Page 16 of The Bookshop By the Loch

Trevor gave an embarrassed shrug. “But it’s true though.”

I could hear my grandmother’s strong, dignified voice in my head. Och, if there’s a chance the bookshop can be saved, you must take it! If you don’t, you’ll always wonder what if?

I wasn’t thinking straight. Was I actually considering doing this? My heart hammered faster. Managing the local bookshop – and a failing one at that.

My grandfather sat forward in his chair. “You’re keeping us both in suspense here, Lexie, and I haven’t got time on my side at my age.”

I hesitated and blinked, lost in my own thoughts.

“We work on rebuilding the community spirit ethos of the place,” carried on Trevor, undeterred. “That is what any good, local bookshop should be about.” He pinned all his attention on me. “We give those online retailers and the supermarkets a run for their money.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but he carried on. “I think the modern word is reboot?”

“Trevor, I’m not sure…”

He pushed his glasses back up his nose. “Tell you what. Why don’t we give this arrangement with you taking over as manager a year and if things don’t work out as planned, then so be it. Would that make you feel more comfortable?”

“A year?” I repeated.

“Aye. That way, we’ll have given it a good old try and if things don’t work out as we hope, you can move on after twelve months to something else and I’ll admit defeat and close down.”

Managing Book Ends and trying to turn it around in a year? It would require a lot of hard work and creativity. It would be a huge gamble.

Cold, hard reality started to kick in. Hang on. Anyone would think I might actually be giving Trevor’s job offer serious consideration!

I had to get a grip. I wasn’t thinking straight. So much was happening, twisting and turning in my life. I needed to give my head a serious wobble. “I really appreciate you coming to speak to me about this, Trevor, but the answer is no.”

I shot up from the sofa and tried to ignore my burrowing guilt at Trevor’s crestfallen expression. “Thank you so much for thinking of me and for the job offer, but after what’s happened, my confidence is rock bottom and I don’t think I could be…”

“I think it’s a great idea.”

I stared down at my grandfather. “Sorry?”

He performed a casual shrug. “You know what books sell, Lexie. You’re full of ideas. I think you could make a real go of this.”

I started to protest, but my grandfather kept talking.

“Much better Trevor here keeps Book Ends and you give it a go for the year. At least you can try, rather than it be turned into some pretentious coffee shop.”

The pale light was spiralling through the sitting room window now, nudging its way across the barley-coloured carpet. “It could still end up being turned into a pretentious coffee shop, Gramps.”

“Yes, but there’s a chance it won’t be if you agree to help me,” insisted Trevor.

“I know your grandmother would approve.” Grandpa’s eyes carried a faraway look. “And like Trevor just said, if he puts a twelve-month deadline on Book Ends’ fortunes turning around and things don’t go to plan – well, you haven’t lost anything.”

Now I had the two of them ganging up on me. Talk about defenceless. “You do realise this is emotional blackmail?”

Trevor almost hid a smile. “Maybe it is. But I can’t even begin to make a go of this without you, Lexie.”

The fact that I was even giving Trevor’s job proposal consideration was freaking me out. My head was saying one thing and my heart was screaming another. “I’m worried that I won’t be able to improve things for you, Trevor,” I faltered. “It’s a big challenge.”

Trevor looked at me warmly. “Do you honestly think I would be here if I didn’t think you could do it?”

From down the hall, the front door creaked open, making the three of us start.

“Hi, Dad. You, ok?” called Mum.

I stared down at Trevor and Grandpa as the front door clicked shut.