Page 26 of The Bookshop By the Loch

“In what way?”

Trevor let out a pained sigh. “Tobias isn’t happy about me changing my mind over the shop.” A myriad of emotions crossed his pensive face. “But I have to do what I feel is right, don’t I?”

“Of course, you do.” My stomach clenched with irritation. That pain in the arse Tobias Black had managed to get to his uncle; he had thrown Trevor, made him feel conflicted, as though he was doing the wrong thing.

Trevor gathered himself. “Och, enough about me and my family dramas. Things still tense with your father?”

The bookshop windows reflected the rainbow mixture of waterproof jackets and baseball caps ferrying past. “That’s being polite.” I paused. “Mum, Grandpa and I happened to see my father on TV a few weeks ago, reporting from Washington for one of the lunchtime news shows.”

Trevor’s eyes popped in surprise. “Goodness me. That must’ve been a shock for you all.”

“It was.”

He shook his head. “He’s missed out on so much, not watching you grow up.” He fell quiet for a few moments. “And your lovely mum… how he could abandon you both like that.”

We both moved towards the bookshop entrance and stared out at the view.

“It is what it is,” I answered, gazing ahead of me again at the dancing sparkles of water on the surface of Loch Bracken.

I turned to him, the chatter and excited squeals from the ice cream shop a bit further up the road travelling down the pavement.

My worry began to bite again. “I won’t lie, Trevor. I’m concerned about your nephew’s reaction to us modernising Book Ends.”

Trevor brushed off my worries. “Don’t you take any notice. Like I said, I know Tobias has a stake in the business, but at the end of the day, it’s my shop, not his.”

I nodded. I would just have to throw everything at this and ensure that this time next year, business in Book Ends was brisk and that there would be no way Trevor could contemplate closing down. Now that I’d met that arrogant nephew of his, I was even more fired up about making the bookshop a success.

Trevor stuck his neck out further from his brown checked shirt. “I have to say I’m very surprised though.”

“About what?”

“Tobias moving back to Bracken Way. He’s an enterprising young man. I would never have thought he’d want to leave the city and return here.”

“You said he’s an artist?”

“Yes. A portrait painter and a very accomplished one.” Trevor fiddled with one of the chunky buttons on his cardigan, deep in thought. “He was spotted by a prestigious critic doing street art in Glasgow a few years ago and his career took off.” Trevor’s expression changed. “No doubt I’ll have his mother braying down the phone at me about getting my priorities wrong and not putting family first.”

The faint lines around his eyes deepened. There was a troubled haze to his expression. Then it cleared. “Right. Seeing as I’m here, how about I treat you to one of Mrs Hegarty’s lattes and a Danish pastry and you can tell me how things are going with your plans for Book Ends conquering the book world?”

“That would be lovely. Thank you. And we can start making plans to sort through the book stock, if that’s alright?”

Trevor agreed.

“As it’s the bank holiday weekend, I thought we might be able to begin selecting what books to sell and we could make a start on trying to sell those on Monday morning? Set up a table here? I’ve checked the forecast and there’s supposed to be no rain.”

Trevor broke into a smile. “Sounds like a plan. Now, let’s go get those pastries and talk more.”

I began the weekend by updating the bookshop’s social media accounts with details of our new plans for Book Ends. I hoped that my exciting announcements would draw the curious – of all ages – to come by and take a look.

Book Ends will be back on 25th May – brighter and better than ever!

Come along to our grand re-opening at 10am, to see the new-look bookshop in your community.

It still has all the wonderful selection of authors and genres you know and love, but there are some new additions too, as well as enterprising and exclusive loyalty schemes to save YOU money!

*Pick up a Book Ends loyalty card. Have it stamped every time you make a purchase and receive your seventh title FREE!

*Stuck on what author or genre to buy for that special person in your life? Why not buy a Book Ends gift card? Have your chosen amount loaded onto the card and your loved one can come in and choose the book they want.