Page 48 of Christmas at the Little Bookshop by the Sea

‘Fair enough, love.’ Paula gave a tight smile.

‘Might be an idea to have a last check round, make sure nothing else has been damaged or taken, even. Plus, it’d be reassuring to know that all the doors and windows have been secured before we head home. Surely that can’t hurt.’ Ed had put into words exactly what had been running through Florrie’s mind. What had happened already was bad enough, but it didn’t bear thinking about how awful it would be if they returned in the morning to find the place had been trashed.

Much as she didn’t like to admit it, there was no escaping it: this latest unpleasantness could only be down to Dodgy Dick. No one else had an axe to grind with them.

‘Well, I’m just glad no one was hurt.’ Her mum’s words sent a shard of fear spiking through Florrie, nausea churning in her stomach.

What would have happened if her dad or Bear had tackled the youth? Goosebumps sprang up over her skin at the thought and she quickly shook it from her mind, not wanting to give any headspace to such a horrible scenario.

Their peaceful life had been turned on its head and, if the evening’s unpleasantness had been anything to go by, she could only assume things were going to get worse.

TWENTY-SIX

THURSDAY 14TH DECEMBER

‘Thank goodness you suggested we buy this second till,’ Florrie said the next morning, as she set it up on the counter, its predecessor damaged beyond repair.

Ed gave her a watery smile. She knew from the conversation they’d had over breakfast he was feeling as deflated as she was. ‘Yeah, little did we know just how useful it would be.’

Florrie returned his smile. She’d barely slept last night and was feeling bleary-eyed this morning. Her tiredness had added to her building anger that someone had tried to sabotage their special evening. An evening that so many people had been looking forward to. She was just thankful that her dad and Bear had been around to stop anything worse from happening, glad that, with their quick thinking, they’d been able to turn things around. It went without saying that Jenna’s professionalism had helped, too.

‘I can’t help but worry about what’s going to happen next.’ The thought had been running over and over in her mind on an endless loop. ‘I mean, it’s not going to stop there, is it?’ Her throat tightened and she felt the sting of tears.

‘Oh, Florrie, c’mere,’ Ed said softly, stopping what he was doing. In the next moment, he’d enveloped her in a soothinghug, his strong arms wrapped around her. ‘I can’t tell you how sorry I am it’s come to this.’

‘It’s not your fault, Ed. You’re hardly responsible for the actions of that horrible thug of a man.’

‘I know, but?—’

A sharp rap at the shop door silenced Ed and made Gerty bark and jump up from her bed.

‘Who the heck’s that at this time of the morning?’ Florrie’s gaze shot to the clock behind Ed. It was only quarter to eight; way before opening time.

‘I don’t know.’ Ed’s tone was threaded with wariness as he followed Gerty to investigate. He peered through the glass, his face breaking out into a smile.

‘S’only me.’ Relief surged through Florrie as she recognised her dad’s voice.

Ed hurriedly drew the bolt back and opened the door. ‘Come in, Charlie. This is an early visit, not that it’s not good to see you.’

‘Morning, Dad.’ Florrie dredged up a smile as he stepped into the shop.

‘Morning, flower. You okay?’ He smiled back, concern evident in his eyes. He was dressed in his work clothes and had a woolly hat pulled low over his head. ‘I’ll just stop here on the mat with me having my work boots on.’

‘S’okay, we haven’t vacuumed yet.’ They hadn’t felt like it last night, agreeing to leave it till morning.

‘Best not, love. Your mother’ll be after me if she thinks I’ve paddled mucky footprints all over the carpet.’ It was a regular gripe of Paula’s.

‘Florrie’s right, and your boots don’t look too bad to me, Charlie,’ Ed said, sliding the bolt back across. ‘Have you got time for a cuppa?’

‘’Fraid not. I told the Bradshaws I’d land at eight o’clock to make a start on their guttering that’s come down after the snowthe other day, and I don’t want to keep them waiting. Anyroad, I’ve been trying to call you but both your mobiles are off, so I thought I’d pop in here en route to the Bradshaws. Had a feeling this is where I’d find you.’

Florrie clapped her hand to her forehead. ‘Blast! I’d meant to charge my phone when we got home last night but I forgot, what with everything that’d been going on. The battery must’ve died with me using the torch. I hadn’t realised. Sorry, Dad.’ She assumed Ed had kept his phone off as he now did most evenings, and hadn’t got round to turning it back on.

‘Not to worry. All I wanted to say was, if you want me to rig up a new security system here at the shop, just let me know. I can do it on Sunday when the shop’s closed, that way it’ll minimise disruption. Jeff, the electrician, said he’s happy to give me a hand, so the two of us should make short work of it.’

Florrie wondered if her dad had read her mind. Last night, while she’d struggled to sleep, she’d started thinking they should maybe have the burglar alarm upgraded. She’d intended to mention it to Ed today. She couldn’t remember how long ago the current system had been installed but it was an antiquated affair and, at a guess, at least twenty years old.

She looked over at Ed, raising her eyebrows in question. ‘If it would make you feel better,’ he said to her.

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