Page 43 of Coming Home to Hope Street

‘Ah, here’s Ethan, and Kim – and Riley too.’ Kate waved as three people came in at the same time. ‘Livvy, you might know that Riley is the manager of Chandler’s Shoes on the high street – she’s the one with dark hair, and Ethan and Kim work for theHedworth News. Ethan is the photographer and Kim is one of the reporters.’

‘You’ve made an incredible job of it,’ Riley told them. ‘I can’t wait to see inside.’

Hannah was dying to rip the sheet down and open the doors so that everyone could see what had been created. Sudden tears pricked her eyes. How had this happened to her? One minute she was a full-time carer, and the next she had her very own book shop.

And around the corner from where she lived was a perfect place for it to be. There was hardly any competition and the high street was always busy. There was a second-hand bookstore in the market, and a smaller one on the outdoor market every Thursday. Somerley Stores had a few paperbacks in a revolving rack but other than that, there was nothing.

She couldn’t wait to start welcoming customers in. Besides, she was getting all emotional. Her mum wouldn’t see what she’d achieved. Still there was that ache she doubted she’d ever be rid of. If Martha had been with them, she would have sat at a window table, a chair removed so that her wheelchair could accommodate it. She’d be taking everything in, watching it all with anticipation and then joining in the celebration as they opened the shop for the first time.

Martha would have been so proud, especially to see Livvy here too. Hannah swallowed the lump in her throat, hoping her grief would stay away until this evening when she could let it all out in the privacy of her home.

‘Let’s take some photos,’ Ethan said, running a hand through his hair. ‘And then I can do more when you cut the ribbon. How about Hannah first, and then anyone else afterwards?’

At ten o’clock, Hannah officially opened The Book Stop. Whoops and chants to encourage a speech brought her into the middle of the shop floor.

‘I’d like to thank you all for coming,’ she said, a huge smile on her face. ‘I’m so pleased to finally get The Book Stop open. I’m sure you will agree that it’s such a warm place to hang around in, drinking coffee from The Coffee Stop while perusing a book from here.’

‘It will be good to get a break after all the hard work,’ Doug shouted and everyone laughed.

‘I’m really looking forward to helping out, Hannah,’ Kate joined in. ‘I’m sure The Book Stop will be a roaring success.’

‘You didn’t do bad with The Coffee Stop,’ a voice came from the back of the room.

Hannah searched it out to see that Will had slipped in quietly with two large bouquets of flowers. He handed one to each of them.

‘To The Book Stop!’ Everyone raised their glasses one more time.

Hannah gulped down her champagne along with the lump in her throat.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

The following morning, Livvy lay on the settee in her front room with a mild headache. When the book shop closed, Kate had announced that she’d prepped a lunch buffet for them all. Phoebe, who had managed to pop in for ten minutes when the shop had been opened, arrived back at half-past one to join the celebrations. She’d closed Hope Street Hair a little earlier than usual and brought Elliott and Tilly with her. There had been about twenty people in total, the wine had flowed along with the chatter and they’d finally come away around four o’clock.

Livvy had been at home since, relishing the evening sitting in the quiet as Pip had been across the street with Tilly. Today though, Pip was hovering around like she was after something.

‘Don’t you think you should get dressed, Mum?’ Pip asked, once she’d made her a second mug of coffee.

Livvy wasn’t in the mood to get going just yet. She’d been so busy this past week, working way over her allotted hours, yet this morning the cleaning had to be done and there was a pile of ironing threatening to topple over.

‘Leave me here for a while,’ she told Pip, closing her eyes and resting her head back.

‘Are you sure? I can pick you out a nice dress to wear.’

Livvy opened her eyes and frowned. ‘What’re you trying to sweeten me up for?’

‘Nothing.’ Pip’s eyes fell on the clock. It was five minutes to ten.

‘I’m not sure what’s going—’

There was a knock on the door.

‘I’ll get it.’ Pip ran out of the room like an athlete in training.

Livvy closed her eyes again, hoping it was someone who didn’t need her attention.

‘Mum,’ Pip said, coming back through to her. ‘There’s someone to see you.’

‘Hey, Livvy.’

---