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‘It will be just another one of my life’s mysteries.’
He looked at her, wondering what other mysteries she might be referring to. Something told him there were things the two sisters were hiding about their life in the bookshop – memories from their childhood that they wouldn’t share with a stranger. And who could blame them? They weren’t the only ones hiding things.
Callum took her hands in his. Although they’d only known each other a short time, it felt like they’d become firm friends. ‘I’ll be back, rest assured.’
She looked at him. ‘That’s exactly what he said to me, the last time I saw him.’
Callum swallowed. He didn’t know what to say.
But Mabel did. ‘You know what?’ She gave his hand a reassuring pat. ‘I think someone up there sent you to me, to give me a sense of …. what do the Americans call it? Closure?’
Callum managed a smile. ‘Yes, perhaps there’s an angel up there watching out for you.’ He frowned wondering where on earth that had come from.
Mabel’s eyes went wide. ‘Perhaps it’s Douglas.’
Callum pursed his lips. He didn’t believe in that sort of thing – did he? But he’d started it, so he couldn’t very well backtrack on what he’d just said. He looked at the sweet old lady and said, ‘I bet it is.’
‘Mabel? I’m making lunch. Would you lock the door now, please?’
Callum looked over Mabel’s shoulder at her sister. He lowered his voice, and said, ‘Your sister’s a bit of a bossy-boots.’
Mabel rolled her eyes. ‘Oh, you don’t know the half of it. Sometimes I feel she’s been bossing me around, taking charge, my whole life. But she has been a blessing. She introduced me to my late husband.’
‘That’s nice,’ said Callum. He felt something tickle his ankle, and looked down to find Dickens attacking his trouser leg with a paw. ‘Well, I’d better get going, and you’d better have lunch, Mabel.’
‘Yes, before Marjorie gets ants in her pants.’
They exchanged a smile.
‘Shame you don’t know that young woman. She looked very pretty. Are you single? You might like her.’
As Callum turned from the door, he doubted very much that he would, considering it sounded as though she may have a key to the bookshop.Who was she?Callum knew he wouldn’t have long to find out; if she didn’t reappear that afternoon, he’d be there waiting for her at the bookshop the next day, interested to see if she did turn up with a key to the shop, as Mabel had intimated – and to find out what she thought she was doing with a key to his bookshop.
Chapter 42
‘Yes, I agree that isn’t acceptable behaviour, and bullying can’t be tolerated.’ Thea rolled her eyes at Toby, who was sitting at the kitchen table looking as though butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. Surprisingly, it seemed he had misbehaved at school.
Thea’s plan to return to the bookshop that afternoon after checking in on the dog had not materialised. Nor had her plan to visit her sister. She frowned at her nephew, who was avoiding eye contact.
Thea’s afternoon had turned out to be anything but straightforward. First, she’d returned to her sister’s house after a lovely lunch at The Two Magpies Bakery and had discovered that Winston had done a big wee on the lovely wooden floor. It stunk. She couldn’t blame the dog. He was only young, and it had happened just inside the back door; he had obviously been hoping that someone would return and let him out before he couldn’t hold on any longer.
He had cowered, ears drawn back, in the corner of the kitchen when she’d returned. She’d thought his behaviour odd when he didn’t rush up to her to greet her like she had expected.
She had given him a fuss, anyway, reassuring the poor dog that it wasn’t his fault before she cleared up the mess. Her afternoon had not got any better. What had followed was a phone call from the school to come and pick up Toby.
Thea was still on the phone to the headteacher, wishing she could just put the phone down, but she knew that wouldn’t help matters. Out of the twins, it was Katie, with her sharp tongue, about whom Thea might have anticipated receiving a phone call from the headteacher and an excruciating lecture about school policy, followed by a suspension.
Thea frowned at Toby while she spoked on the phone. ‘I’m sorry – for how long?’
‘Five days is our policy.’
‘The rest of this week?’
‘Yes, and Monday.’
Thea rolled her eyes. ‘Just great,’ she commented sarcastically, still eyeing Toby. He started edging off the stool, thinking she wouldn’t notice. She pointed at him to stay put.
Toby folded his arms on the table and put his chin on his forearms. He stared at her.
