“The same as ever.” She loved her mum, but she never let Eiley cook, always beat her to the kettle, and did the laundry every morning. It was her way of showing love, but it felt to Eiley like she was still a teenager living at home, only now she had three children to contend with, too. There was so little space in the three-bedroom house, and she rarely enjoyed reading in the evenings without the sound of Mum’s reality TV shows blaring through the paper-thin walls until she went to bed.
It was a strange feeling: she wanted to go home, but that place didn’t exist. Even in the flat, she’d felt that yearning, like something still wasn’t right. Perhaps she was the problem. She’d never belong anywhere.
Bernard stuck his tongue up her nostril, which she believed was his way of telling her to cheer up.
“Well, we just saw something outside you might be interested in,” Fraser said, dragging her to her feet.
“Oh? What is it? A new house? A car that doesn’t break down every other week?” She gasped. “Colin Firth?”
“Oh, I wish. You’ll have to see for yourself!” Harper picked up Saffron. “C’mon, let’s go and see what’s waiting for Mummy.” She ushered the children out of the bookshop while Fraser dragged Eiley out behind them. She dreaded to think what it might be; she’d had enough surprises to last her a lifetime …
And this one had her stopping dead in the middle of the street. Parked out front was a forest-green van.Thorn & Thistle Book Bushad been written in a curly font that resembled thorns and branches.
As though magicked out of thin air, Maggie hopped out of the front seat, hands raised in triumph. “Well? What do you think?”
“I think … I don’t know. What do I think?” Eiley inched tentatively closer. Who the hell was going to drive this thing? Certainly not her. Getting her license in a small car had been hard enough – she’d never have the confidence to drive around a bookstore on wheels, even if it was extremely cute. Perhaps Fergus might, but she’d barely seen him over the last few days.
“It was Stephen’s idea!” Maggie rubbed her hands together with fervour.
“Right. It’s great.” Eiley blinked. Everyone was still looking at her like they expected something more. She tried again: “Really a great idea. Lovely … Who will be driving it?”
A hoarse cackle pealed from Maggie. “You, silly! You were so sad about not being able to work in the bookstore, and Iwheelywanted to keep the business up and running.”
Harper was the only one to laugh at the pun, Fraser grimacing as he slung an arm around his girlfriend’s shoulder.
Nausea twisted in Eiley’s gut. “I … I can’t drive this, Maggie. It’s too big.”
Maggie frowned. “You have your license, don’t you? It’s only a wee van, dear.”
“Aye, but I’m only used to averywee car.”
“C’mon, Eiley,” Fraser encouraged. “I’ll help you practise if you want.”
She didn’t want. He’d helped her enough this week alone, sacrificing time in his beloved workshop to help her pack up.
“Can’t we just keep up the stall after the autumn festival? That way, we’re still in the same place. People will know where to find us.”
“Have you forgotten how grim Scottish weather can be?” Harper asked. “The books will be drenched for eternity.”
Well, that was true. The weather was still disconcertingly warm at the moment, but it wouldn’t last forever. She hoped. Eiley didn’t fancy standing out here in hailstone, snow, sleet, rain, and winds – all of which could happen in one day here – until the bookshop was back on its feet.
“Well, what about Fergus?” she proposed. “He certainly likes to be busy.”
Maggietsked. “Fergus handed in his notice yesterday. Said I don’t take the business seriously enough and he can’t trust me as an employer. The audacity!”
Typical. The one time she actually wanted Fergus to stick his nose in, and he wasn’t here.
Maggie frowned. Or tried to. Only one eyebrow moved on her smooth forehead. “I thought you’d be happy, dear.”
Guilt replaced Eiley’s anxiety. Maggie had done this to make her happy, and to keep the bookstore running.
“I am. I’m very happy!” she fixed, and hoped it sounded believable. “I know! What if we just kept it parked here?”
“Well, the idea was that travelling around would help us get more exposure,” Maggie said, playing with a dangling pumpkin earring that matched her rust-orange turtleneck. “I know we’ve been able to fund things so far, but I’ll be honest, business is hard. Between that and the flood damage, we could use a new strategy. And isn’t the book bus just adorb? I want all of Lochaber to see it! Nay, all of Scotland!”
“It issostinking adorb,” Harper agreed, stroking the van door affectionately. “I want to write a cosy romance about a travelling bookstore owner immediately.”
Maggie gasped. “Nowthere’san idea. Will you credit me?”
