Page 120 of The Bookshop By the Loch

Iarrived back at my flat that evening, after Tobias insisted on dropping me home.

There had been more greedy, breathless kissing in his car, before I reluctantly parted ways with him.

I felt like a besotted teenager, giddy with the thoughts of seeing him again – it was heavenly.

I got ready for bed, flitting in a dreamy state from my bedroom to the kitchen to make myself a camomile tea.

Once in bed, I thrashed around, unable to sleep. Thoughts careered around my head like an out-of-control train. Mum coping so well with Dad; Corinne turning up like that; Celeste’s expression when she saw her; the years falling away; then Tobias sketching me, before we kissed… I could still feel the solidity of him against me; my fingers furling and tangling in his dark curls… Oh, this was useless!

I threw back the covers, made a second cup of camomile in the hope it might help me to fall asleep and set up my laptop in the sitting room.

My promise to Celeste to write an ending to her book echoed around my head.

My fingers hovered above the keys. The cursor flashed on the screen. I could make out my faint silhouette.

I could do this. I would write the epilogue for Celeste.

I reached for my mug, took a measured mouthful and set it back on the coaster. I began to type, the rattle of the keys reverberating around my quiet flat.

Adrenalin and determination spurred me on.

I became lost in what I was writing, thoughts and ideas pouring out of me, until I realised my eyes were feeling gritty, so I got up and strode around my flat to stretch out my tired arms and legs. Then I returned to the ghostly glow of the screen and began typing again.

I wasn’t aware of the time. My fingers continued to produce sentence after sentence, paragraph after paragraph, like I was possessed and was unable to stop for breath.

As I carried on writing, I realised with a surprised jolt that I was actually enjoying this; breathing life into the characters and chiselling out their lives.

I refused to stop, exhilarated by the way the story was running with me and coming together.

It was only when I typed The End, that my fingers finally came to rest on the keys and I slid back against my sofa and slipped into a dazed sleep.

What the hell had I been thinking last night?

I opened one apprehensive eye, then the other and squealed at my reflection in the hall mirror.

My skin was pasty and there were purple smudges of weariness under my eyes. My original plan had been to sashay into Book Ends that morning, bowling Tobias over with my glossy, mermaid complexion and looking ethereal in one of my prettiest dresses.

Instead, I’d sat up writing half the night and now I looked like Freddie Krueger in a frock.

Desperate, I applied a couple more coats of black mascara, slid on some of my brightest pink lipstick and smudged blusher on my cheeks. I secured my hair back from my face in a high, bouncy ponytail. If I smiled a lot, that might disguise the psycho killer bags under my eyes. Then again, I might freak Tobias out even more if I was grinning like an idiot at everything.

I slid my laptop case over my shoulder. It had been worth it though. I might have a face like a burst balloon, but I’d written the epilogue of Celeste’s story! That it was for her made the realisation that I’d been able to write fiction and had enjoyed the chaotic, frantic process, sweeter still.

I decided I would drop by straight after work and read it to her.

The grey drizzle couldn’t dampen my spirits as I huddled under my cherry blossom umbrella, walking towards Book Ends.

The pavements, roads and roofs were glistening with July rain. Parents were praying for improved weather in the meantime!

My stomach soared as I reached the shop entrance. I could see from the outside that Mirror Image was still in darkness. Tobias hadn’t arrived yet.

I tightened my ponytail and located the shop key in my bag.

“Well, good morning.”

Tobias was head and shoulders behind me, his towering silhouette wavering in the shop windows.

A shiver of anticipation raced up and down my spine.