Preparations for my launch party had been taking place for a week or two. Dennis was true to his word. I’d seen him in the bay a couple of times wandering around the harbour with Gladys, Vi’s dog. His gait lacked energy; not what I would have expected from a high-flying business consultant which is what Vi had described him as when she talked about her grandson. His constant staring out at the horizon made him look like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. Not that I’d been observing him much of course. I just happened to have seen him a couple of times as I looked out of the window, and when I had passed him in the bay, he had just smiled and said hello, but it was one of those smiles that didn’t quite reach the eyes. He was, however, the talk of the village, particularly among the womenfolk, who all seemed to bat their eyelashes at him, even though he was oblivious to the attention.
There was a little bit of me that felt sorry for him as he just didn’t seem happy, but then when I remembered his previously cutting words, I tried not to dwell on them. I had enough worries of my own. What had started off as a small gathering of friends and family, to celebrate the opening of my dream come true – abookshop of my very own – was now costing me an arm and a leg on top of what I’d already spent on stock.
My original plan was to just open the doors on a Saturday morning but Mum and Dad had insisted we should mark the occasion in a more celebratory way and host a proper gathering. The day soon came around and I’d ended up ordering cupcakes decorated with books, Buck’s Fizz made with good quality champagne and freshly squeezed orange juice, and little gift bags with a free bookmark. Mum also suggested that I wrap a book up in brown paper and slip that in the gift bag too as a ‘blind date with a book’ gimmick, a great idea, but the amount of money I’d spent on the launch came to a small fortune.
As I was swept away with everyone else’s ideas of what the day should look like, it wasn’t the day I had wanted.
‘Congratulations, my darling. Look at how busy your shop is. I told you they’d love the gift bags.’
‘Thanks, Mum, and for all your help too. I really appreciate it.’
‘I wish your Aunty Theresa could see you now. Bless her.’
Mum kissed my cheek and wandered away from the counter where I thought I might be busier, but it seems that giving away a book meant that people didn’t think they had to buy one. Hopefully they’d be back another day to browse when they had more time. It was a genius idea of Mum’s to open up on Bank Holiday weekend, so that people who were visiting the bay on holiday might come back on the coming Monday, and I’d included a flyer in the gift bag with the opening hours. Fingers crossed for a bit more till action on Monday.
Despite the lower-than-expected sales, it was a wonderful day and the love I felt from the locals was truly heart-warming. Floating around in my very own bookshop really was a dream come true.
A nervous throat-clearing cough from behind me brought me back to the present, trying not to think about how much money I’d spent and how long it would take me to claw it back. It would all be worth it in the end. I had to believe that.
‘Nancy, do you have a minute?’ I turned at the sound of a man’s voice as I pottered around behind the counter. My heart sank when I realised who it was, but I pulled my shoulders back and pasted a smile on my face.
‘Dennis. What can I do for you?’
‘I just wanted to wish you luck for your new venture.’
‘Do you though?’
‘Yes. I really do and if I could take back the words I said before, I would. I should never had been so negative. I was wrong. I’m admitting I was wrong and Iamtruly sorry.’
The surprise, and that I was taken aback by his words, must have been written all over my face.
‘Why the change of heart? You seemed pretty adamant about sharing failing business facts with me.’
Vi appeared at this point.
‘Because I gave him a bollocking. That’s why! Shitting idiot.’ She gave him a short, sharp rap on the arm and he dodged out of her way.
Dennis and I both laughed. ‘Please excuse my nan’s potty mouth. She can’t help herself.’ Vi was well known for speaking her mind and we all loved her dearly despite the fact she never held back. Mum ran a cleaning company and Vi was her favourite client.
He held out his hand to me to shake.
‘Truce? Friends?’
Looking into his big brown eyes, which seemed to bore right into the very core of me, my tummy did a little flip. I’d forgotten my breakfast that day in all of the excitement. Hadn’t even had chance to have one of my own book cupcakes. I must be hungry.
I wasn’t sure if Dennis and I would ever be friends exactly, but maybe if he was around in the bay, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to be pleasant with him, as long as he didn’t try to impart his voice of doom on me. I had no wish for negative Nellies in my life.
‘Positive vibes only?’ I reached out my hand to meet his and he grinned back at me. God! His film star looks really were quite dazzling, although he appeared to be unaware of the effect he had on the ladies of Driftwood Bay. Except on me, of course. I had a business to run and a planet to save with no time or energy to have a crush on anyone right now.
3
‘How many times do I have to tell you, Nancy? Don’t feed the pesky seagulls.’
Mum slammed the door behind her as she walked into Books In The Bay. Looks like that was the end of my peaceful reading hour.
‘They’re vermin and you’ll never get rid of them. Blooming scavengers.’
‘It’s only a bit of bread, Mum. They’ll go and find someone else to feed them tomorrow.’
