Page 12 of Christmas at the Little Bookshop by the Sea

‘I can’t think of anything right now, Mags, everything seems under control and, anyway, shouldn’t you be taking things easy?’ Florrie asked.

‘Pfft! Have you been talking to Bear? He’s stuck on repeat at the moment, always telling me to sit down and put my feet up.’ Maggie chuckled. ‘And I keep telling him I’m pregnant, not ill! Honestly, I’d get nothing done if it was up to him.’

It hadn’t escaped Florrie and Ed’s attention how Bear had been fussing around his wife like the proverbial mother hen, always checking she was okay, making her cups of tea and keeping her well-supplied with her favourite lemon sherbets that she’d developed an insatiable craving for. ‘Tell you what, it’s been a while since we’ve had a cuppa. You could always stick the kettle on, if you like?’ Florrie checked her watch. ‘And since it’s not long before everything kicks off with the window reveal, you and Bear are welcome to hang around for that.’

‘Sounds good to me. I’ll go and get that kettle on.’ Maggie rubbed her hands together as if she meant business. ‘Tea okay for you, Leah?’

‘Perfect, thanks, Maggie. Milk and one sugar, please,’ Leah said politely, flashing her a smile just as another customer arrived.

‘Ooh, I knew I had something to tell you,’ said Leah, watching as the customer headed over to the Sci-Fi section, her smile suddenly exchanged for a frown.

‘Oh?’ Florrie headed over to her, no clue as what it could be.

‘I don’t want to worry you, especially today of all days,’ Leah said, lowering her voice.

Her words immediately set alarm bells ringing in Florrie’s ears. She had a feeling she wasn’t going to like what she was about to hear. ‘But…’

Leah shot her an apologetic look. ‘That creepy guy, Dodgy Dick, has been sniffing around again. Don’t worry, he didn’t come inside.’ She raised her hands on seeing Florrie’s eyes widen with alarm. ‘It was earlier this morning. Wendy was with him. They’d parked up in front of the shop and he spent ages looking at all the other window displays while she strutted off somewhere, done up to the nines as usual. He was on his phone most of the time, sneering in that horrible way he has, but he kept glancing over at the bookshop. Mind, I made sure he knew I was watching him. He’s soslimy.’ Leah gave a shudder as if to emphasise the point. ‘I meant to tell you earlier but with us being so busy I haven’t had a chance until now.’

What? No!The mere mention of Dodgy Dick was enough to set panic loose in Florrie’s stomach. He was the local frontman for an out-of-town company whose practices were decidedly shady. His reputation had become so bad recently, some people had even started to refer to him as a gangster. And from the way he swanned around town in his top-of-the-range four-wheel drive, his glammed-up wife, Wendy, at his side, an ever-increasing air of intimidation about him, it was a role he seemed to relish. But what had got Florrie in such a spin was his involvement with Ed’s parents when they’d been trying to get her and Ed to sell the bookshop. Dodgy Dick had been part of the reason Ed had hot-footed it out of town, with his relentless campaign to get his hands on the business. What had started off as pushy had become intimidating to the point of being sinister. Disappearing was the only way Ed could think of to get him and his parents to back off. The tactic had worked at the time, but Florrie felt her concern building as to the reason behind Dodgy Dick hanging around outside the bookshop today. Something told her he hadn’t been simply killing time.

By Ed ignoring his father’s calls and texts, had he unwittingly forced his parents to crank their plans up to the next level and involve Dodgy Dick once more? she wondered. She sincerely hoped not.

Florrie swallowed down the lump of concern that had risen up into her throat, conscious of her galloping heart rate. She mustered up a smile, adopting a breezy tone. ‘Thanks for letting me know, Leah. He was probably just killing time while he waited for Wendy. Unfortunately, his unsavoury manner has a habit of making us suspicious of every little thing he does, even going to buy a newspaper from what I’ve heard.’ She gave a small laugh, hoping the young assistant hadn’t picked up on her concern. ‘I wouldn’t give it another thought. Mind, I think it’s probably best you don’t mention anything to Ed. I don’t want the likes of Dodgy Dick to take the edge off all his hard work – he’s been looking forward to this evening. It would be a shame for anything to spoil it.’

