Page 8 of The Bookshop at the Cornish Cove

‘Twat!’ I muttered under my breath.

‘I’ll be round in the morning at eight o’clock. Sharp. Don’t be late.’

He turned and started to walk away and childishly I bobbed my tongue at him behind his back.

‘I saw that!’ he shouted over his shoulder.

I can’t imagine how I ever thought we might be more than friends. Despite me originally thinking that he was helpful, kind and considerate, he was the most irritating, annoying, condescending man I had ever had the misfortune to meet. However, he was also, apparently, about to be promoted, according to Vi, onto the board of directors of the company he worked at, so was clearly very good at his job. In Vi’s eyes he could do no wrong. I found this particularly strange as she was normally an excellent judge of character. Maybe, sometimes in life, you just don’t gel with someone. And I needed him more than I would ever let on. If I didn’t take the help offered to me, the only thing Santa would be bringing me this Christmas would be a bankruptcy notice.

7

I’d left the house that morning before anyone else was up and arrived at the shop at seven thirty. I knew I wouldn’t get much chance to read before Dennis arrived, so thought I’d come and switch on the fairy lights, basking in the lovely warm, cosy feeling that it gave me, before Mr Perfect came along and spoilt the vibe. I propped the door open, lit a sage stick, and wafted it around, determined to reduce any negative energy from his visit yesterday. I probably should have done it before I left last night, but after he’d gone, I felt completely shattered and closed early as I just wasn’t feeling the love. This morning, as I glanced out to sea, and could see the sun starting to rise, I breathed in deeply, closed my eyes and began to repeat my affirmations out loud.

‘I am a successful business owner.’ I repeated these words five times before moving on to the next one. I’d been told that you needed to do it at least this many times as positive thinking can affect your brain and change the way you feel inside.

‘I am resilient and can handle any challenges that come my way.’ Five repeats later and I was ready for another.

‘The universe is conspiring to bring me all that I want.’ Again repeated five times before moving on to the final one.

‘I am enough.’ Apparently this was the most powerful of them all, which tackled feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy. It promoted worthiness and self-confidence and I could definitely do with some of that. Halfway through the third time, I was rudely interrupted.

‘What’s all this malarkey then?’

I jumped at his voice.

‘I’m doing my daily affirmations.’

‘Your whatimations?’

‘Affirmations. They’re positively loaded phrases, which challenge unhelpful or negative thoughts. They’re used to encourage positive changes, boost self-esteem and belief. Oh, and they’re motivational too.’ I had learned this description off by heart when I was first told about them.

I saw him roll his eyes and jumped in before he could speak.

‘I’m a huge believer in manifesting, asking the universe for what you want and need and trusting that it will all work out.’ I smiled sweetly at him.

‘And how’s that working out for you so far?’

That smirk was beginning to form again. Much as I could have slapped him right then, I breathed deeply, and offered him a herbal tea. I did need some help and getting my knickers in a twist with him wasn’t going to help me at all.

‘I’d rather have a coffee if you have some. Stronger the better please.’

While the kettle was boiling, I had a little word with myself. I needed help. He could help me. Maybe I had to swallow my pride and see what he had to say. If he was all that Vi said he was, it would probably be worth listening to what he had to say, even if I didn’t agree. He might have had one little nugget of an idea that could help.

‘Look, Nancy, I feel like we’ve got off on the wrong foot. Shall we start over again?’

I looked into his big brown eyes. God, much as I didn’t want to, I could get lost in them. It occurred to me then that he looked like Ryan Gosling inCrazy Stupid Love. His mannerisms were quite like him too. Much as I fought them, and in my head told them to pipe down, little fireworks went off inside my tummy.

‘I’m stopping with Nan for a couple of weeks,’ he said. ‘Taking some time out of work. I’m going to be around anyway. I won’t know what to do with myself if I’m not working. It’ll give me something to do to while away my time.’

‘My bookshop is not a joke, Dennis.’

‘I didn’t mean it like that.’

‘How much do you charge? I’m not even sure I can afford you.’

‘Ah, don’t worry about that.’

‘I’d rather know upfront before I get stung with a big bill.’

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