Page 50 of Christmas at the Little Bookshop by the Sea

‘Right then, I’ll need to speak to Jack and your father, Florrie, but leave it with me and I’ll see what we can find out,’ PC Nixon said.

‘Okay, thank you.’

With the police officers gone, Ed and Florrie asked Jean to join them in the reading room while Leah manned the till.

‘Oh, my goodness! All that was going on while Jenna was doing her reading?’ Jean said in disbelief when they’d finished updating her on the drama.

‘It was.’ Ed nodded.

‘Credit to your dad, Bear and my Jack for keeping it so well contained.’ Jean’s brow crumpled. ‘Mind, what a dreadful thing to do, causing a power cut like that. But it was very impressive of Jenna not to get fazed by it at all. She just carried on, in her element, reading to everyone.’ Her face brightened at the mention of the author. ‘She’s a lovely lass, that one. Hasn’t let her success go to her head, same as my Jack.’

‘You’re right there, Jean.’ Her words raised a smile from Florrie. ‘From your reaction, I’m guessing Jack hasn’t mentioned anything to you, about what happened last night, I mean?’

‘Not a word, lovey, but then again, I suppose he hasn’t had the chance. He and Jenna headed straight to The Cellar after the reading, and I haven’t seen him today. Though before he left last night, he did mention something about the possibility of taking Jenna back home to Newcastle, what with the trains being what they are.’

‘That’s fair enough.’ Florrie assumed he hadn’t wanted to worry his mum with her living alone and going back to an empty house. Her next thought had been that Jack and Jennahad clearly got along well the previous evening. The implications gladdened her heart.

‘Well, let’s hope the police trace the culprit, and quickly at that. Bernard would turn in his grave if he thought this was going on.’

Florrie tucked her chin deeper into her scarf. She was beginning to wish she hadn’t ventured quite so far along the top prom taking Gerty for a walk. The wind, whipping in from a gun-metal-grey sea, frothing with white breakers, was bone-numbingly cold and she hadn’t passed many other folk daft enough to brave the elements.

She had to do a double-take as she spotted Jack and Jenna walking towards her. Despite the plummeting temperature, the pair were chatting away happily, sauntering along at a leisurely pace, Jenna’s infectious laugh whipped away on a sudden icy gust. They didn’t seem to notice the pinhead flakes of Alpine snow that the sky had suddenly decided to scatter over them. But what had really piqued Florrie’s interest was that they were holding hands. ‘Oh, wow!’ she said under her breath, her heart lifting at the sight. Jean would be over the moon to see this.

Spotting her, Jenna gave an enthusiastic wave. ‘Hiya, Florrie, pet.’

‘Now then, Florrie,’ Jack said in a familiar Yorkshire greeting. He was wearing a warm smile.

‘Hi there.’ Florrie waved back, smiling broadly as Gerty tugged hard on her lead to get to them.

With greetings out of the way and a thorough ear ruffling for Gerty from both authors, Jenna asked, ‘How’s your day been so far? Jack told me about last night, by the way.’ Her words clouded in front of her as her smile fell. ‘I’m so sorry someone would think to do such a thing, it’s shocking. Mind, it’d takemore than a piddly power cut to get me to shut my trap!’ The author gave another giggle, making Jack and Florrie laugh, too.

As the wind swirled around them, Florrie went on to explain about the social media footage and the visit from the police officer, as well as filling them in on the other things that had happened in the build-up to last night’s act of sabotage. ‘Hopefully, they’ll be able to trace whoever was responsible and put an end to the trouble we’ve been having.’

‘That Dodgy Dick bloke is getting way too big for his boots, and he’s not being too clever about how he goes about his little intimidation campaigns either,’ Jack said, his nose a vivid red from the cold. ‘Mark my words, he’ll get himself caught before long.’

‘It won’t come soon enough as far as I’m concerned,’ said Florrie, just as a seagull started screeching from a nearby rooftop.

Jenna reached out and gave Florrie’s arm a sympathetic pat. ‘I’m glad we’ve seen you actually, pet. I have an idea and I’d like your opinion.’

‘Ooh, I’m intrigued.’ Jenna’s words had resurrected Florrie’s smile.

‘Mind, it’s so bloomin’ cold here and we’re starting to get a covering of snow on us – we’re going to end up looking like snowmen! Tell you what, Jack needs to pop in on his mam, so why don’t I meet you at the bookshop? We can have a chat about it there?’

‘Are you sure you have time? I mean, aren’t you heading back today?’ Florrie asked. She reckoned it must be getting on for half past two already.

‘I’ve talked Jenna into staying for an extra day.’ Jack’s grin was classic cat-that-got-the-cream.

‘Uh-huh, that’s right, Jack had very kindly offered to take me home today – the trains have been cancelled again – but then, asI don’t have to be back until Saturday evening, we both thought I might as well hang around here for a bit longer, make the most of it. I have to be honest, I’m quite taken with Micklewick Bay.’

And not just Micklewick Bay, from what I can see.

‘So, this is only a suggestion, and please don’t feel you have to agree to it if it’ll interfere with your plans, okay? I promise you I won’t be offended, pet.’ Jenna flashed a smile at Florrie, her hands wrapped around a mug of tea. In the warmth of the reading room, she was sitting opposite the bookshop owner at the very same desk she’d given the reading from the previous night.

Florrie smiled back, thinking she could listen to Jenna’s Geordie accent till the cows came home, it had such a happy ring to it. She adjusted her glasses and leant forward, resting her chin on her hand. ‘Fire away, I’m all ears.’

‘Righto, here goes. How would you feel about me coming back to the bookshop to do a book signing session? It’d be to compensate for last night, with it being cut short, like.’

‘Are you serious?’Oh my days!This was music to Florrie’s ears.

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