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Marjorie rolled her eyes in her sister’s direction. ‘Yes, because Callum is in it.’
Mabel didn’t refute that comment. She did ask, ‘Are you in anything else?’
Callum shook his head. ‘Nothing of note.’ He preferred not to mention the roles he’d had earlier in his career, most of which had been bit-parts in embarrassingly bad movies.
Marjorie turned to Callum. ‘Would you like a cup of tea?’
Callum glanced over his shoulder at the bookshop. A part of him still wanted to avoid Thea and Toby, as he had done the previous day after he’d seen Thea’s resemblance to the girl in the photo. He was about to turn down the offer, knowing he couldn’t do a repeat performance with Thea and just disappear for the rest of the day. But then he thought, why not?It was only a cup of tea.
He took a seat. ‘Yes, please. But only on the proviso I can have a chocolate digestive biscuit with my tea. Preferably two.’ He wasn’t joking. Callum had missed so many things when he’d been away living and working in America, like a good old cup of tea and a biscuit. Of course, you could get those in the States, but for some reason they never tasted quite the same.
It turned out that Marjorie had an ulterior motive for inviting him to join them for a cuppa. She made a pot of tea in double-quick time. As she poured the tea into three china mugs, she said, ‘So, Callum, we saw you this morning going into the bookshop.’
‘Really, Marjorie,’ Mabel looked at her sister crossly, ‘I told you that in confidence.’
Marjorie eyed her sister. ‘Did you now. I bet you’re dying to know what he was doing in there – with that girl!’
Callum looked from one sister to the other.
‘Didn’t we say they’d make a nice couple?’ said Marjorie.
Callum tried to hide his frown, but Mabel caught it. ‘Has she got a boyfriend already? I wouldn’t be surprised. She’s a pretty little thing, isn’t she Marjorie?’
‘Oh, yes.’
They both turned to look at Callum, eyebrows raised, waiting for his response.
Before he got on to the subject of Thea, he had a question for them. He got out his wallet and found the photo.
‘We’re going to visit the bookshop,’ announced Mabel.
‘Are we?’ said Marjorie. ‘I thought you said you never wanted to step foot in that bookshop again?’
Callum looked at them in surprise, wondering what they had against the bookshop. He’d assumed they had fond memories of the place and would jump at the chance to get inside for a trip down memory lane. Maybe they didn’t have fond memories of growing up there after all – or perhaps Mabel’s aversion was just down to the fact that it reminded her of her lost love.
Callum didn’t ask. He had his own problems to sort out.
Mabel said to her sister, ‘I presume that after all these years the bookshop has changed hands, and she’s the new owner. I’d like to meet her.’
He put the photo on the table and slid it towards them. ‘Do you recognise these girls?’
Mable and Marjorie exchanged a glance. Marjorie put on her reading glasses and picked up the photo. She asked, ‘When was this taken?’
Callum shrugged. ‘I don’t know exactly. But judging by their clothes and hairstyles, they must be around my age now.’
‘Let me see,’ said Mabel, reaching for the photo in her sister’s hand.
Marjorie handed it over.
Mabel took one look, and said, ‘It’s them. It’s the two girls who lived in the bookshop.’
Marjorie said, ‘Are you sure?’
‘Oh, yes,’ said Mabel.
Callum raised his eyebrows. ‘Do you know their names?’
Mabel turned to Marjorie. ‘It’s Thea and Jenna. I’m sure of it.’
