Page 14 of Christmas at the Little Bookshop by the Sea

Jack pressed the button and the curtain in the second window began to move before grinding to a halt. Everyone watched in silence as Jack tried the remote once more. Again,nothing happened. ‘Ey up, looks like we’re going for a little added dramatic effect.’ Jack chuckled, glancing back, his eyes searching for Ed.

‘Bugger,’ Ed said under his breath, his smile falling. ‘It worked perfectly when I set it up.’

Florrie glanced at him. ‘What can we do?’ she asked worriedly.

He hurried round to the front of the display, slipped inside the curtain and did a spot of tweaking. Moments later he said to Jack, ‘Give it another go, see if that’s fixed it.’

Jack nodded. ‘Right then, folks, let’s see if Ed’s worked his magic.’

Florrie and Ed looked on, holding their breath as Jack pressed the button. This time the curtain began to move. Florrie caught Ed’s eye, relief washing over the pair of them.

‘Looks like he’s fettled it.’ Jack beamed out at the sea of faces as another chorus of delighted ‘Ahhs’ rose up followed by an appreciative round of applause.

Like the first display, everything was created in miniature, but this one had been designed to replicate a cosy living room decorated for Christmas in a vintage style. It had stirred warm feelings of nostalgia inside Florrie when she’d first set eyes on it.

A squishy chair with a thick, woollen throw over its back sat before an open fireplace that had the remnants of a fire in its grate. Beside the chair was a small table upon which an open book had been left, cover side up, next to an antique lamp. Bookcases were tucked into the spaces either side of the fireplace, their shelves bulging with an array of winter-themed reads. Opposite the chair was a sideboard set with yet more books and a tray bearing a crystal glass containing the dregs of “brandy”, a slice of half-eaten Christmas cake and a plump carrot complete with a bite taken out. In the corner was a Christmas tree, decorated with tiny baubles and topped witha star, a pile of presents stacked beneath. A black Labrador, bearing an uncanny resemblance to Gerty, was sitting beside the chair. It was wearing a surprised expression as it gazed in the direction of the fireplace where a pair of snow-covered black boots, trimmed with white faux fur, appeared to be disappearing up the chimney. As if that wasn’t enough, snowy footprints, sparkling with frost, led from the hearth and across the rug to the sideboard. There were garlands swagged along the wall and a pair of embroidered Christmas stockings hanging from the fireplace, with yet more books peeking from the tops. Like the first display, Ed’s attention to detail was impeccable, and although this window couldn’t have been more different to the first, it was no less magical for it. Indeed, Florrie had wished she could climb right in and snuggle down into the armchair as she watched Santa climb up the chimney when Ed had first shown her the display.

Ed reached down and flicked another switch. In an instant, the embers in the grate suddenly began to flicker, while over on the sideboard, the table lamp emitted a warm glow. The multi-coloured fairy lights on the Christmas tree twinkled enchantingly, and Father Christmas’s boots started bobbing up and down the chimney, while the Labrador’s head cocked to one side, its ears lifting as it looked on. The children at the front gave a gasp of joy as a tiny toy mouse scurried over the floor.

Yet more cheers and applause follow, echoing around the square.

‘Everyone loves it, Ed.’ Florrie beamed up at him. ‘Just as I knew they would.’

He glanced down at her, smiling. ‘Does this qualify for inclusion in The Happy Christmas Memories Project?’

‘It most certainly does.’ She nodded, taking in the joy shining in his eyes.

NINE

Half an hour later, after Florrie and Ed had given a quick interview to the press and TV reporter, the shop was bustling with customers and a queue was forming at the counter where Florrie and Leah were busily serving people. The pair quickly fell into a system with one bagging up the purchases while the other took payment. It seemed to be working efficiently as Florrie kept one eye on the clock; she didn’t want to overrun into Jack’s time.

They’d decided to keep the shop open for the hour between the window reveal and Jack’s reading in order to maximise on any potential sales it might generate. It had been Ed’s suggestion. ‘It’s an ideal opportunity, so we’d be mad not to take advantage of it,’ he’d said. Florrie couldn’t argue. She loved how his enthusiasm for the bookshop had grown since they’d first taken the helm.

She stole a quick glance around the room. Things had tailed off from the initial rush, but there were still a number of customers browsing the aisles or admiring the Christmas decorations. The excitement of earlier still hung in the air, though now it was more of a jolly burble rather than the exuberant roars and cheers. She spotted Jean and Paula over by the door to the reading room, greeting people warmly, takingtickets and guiding them to their seats. Both women looked to be enjoying themselves enormously which gladdened Florrie’s heart.

Her gaze next landed on Stella, head and shoulders above the rest and looking uber-smart as always. She was describing something animatedly to Jasmine, Maggie and Lark, her long, blonde hair pulled back into neat ponytail. Jasmine’s vibrant red pixie crop stood in stark contrast, as did Lark’s flaxen blonde waves, woven with fine plaits and threaded with silver beads. They’d all been best friends since primary school, with the exception of Maggie whom Florrie had met when they’d been students at university in York. Though she’d known her the least amount of time, Maggie was the friend Florrie was closest to.

With the line of customers at the till finally dying down, Florrie left Leah in charge and headed towards her friends where she was greeted with happy smiles.

‘Hey, Florrie, the windows are amazing.’ Stella squeezed the top of Florrie’s arm. Judging by her long, dark coat and black trouser suit she’d clearly come straight from her chambers in York where she was based as a criminal barrister.

‘Thanks, Stells, and thanks for coming. I’m so glad you could make it, though I thought you were tied up in a trial.’

‘I managed to wangle an early finish with the judge. Used my cunning powers of persuasion to get him to agree that we’d reached a good point to adjourn for the day.’ She flashed a wide grin, the star-shaped diamond studs she always wore glinting under the lights.

‘Didn’t think you’d be able to use your style of “cunning powers of persuasion” in court, Stells.’ Jasmine gave her an impish smile. She looked toasty in her padded jacket, its deep shade of green emphasising the colour of her hair. ‘Thought that kind of behaviour would mean you’d end up in court onthe wrong side of the law as it were.’ She gave a throaty giggle, setting the others off.

Before Stella had met Alex, she’d been resolutely single, refusing to be tied down to a relationship and was well known amongst her friends for her colourful love life. But those days were apparently well behind her now, and she freely admitted she’d fallen for Alex hook, line and sinker. She pulled a face at Jasmine though she couldn’t help but laugh. ‘Very funny, Jazz.’ A smile played over her mouth. ‘I can assure you, the powers of persuasion to which you allude were kept under wraps – as they always are when I’m in court. And if you saw what a crusty old sourpuss His Honour Judge Mitchem is, you’d understand why. The simple fact is it actually made sense to finish at that point. He could see it, too, hence I’m here on time. And besides, I’m a one-man woman now, as you know.’

‘Aye, so you are,’ said Jasmine. ‘And it’s taking some getting used to it.’ She shot Stella a cheeky grin.

‘You’re not wrong, not that I’m grumbling.’ Stella smiled back.

‘Aye, I know, we didn’t see that one coming, did we, lasses?’ Maggie chuckled.

‘Sure didn’t.’ Florrie observed her friend. There was no getting away from the fact that being in love suited Stella; she was glowing with happiness.

‘Ah, that’s because Cupid waited for the right man to come along before he took aim and fired his arrow.’ Lark’s pale green eyes twinkled. She was looking every inch the boho hippy chick, wrapped in a flowing velvet coat in a rich shade of amethyst, her feet encased in a pair of cosy looking slouchy boots.

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