AllFreeNovel
Share Us
But Rae isn’t, that much I do know. Leaving her to it, an hour later I come back with coffee and sandwiches. Putting them down on her desk, I look at her. ‘There must be something I can do to help you in here.’
Rae looks surprised. ‘What – you?’
I’m not giving up. ‘Obviously, I’m no expert, but I can dust shelves, or unpack things or pack them up or whatever else needs doing.’
Rae looks at me disbelievingly. ‘It’s a beautiful day and you already work hard enough. You should go for a walk or something.’
‘We can do that later.’ I stand my ground. ‘Together. Meanwhile, I’m offering to help. If I were you, I’d take me up on that.’
Whether I’m actually any help or not, the afternoon passes quickly enough. A few customers come and go. I eavesdrop shamelessly, and as I’m working out, this shop is about far more than books.
Whether it’s the latest fiction or something entirely different, Rae seems to have an intuitive gift for understanding where people are in life, what they’re trying to find, doing it quietly in a way that makes them feel good, while every book she recommends is taken gratefully.
‘You have quite something in here,’ I tell her in one of the lulls.
She looks surprised. ‘All I’m doing is helping people. I know what the books are about. They don’t – not always, anyway.’
‘You’re doing much more than you realise.’ I watch her cheeks flush. And it’s true. Whatever magic there is about this shop, it’s because Rae is here.
After she closes, I look at her. ‘How about we get a drink?’ I wait for her to object. But to my surprise, she smiles.
‘OK.’
Locking up, we walk down the High Street, stopping outside a bar where there’s a single empty table. Sitting in the autumn sun, after ordering two beers, Rae starts to relax.
‘I really need this.’
‘I know you do.’ I raise my glass. ‘Cheers.’
‘Cheers.’ She manages the faintest of smiles. ‘That was really nice – what you said about the shop.’ Her smile brightens. ‘I guess I wanted it to be a place where people would feel comfortable. Escape for a bit, if that’s what they need.’
‘You could have quite a hub if you wanted to.’ I watched more than a few people bumping into friends there this afternoon.
She lowers her gaze. ‘I really like that idea. It would be cool, wouldn’t it, having people gather there.’
‘It would be good for business, too.’ I pause. ‘There’s something else I want to talk to you about,’ I say quietly. ‘I know how worried you are, about Marnie.’ I hesitate. ‘We both know what her diagnosis is. But even now, none of us knows how long she could have. It isn’t impossible it could be months. People defy the medics all the time.’ Pausing for a moment, I’m not going to insult her with clichés. ‘I suppose what I’m trying to say is, however tough things are right now, don’t give up hope.’
‘You’re right. And I’m really trying not to. But sometimes…’ Her voice wavers. She changes the subject. ‘So, about your goats…’ There’s a flicker of interest in her eyes. ‘Are we going to see them?’
‘You’re sure? They’re devils, the pair of them.’ I roll my eyes. ‘They keep escaping. Yesterday, I came downstairs and found them in the kitchen.’
As we drive away from Arundel, Rae is silent and I take in the surrounding countryside. I love nature’s colour palette, whether it’s the verdant greens of spring, the golden shades that turn to red as summer becomes autumn, even the rich brown of ploughed winter fields.
Back at my cottage, we wander down to the end of the garden and climb into the goats’ paddock. As Rae crouches down, Bella nuzzles her hair, while Jojo sits on my lap and chews my ears. Since being on my own, the love of my furry little family has filled a gap, but tonight, as I stroke their fuzzy heads, it’s Rae I’m mesmerised by.
As we walk up the garden, I’m about to suggest ordering a takeaway when Rae’s phone buzzes with a text.
‘It’s Marnie.’ As she reads it, the colour leaches from her face. ‘She’s been taken into hospital.’ Her eyes are desperate. ‘I have to go… Would you mind driving me?’
‘Of course.’ Inside, I pick up my keys with one hand and my jacket in the other, already hurrying to the door.
Rae’s quiet as we drive. ‘I’m really worried, Jack.’
‘I know you are. But we don’t have the full picture yet. And she’s in the right place.’ There are all kinds of possibilities, but the fact is, when Marnie is sick, there’s no trivialising any of this.
‘I need to let Birdy know.’
While Rae calls her sister, I’m already thinking ahead and as we turn into the hospital, I glance at Rae. ‘Let’s see what they say once she’s admitted – but depending on what’s going on, I might be able to help arrange admission to the hospice.’
