Page 79 of For My Finale
Lilah did turn back then. She smiled. “I won’t.”
They shared a look, and Leyland gave her a nod, and Lilah turned and walked out.
Just like that.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Blossom put a cup of coffee in front of Arty. He had a tape measure slung around his neck and was busy working on sketching ideas for the shelves he was planning on building for the bookshop. Blossom peered over his shoulder and grinned.
“I still can’t believe that you’re doing this,” Arty said, drawing in a line.
“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” said Blossom.
“No, it’s not. It’s a great idea and people are going to love it. It’s just…” He hesitated. “Well, with all that’s gone on.”
“With Lilah leaving, you mean,” said Blossom, her heart pulsing at Lilah’s name. She leaned on the counter. “It’s not easy.”
“And yet here you are.”
Blossom bit her lip. The truth was that every morning waking up without Lilah was the hardest thing she had to do. But she had a life to live, she couldn’t spend it mourning something that couldn’t be. “Well, it’s all happening, whether you believe it or not,” she said, with an attempt at a cheery smile. “I’ve already set up meetings with a couple of book reps for next week.”
Arty let out a low whistle. “You’re really making this work, huh?”
“Thanks to the crowdfunding.” She tucked a stray curl behindher ear. “People have been very generous.”
“People believe in you,” Arty said. “You should believe in you, too.”
She was about to respond when Daisy burst into the cafe, her eyes wide with concern and her normally ruddy face pale.
“What is it?” Blossom said, standing up, immediately on alert. “Billy didn’t chase you again, did he?”
“It’s Gloria,” Daisy said. “I’ve just dropped in and she’s still insisting that she’ll go on tonight, but I don’t know, Bloss. It’s not looking good. Her ankle’s the size of a coconut.”
Blossom breathed out very, very slowly. Okay. There were priorities here. “I’ll ring her.”
She pulled out her phone and dialed Gloria’s number, pacing slightly as it rang. “Gloria,” she said, the second the call connected. “If you’re not fit to perform tonight, we’ll cancel.”
“Absolutely not,” Gloria barked down the line. “The show must and will go on!”
Blossom bit her lip. “At least let Daisy come and check on you. She can take you down to the surgery.”
“No!”
“Gloria.” Blossom straightened her back and pretended to be Ives in front of her unruly class, putting on her best teacher voice. “The only way you’re getting on stage tonight is if Daisy comes over and takes you to see the doctor. He’ll strap you up properly so you can at least hobble to your marks. Clear?”
Gloria huffed. “Fine. But I’ll be there tonight, even if Daisy has to carry me.”
“I’ll let her know,” Blossom said wryly, hanging up the phone. “Daze, can you drop her around at the surgery? She needs that ankle checked on. I want her safe on her feet if she’s insisting on getting on stage.”
“On it,” Daisy said. But before she could leave, the cafe door slammed open and Mabel came rushing in, wearing a hat shaped like a badger.
Arty blinked. “Mabel, what in the world—”
“I have news,” Mabel declared, breathless.
Daisy raised an eyebrow. “That’s my job.”
“Your job just at the minute is looking after Gloria,” Blossom reminded her.
