpet.

‘Is it snowing?’ Isla asked somewhat redundantly.

‘Is it snowing? Is it snowing?’ he asked mischievously. ‘Come and take a look.’ He beckoned her towards the window and she went across to peer outside.