Page 30 of Christmas at the Little Bookshop by the Sea

‘The weird thing is, I’m not really sure. From the little Ed’s told me, I actually don’t think he’s any the wiser himself – his Dad just seemed to get tied up in knots with his anger.’ Much as she trusted her friends to be discreet, she didn’t feel it was right to share that she’d heard Peter Harte mention Jean Davenport’s name. ‘But what I do know, is that Ed’s reluctant to speak to him to see if he can get to the bottom of it, said it’s just how his dad gets sometimes. It’s beginning to feel like he’s adopting his old attitude of “if I ignore it, it’ll go away”.’

‘Which isn’t remotely helpful,’ said Stella.

‘Tell me about it,’ Florrie said, despondently.

‘Has his dad called since?’ asked Lark, her eyes gentle with sympathy.

Florrie nodded. ‘Yeah, but Ed ignores him, then turns his phone off once we’re at home.’ She hesitated for a moment, deliberating whether to mention Ed’s sudden interest in the attic. She was conscious of not wanting to taint their view of him, or appear to be painting him in a bad light. Telling herself they were decent women who knew her well and wouldn’t think either of those things, she said, ‘He’s been rooting around the attic, too.’

‘What d’you mean, rooting around?’ asked Jasmine, her top lip hitched in puzzlement.

‘It’s as if he’s very keen to find something, but acts all innocent when I ask if I can help.’

‘And you think it’s linked to his dad’s phone call?’ said Stella.

‘I honestly don’t know.’ Florrie glanced between them, taking in their perplexed expressions. Expressing it out loud made her suspicions sound small and, dare she say, petty? ‘Hey, listen, I’m sure it’s nothing, it’s probably just me overthinking as usual.Ignore me. He keeps all his art stuff up there along with a load of other paraphernalia.’

‘I’m sure it’s nothing, flower. It’s easy to start heading off down a rabbit hole of worries once you start paying stuff like that too much attention. It’s probably just the call from his dad that’s unsettled you, made you start thinking something’s wrong when it’s not,’ said Maggie.

‘I agree,’ said Lark.

‘Yeah, you’re right.’ Florrie smiled, their words offering the reassurance she needed.

‘On a different subject,’ said Jasmine, before taking a quick sip of her wine, ‘has anyone noticed how Dodgy Dick seems to have increased his presence in town, floating around like he owns the place?’

Lark nodded. ‘He was loitering around Nate’s shop the other day.’

‘And we had Dodgy Dick and his equally dodgy wife, Wendy, sniffing round the bookshop the other night,’ said Florrie, wondering why the shifty duo would be showing an interest in Nate’s property.

‘No way?’ said Jasmine.

Florrie nodded. ‘’Fraid so. In fact, Wendy has designs on turning the bookshop into a hair and beauty salon, offering “exclusive” services.’ The reminder sent panic rushing through her.

Maggie’s brow furrowed. ‘Why the heck would she want to do that? I mean, it’s not as if the town doesn’t have enough hair salons already, not to mention beauticians. She must’ve been winding you up – surely she wasn’t serious?’

Florrie gave a weary shrug. ‘I’m not sure. The whole encounter with them was weird. They created a really horrible atmosphere, I couldn’t wait for them to leave. I reckon it was part of a renewed attempt at intimidation and, much as I hate toadmit it, they did a pretty good job. Luckily, Ed came downstairs and told them in no uncertain terms we weren’t selling, and that we had plans for the bookshop’s future.’ That she needed to share Ed’s tearoom idea with her friends fleeted through her mind. No doubt Lark would already know with Nate having the staircase, but Lark was the soul of discretion and Florrie doubted she’d have shared it with the others.

‘And how did that go down?’ asked Stella, her tone suggesting she already had a good idea.

‘Not great, as I expect you can imagine. In fact, he said he’d give us until the New Year to think about it.’

‘And then what?’ asked Lark, looking alarmed.

‘I don’t know, but I think he left us a warning.’ She paused, drawing in a deep breath before telling them about the trashing of the outdoor Christmas tree and wreath, and how the shop windows had been egged.

‘What?’ Stella’s eyebrows shot up.

‘No!’ Maggie’s hand flew to her mouth, while Lark gasped.

‘What a hideous man!’ said Jasmine.

‘Do you really think he was behind it?’ asked Maggie.

‘Much as I hate to admit it to myself, I can’t think of any other explanation. We were the only shop targeted in such a way. It’s too much of a coincidence.’

‘Sounds like classic Dodgy Dick.’ Maggie pulled a regretful face.

‘I’m afraid it does, flower.’ Jasmine reached over and squeezed Florrie’s hand.

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