Page 115 of The Bookshop By the Loch

“Mum!” hissed Maeve. “You’re shameless. Stop it!”

Celeste ignored her. “It’s true. I think I’m entitled to use some emotional blackmail, considering my situation.”

“Good grief,” muttered Maeve to Tobias. “She has an answer for everything.”

Celeste carried on. “You never struck me as a young woman who shied away from a challenge.”

“I’m not.” I made the mistake of looking in Tobias’s direction. He arched one brow at me.

Could I do Celeste’s book justice? Would I be able to write fiction? I was so used to editing other people’s work, I’d never thought about sitting down and actually writing something like that myself. What if the ideas failed to materialise? What if I couldn’t do it? “I don’t know,” I struggled.

Now it was Tobias’s turn to jump in. “Well, you aren’t going to know for certain unless you try.”

“That’s very true,” chimed in Maeve.

“And if you get a move on with finishing it, I might even be able to read the end of it before I pop off.”

“Mum! For pity’s sake!”

Celeste winked up at a horrified Maeve.

“This is really unfair,” I sighed, my attention zooming to each of them in turn. “All of you ganging up on me.”

Tobias winked. “Uh-huh.”

I stuck my tongue inside my cheek. This was a huge responsibility Celeste was bestowing upon me. I wasn’t an author. But then again, I had edited a number of successful novels in my career. I liked to think I had a good idea of what worked in terms of writing fiction.

Tobias waggled his brows. “I think Celeste was hoping for an answer today, Lexie.”

I dragged a hand through my hair. “Alright! Alright. I’ll do it. I just hope the ending is to your satisfaction, Celeste.”

She clapped her fragile hands together. “Wonderful! Thank you, darling. You’ve made this decrepit lady very happy. Now, who’s for a celebratory whisky?”

Maeve was doing her best to dissuade her mother from indulging in alcohol and was trying to persuade her to opt for an Earl Grey tea instead, when her mobile rang.

She reached into it, sat on the table behind her. “Hello? Yes, speaking.” Her mouth slackened and she began to make a series of odd noises. “Right. Yes. You’re where? What? You mean, right now? Outside? Oh. I see. Give me a minute.”

She clamped her hand over her phone and jerked her head at me. “Lexie, could I have a quick word please?”

“Of course.”

Puzzled, I went outside while Tobias remained in the room with Celeste. I could hear them chuckling.

I clicked the door behind me. “Is everything ok?”

Maeve was hopping from foot to foot, like a small child who needed to pay a visit to the bathroom. “Yes. No. I think so.” She brandished her phone at me. She was struggling to speak. “Oh my God. I can’t believe this.” She took a breath. “You’ll never guess who that was. Corinne. It’s Corinne on the phone.” Her stunned face broke into a smile. “She’s changed her mind about meeting Mum. She’s agreed to see her.”

I let out a shocked gasp. “You’re joking?! That’s great!” I gawped back at Maeve. “I wonder what made her change her mind? Oh, it doesn’t matter. She wants to talk to Celeste, so that’s the main thing.”

Maeve nodded her blow-dried blonde head. “Yes, it is. It’s just…” Her voice stuttered.

“What?”

Maeve made sure her hand was still clamped over her phone, not able to contain herself. “Corinne is here. She’s in the car park right now.”

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Maeve and I flapped around, looking like we were in a slapstick black and white movie.