Page 88 of The Bookshop By the Loch

“Yes, thanks. Not very exciting.”

“Oh?”

“No. Just making appointments and preparing the groundwork for more portraits.”

I waited to see if he would elaborate or mention having company, female in particular, but he didn’t.

“How about you?” he asked.

“Yes, good too thanks. My parents got back together.”

Tobias’s jaw dropped. “Seriously? Bloody hell! It’s all happening for you. How do you feel about it?”

I made sure I didn’t maintain eye contact with him for too long. It hurt too much. “Like my grandfather said, we weren’t that surprised. You can’t help who you fall for.”

Tobias’s attention lingered on my face. “Isn’t that the truth.”

I busied myself, feeling bruised. “Oh, and I bought myself somewhere to live. A flat.”

“Well, that’s great. Congratulations. Whereabouts?”

“It’s the one above the greetings card shop.”

“Nice and handy for work.” He paused. “So, what happens now with your parents?”

“Dad’s moving back in with my mum and grandpa. They’re in the middle of sorting everything out now. Mum is in her element, making lists about lists and organising everyone.”

Tobias smiled. “Your dad is a very lucky man.”

My hand hovered over the wire rack. “Yes, he is. I just hope he realises how much.”

I watched Tobias vanish into the office, but my attention was torn away by a tapping on the bookshop window.

It was Flora Simmonds.

Oh great! I hadn’t seen Flora since her exchange with Celeste. I recalled the upset brimming in Celeste’s eyes that day in Book Ends, when Flora had taken great delight in confronting her. My protectiveness towards Celeste had kicked in then. Now it was back with vengeance.

Flora swept in. “Had any more interesting visitors to Book Ends recently?”

I folded my arms, sending my bangle on my right wrist jangling. “Are you referring to Celeste Matthews by any chance?”

Flora widened her eyes. “Who? Oh, you mean, the silver songbird?”

I pursed my lips. She was trying to wind me up – and it was working. “Why do you call her that?”

Flora pretended to browse the nearby biography section. “Her maiden name was Finch.” She angled round to me, raising her light brows under her powder. “You should ask her yourself about the heady days of her youth. Quite a tale.”

She slipped me a tight smile and vanished back out into the street without buying anything.

Ask her yourself. Flora Simmonds’s supercilious expression riled me.

Frowning to myself, I abandoned what I was doing and fetched my mobile from under the counter. I located Maeve’s number. If Celeste had said anything about her confrontation with Flora to her daughter, I was certain Maeve would have mentioned it to me. Especially as it took place in Book Ends. They had a very close relationship.

And Tobias said she’d changed the subject when he’d mentioned it.

After several rings, Maeve answered.

I apologised for troubling her and exchanged some small talk. Then I broached the subject. “I don’t suppose Celeste has mentioned anything to you about a woman called Flora Simmonds?”