‘No probs.’ Leah beamed at her, apparently convinced. ‘Dodgy Dicksoisn’t worth that.’

Though nausea had started swirling in Florrie’s stomach at the implications of the unscrupulous businessman’s interest, there was no way she was going to let what she’d just learnt spoil this evening. Mustering all her strength, she pushed Dodgy Dick and Ed’s parents out of her mind with a hefty nudge and turned her thoughts to the magical window displays Ed had put so much effort into getting perfect. Nothing was going to detract from the event they’d been working so hard towards. They all deserved to enjoy it.

EIGHT

Thanks to the posts Florrie had added to the bookshop’s social media pages, as well as those of Micklewick Bay’s, a great crowd had gathered outside The Happy Hartes Bookshop in time for the unveiling of the window displays. Though it was muted by the glass, the upbeat conversation was filtering into the shop. Florrie was astonished at the number of people who’d turned up. She’d spotted the first few loitering at around four thirty, apparently bagging themselves a prime spot. It had surprised her since the unveiling wasn’t due for another hour, not to mention how bitterly cold it was – the wind had a habit of blasting up through the square straight off the sea.

And now the number had grown from half a dozen to a great swell of people. She’d guessed it would be busy, but neither she nor Ed had anticipated anything like this.

She was standing at the front of the bookshop with Ed, her parents, Leah, Maggie – who’d been joined by her husband, Bear – and Jean Davenport. Jack Playforth had just nipped to the bathroom before they opened the doors and the fun began.

‘Bloomin’ ’eck, have you seen how many folk are out there?’ said Charlie, chuckling as he peered through the glass in the door. ‘The pavement’s packed and cars are struggling to getby on the road.’ Even from this side of the door, the buzz of anticipation that filled the air was palpable.

‘Oh, my goodness, looks like there’s hundreds!’ said Jean Davenport, her eyes shining. ‘Where’ve they all come from?’

‘It’s a mixture of your Jack officiating and folk being keen to see our Ed’s display,’ Paula said, peering around her husband to get a view. It gladdened Florrie’s heart that her parents had started to refer to her boyfriend as “our Ed”.

‘Blimey, there’s a photographer and what looks to be a television camera!’ Paula’s voice rose with excitement. ‘Charlie, you’ve got better eyesight than me – I’m right, aren’t I? That’s a telly camera, over there, just by the streetlight and next to the fella with the daft hat, the one that’s got a massive feather in it.’

‘What? The camera’s got a massive feather in it?’ Charlie asked, his face a picture of puzzlement. ‘Why would a camera have a feather in it?’

‘I don’t mean the camera, you daft apeth.’ Paula gave his arm a reproving nudge. ‘I mean the fella beside it is wearing a hat with a huge feather in it. You can’t miss it, it’s like something from a pantomime.’

‘Some folk’ll wear owt.’ Charlie pulled a face. ‘But then again, I suppose it is pantomime season. Anyroad, where are you pointing?’ He squinted through the glass and let out a throaty laugh. ‘By ’eck, you’re right, love, it is a daft bloomin’ hat and the feather’s just poked the woman standing next to him right up the nose. She doesn’t look too chuffed about it at all.’ His shoulders shook with mirth. ‘Ey up, she’s giving him a right earful now. That’ll teach him to wear summat as daft as that hat.’ He chuckled some more, making his face flush.

Florrie bit down on a laugh, not daring to make eye contact with Ed.

Paula turned to the others and rolled her eyes good-naturedly. ‘Never mind the fella with the hat, Charlie, can you see a telly camera? That’s what we’re interested in.’

‘Oh, aye, yep, I can see a telly camera as well. Blimey, it’s a right big ’un.’

‘I wonder who told the telly folk?’ said Jean, craning her neck to see it.

---