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‘A stiff drink, more like!’
Callum breathed a huge sigh of relief. ‘I think I need one too.’
Mabel said, ‘It explains everything.’
Callum furrowed his brow.
‘It explains why our father left him the bookshop.I always thought he’d leave it to us, to me. But he didn’t. He left it to the evacuee. He wasn’t even his own flesh and blood – or so I thought.’
‘You were wrong, Mabel.’
‘Oh, my lord. All these years we’ve been estranged. We never knew.’
Callum looked at her. ‘I think your father owed it to you, Marjorie and Henry, to tell you all the truth.’
He thought of Mabel and Marjorie, and their estrangement from their brother because he had been left the bookshop. Callum knew he’d been sent to give Thea and Jenna an old yellow campervan, whereas Henry had signed over the bookshop to him. How could he possibly tell them that?
Mabel said, ‘But how can I be sure?’
‘How can you be sure of what?’ a stranger’s voice said. A gentleman appeared from behind a bookshelf.
Callum said, ‘I didn’t hear you come in the bookshop.’
‘Ray!’ Mabel got out of her chair.
Ray walked over. ‘Now, I could have guessed you’d have something to do with the rumour around town that the bookshop is reopening.’
‘Oh, it’s no longer a rumour. There are flyers all round town, on lampposts and in shop windows, announcing the big event tonight.’
Callum looked at her. ‘Are there?’
‘I heard Margot is going to be the star guest,’ said Ray.
‘She certainly is. It was Lexi’s idea, but Margot is really excited about it. Lexi tells me she’s so happy to be releasing her first book in years right here in her home county.’
‘I bet she is.’
Callum stared at Ray.
Ray looked at him. ‘Oh, excuse me – I’m Ray. I’ve come to lend a hand if the new owner needs one.’ He looked around the shop.
‘Oh, Thea isn’t here at the moment,’ said Mabel. ‘She’s gone to see her sister in hospital.’
‘Oh, dear. Nothing serious, I hope.’
‘I don’t think so. She broke her leg, although …’ Mabel lowered her voice. ‘I heard she’s pregnant.’
Callum looked at Mabel in surprise. ‘Really? How do you know that?’
Mabel tapped her nose. ‘I have my sources.’
Ray sighed. ‘I’m afraid nothing is a secret in this town.’
Callum thought,You wanna bet?
‘Hey, your face looks familiar,’ said Ray, eyeing Callum. ‘You star in that show! My wife is such a big fan. You’re a long way from Hollywood. What are you doing in these parts?’
‘Callum’s been helping out at the bookshop. I think he’s got a thing for Thea.’
