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Chapter 12
‘It’s Sunday, Lili. You’ve spent enough time with me already, staying with me last night, coming with me on the walk into Southwold and then taking me to Cobblers Yard – even if itwasto introduce me to my new temp job. But joking aside, I want you to go home to Nate and William. My stepdad insisted on coming to pick me up. I don’t mind locking up the shop for you, if you have a spare key. No need for you to hang around.’
‘Okay, but only if you’re sure.’
‘I’m sure.’
Abigail followed Lili downstairs and through the shop to the front door. Lili handed over the key. ‘If there’s any problems, just call me.’
‘I’ll be fine, Lili. It’ll give me a chance to have a look at your accounts while I’m waiting.’
‘Thank you.’ Lili gave her a hug before leaving. She hesitated at the door. ‘Look, I’m sorry if I put you off about visiting Somerville Hall. If you want to come with me tomorrow, just text me and I’ll come and pick you up. And don’t say I’ll be driving out of my way, I know that. But I don’t mind, honestly.’
‘I’ll think about it, but you’re right – I don’t know what I expect will come out of the visit, especially if I can’t get into the house.’
‘Well, if you change your mind …’ Lili trailed off.
‘Yeah, I don’t think I will.’ Abigail changed the subject. ‘Have a nice day. Have you got any plans?’
‘Nate’s cooking a Sunday roast.’ Lili glanced up. The rain clouds were clearing. ‘It looks as though it’s going to turn into a nice day, so I might do a spot of gardening later.’ Lili stepped out of the shop and turned around. ‘Come and join us for dinner today, if your stepdad doesn’t mind driving you to Thorpeness after you’ve visited your mum.’
Abigail was already shaking her head. ‘I don’t think there will be time. I imagine I’ll be having Sunday dinner at theirs.’
‘Oh, yes, of course. You must come to visit us at The Summerhouse another time, then.’
‘Yes, I will. I promise.’ Abigail avoided eye contact, knowing she wouldn’t take her up on the offer. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to see Nate’s house in Thorpeness. From what Lili had told her, it sounded amazing. She called it an ‘Arts and Crafts’ house.
Built in a distinct style, in the forties, it sounded quite grand, with white shutters, turrets, and a beautiful garden. However, it wasn’t visiting the house that was putting her off, but seeing Lili and Nate together. She was happy for Lili that after splitting from her long-term partner, she had found love again. But despite Toby telling her to find a soulmate, she knew she wouldn’t find love again herself. Unlike Lili, it wasn’t on the cards for her. How could it be, when she’d lost her husband, her best friend, her soulmate? She knew she’d go and visit them when she was ready, when some time had passed. She didn’t begrudge Lili her happiness, but just then, with the loss of Toby so raw, Abigail didn’t want to be reminded of how empty her life would be from then on, and that special relationship she would miss.
‘Are you going to be okay, Abigail? Would you rather I stay until your stepdad arrives?’
Abigail often had these moments when zoned out, consumed by her loss. She supposed it was understandable. She looked at Lili. ‘No, I’m fine. You go.’ She caught the look on Lili’s face. It was a silly thing to say.I’m fine.Of course she wasn’t. It was only a figure of speech.
She closed the shop door behind Lili and remembered to lock up. They weren’t open on a Sunday. There was aClosedsign in the window, but Abigail locked the door from the inside – or she thought she had. She had made her way back up the narrow flight of stairs to the attic room, and was sitting in front of the computer, staring out of the window at the pretty cobbled yard below, when she heard the strangest noise; it was the tinkle of a bell.
Abigail was still waiting for the old computer to boot up when she thought she heard a door close downstairs and footsteps. She slowly rose from her chair, thinkingI’m sure I locked the shop door.The trouble with old locks, as Abigail had discovered at The Hideaway, was they could be temperamental, requiring a little bit of jiggling before they locked.
Abigail was just thinking that this was an old place and most likely had thin walls. Perhaps the noises were coming from the charity shop next door. Then she heard a man’s voice. ‘Hello? Is there anybody here?’
She froze. What was she going to do? She’d never served in a shop before. She tried to remain calm. How difficult could it be? Abigail sighed when she heard the customer call out again. ‘I’m coming!’ she called back as she walked back down the stairs. Perhaps she should just point out that the shop was closed and ask them to leave. On the other hand, Abigail didn’t want to lose Lili a potential customer.
Emerging at the foot of the stairs, Abigail saw a young man standing at the counter. He turned around. ‘Ah, hello.’
‘Hello.’ She glanced at the tall young man as she sidled over to the counter at the back of the shop, feeling self-conscious under his gaze. He was very good-looking; that thought crept unbidden into her mind as she took in his slender build, his soft brown eyes, his perfect teeth flashing that smile.
He brushed his hair away from his eyes. She didn’t know whether his hairstyle was intentional or whether he just hadn’t visited the hairdresser for a while, but she noticed he had a bit of an eighties thing going on; his wavy brown layers were slicked back just behind his ears. She couldn’t decide whether he had highlights, or whether his hair was naturally tinged with blonde.
Dressed in pale coloured chinos, a checked collar peeping out from the neck of a comfortable thin wool jumper, his outfit made a change from the usual jeans and hoodies she saw a lot of the guys from her generation wearing – including Toby when he wasn’t at work. Did the young man realise his whole vibe was a bit old-fashioned, fuddy-duddy even? Not that she didn’t like it – she did. Abigail could just imagine his girlfriend in a long A-line tweed skirt, and matching tweed jacket, hair done up in a bun like something out of a magazine for the gentry – if there was such a publication.
Abigail stepped behind the counter, wondering what she’d got herself into, pretending she knew what she was doing. She was about to say,We’re closed, you’ll have to leave,when the young man said, ‘I haven’t seen you in here before,’ suggesting he was a repeat customer.
Abigail looked at him. She definitely didn’t want Lili to lose repeat customers. ‘I don’t work here – well, not in the shop part. I’m doing Lili’s – I mean, The Potting Shed’s – accounts.’
‘You look way too young to be an accountant.’
Abigail blushed, feeling cross with herself that she’d enjoyed receiving a compliment from an attractive young man. ‘I’m not. Young, I mean. Or an accountant.’
He stared at her.
