Page 75 of The Bookshop By the Loch

“Yes, thanks,” I managed. I didn’t want to have to explain or relive the evening. “Well, I’ve got work tomorrow. Didn’t want to be late. How are things?”

Her voice was full of adrenalin. “I’ve been thinking long and hard about everything; about your father.” She gulped. “Your grandfather told me earlier that I was letting my stubborn streak dictate what I should do.”

“Mum?”

She let out a long rush of air, like a hissing balloon. “Your father will be heading back to the States soon and I have to decide what I’m going to do. Could I live with myself not meeting up with him? I’ve thought long and hard about that and I’m not sure I could.”

Her words galloped out of her. She wrung her hands in front of her. “I’ve decided I’ll meet your father and hear what he has to say.” She gathered herself. “I have ghosts I need to lay to rest too.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

The next few days saw Chloe and me showing Daryl, our new part-time member of staff, the ropes and familiarising him with everything. I was also busy with freelance editing in the evenings for a couple more aspiring authors, browsing through the latest bookseller magazines and thinking of ideas for new window displays for the shop.

I also pushed on with reading and editing Celeste’s novel, which had me entranced.

Every evening, I found myself looking forward to losing myself in its spellbinding pages. It was somewhat wordy in parts and lacking in description in others, but the characters and plot were enthralling.

I also decided to be proactive about getting my living arrangements sorted, now that my Glasgow estate agents had just given me the good news that an offer had been put in from a young couple for my flat. I therefore made an appointment with the local estate agents here in Bracken Way, to go and see the two-bedroom flat situated above the local greetings card shop, For Every Occasion, which had just gone on the market.

The kitchen was smaller than my one in Glasgow, but the sitting room was more generous and it had wonderful views of the Bracken Way hills. It was also clean and comfortable, as well as only being a five-minute walk to work, which was a major plus point.

I decided to put in an offer straight away.

New-flat-hunting, as well as anything else I could think of to keep me occupied, meant spending less time thinking about Tobias.

I was grateful he was also busy with a flurry of new portrait commissions, which meant he wasn’t around a lot of the time in Mirror Image. He was doing his best to avoid his mother and his uncle, who was back from his book festival event. Tobias warned them not to set foot inside the art gallery for the time being.

He seemed to think that avoiding the issue was the best option, rather than hearing what Trevor and Caroline had to say.

Much to my delight, Celeste, adorned in a cream knitted shift dress with a matching bolero jacket and a string of pearls, decided to surprise me with one of her carers, Joy, on the Thursday morning that week.

She appeared in her glitzy wheelchair, wreathed in smiles and pushed along by Joy.

I darted towards the shop entrance and assisted Joy and Chloe to angle Celeste’s wheelchair into Book Ends.

“Isn’t this marvellous?” appreciated Celeste, gazing around herself. Her delicate hands clutched onto the arms of her wheelchair. “I hope the locals are supporting you, Lexie.”

“Oh, they are. Business is good and I hope to build on the support we’ve had so far. In fact, business is so good, that we’ve had to take on another member of staff part-time.” That would help me in trying to avoid Tobias too, I thought to myself with a stab of guilt. It would mean I could concentrate on more office-based work and promotional stuff.

And not have to have as many dealings with him, whispered a voice in my head.

“Well, if you’ll excuse me for two seconds, I’ll have a quick browse through your crime section,” beamed Joy.

“If you need any help, don’t hesitate to ask,” called Chloe, flashing a wide smile.

“Will do.” Joy hurried off, her sky-blue carer’s uniform rustling as she went.

“And how are you?” I smiled down at Celeste in all her summer finery.

“Just about the same, dear. Fighting for every breath.”

“Oh, please don’t say that.”

“It’s true,” she said with a wink. “But I won’t be going down without a bloody good fight.”

“Glad to hear it. Now, would you like me to take you on a tour of the premises?”

“That would be lovely. Thank you.”