Page 38 of The Bookshop Ladies

‘Well, I’m only here for the summer months, so…’ she laughed a little nervously. ‘It can’t be that huge.’

‘Okay,’ Joy said and smiled at Robyn, ‘I will explain it. You see, there is an art group in the village, or perhaps it’s more accurate to say, therewasan art group in the village, but they stopped meeting because the rooms in the community centre were taken over when the work was being done on the police station.’

‘Okay.’

‘Robyn asked if they’d like to use the shade of the canopy outside the shop one evening a week. There are only four of them and the teacher of course. They could sit in the reading chairs or stand and they might enjoy being able to paint a street scene, while the weather is warm.’

‘Wonderful idea, well done Robyn.’ Fern clapped her hands together. ‘Have you thought about carrying a basic supply of watercolours and brushes?’

‘Whoa, first off, not my idea. This was all Joy’s idea – she came up with it and, as for artists’ supplies, you know I wouldn’t have the first clue.’

‘I could help…’ the words were out before Fern could stop herself.

‘You see, Robyn, I told you, your mother would love to help out.’

‘Ahem, how exactly, when you say help out?’ Because from the way Robyn was holding her head in her hands, Fern had a feeling there had been some crossed wires along the way.

‘The thing is Mum, it’s not just…’ she began and stopped, started again. ‘The woman who ran the circle – Mischa something or other – she’s…’

‘She’s left Ballycove. So the group feel they can’t go on without some sort of direction,’ Joy took up the thread, ‘and of course, when they realised it was outside Robyn’s bookshop and that she’s your daughter, well, of course they asked if you’d like to join them for a session.’

‘For a session?’ Fern thought about it for a moment. ‘Just one session? Is that it?’

‘Yes, they would meet here once anyway, if we can find someone to lead the group, or they would be delighted to come one time if you could join them.’ Robyn was shaking her head, expecting the answer to be no.

‘Well I…’ Fern started. It was truly the last thing she wanted to do, to sit and watch a group of amateurs painting in the sunshine. They were literally asking her to watch paint dry. And then, in spite of her reservations, she heard herself say, ‘Okay, I’ll do it.’

The words were out before she could think about them, but she knew in her heart why she said yes. She said yes, because she wanted to be part of this cosy little group with Robyn and Joy. It was as if they were on the same wavelength, with just a shared nod or a raised eyebrow. She also said yes, because it was good to see her daughter so happy and engaged and committed to the bookshop and maybe she said yes, because for the last couple of months, she’d wondered if the place was making enough to keep the doors open for much longer and she truly had no idea what Robyn would do if it failed.

And so it was agreed. Later that day, Joy rang her to tell her it was all organised. The group were looking forward to their very special art circle meeting on Thursday afternoon the following week. And Fern was absolutely dreading it.

It was time to fall into bed when Fern heard the sound that made her heart practically stop. The ringtone she had chosen to notify her when Luc called. God, she had almost forgotten what it sounded like.

‘Where are you?’ There was nohow are you, noare you well,how are you coping,are you missing me?And for a moment, Fern felt again the anger that had been simmering beneath the hurt since she came back here. It had to do with being taken for granted for most of their marriage and, it turned out in the end, being taken for a complete fool.

‘I’m in Ballycove.’

‘You might have mentioned it.’

‘You never told me where you were going.’

‘Pah.’ He made that sound, blowing out between his lips, over the phone it sounded like something a horse did. ‘Anyway, I’m locked out.’

‘And, suddenly you need me.’

‘I forgot the code.’

‘Of course.’ Fern shook her head. He was always forgetting the code, that was why mostly they left it disarmed, although why on earth they kept paying for a security system that was switched off eighty percent of the time, she would never fathom. ‘The code is the same number as Robyn’s birthday.’

‘Oh, the nineteenth?’

‘Seriously?’ God, were all men like this or was it just Luc? ‘Would you have remembered mine?’ Stupid question, hadn’t he forgotten he was married to her at this point?

‘Don’t. Not now, let’s not do this while the police are arresting me for breaking into my own home.’

‘Ourhome.’

‘Yes, but you’re not here.’

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