Page 66 of Winter Nights at the Bay Bookshop
I yanked the door open.
‘I think we’ve said everything we need to say, don’t you?’
‘The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,’ he snarled, shoving past me.
‘Meaning?’
‘I can see so much of your mum in you.’
‘Thank you.’
‘It wasn’t a compliment.’
‘Oh, but I take it as one. Goodbye, Justin.’
The moment he stepped out onto the cobbles, I closed and locked the door and leaned back against it, eyes closed, exhaling heavily.
‘Lily?’
I opened my eyes and my heart melted at the concern on Lars’s face as he approached me, weaving around the boxes.
‘How much did you hear?’
‘All of it. Are you all right?’
I smiled widely at him. When Cassie cut off her loser father, she said she’d felt like a weight had been lifted and I felt the same.
‘I thought I’d feel upset but I’m actually elated. That was a long time overdue.’
‘You were incredible. I was cheering you on upstairs.’
He put his arms out and I gratefully accepted the hug.
‘You’re trembling,’ he whispered.
‘I hate confrontations, but I feel so much better for finally letting go.’ I leaned back and looked up at him with a grin. ‘I bet Justin doesn’t think I’mLittle Miss Perfectafter that.’
‘But I do.Little Miss Perfect-for-me.’ He screwed up his nose. ‘Was that too cheesy?’
‘Not for me. Not when you say it.’
He tenderly kissed me and I knew that, while I wouldn’t forget the exchange with Justin for a long time, my lasting memory from tonight would be the time I let go of the man I didn’t want or need and welcomed in the one I did.
34
LARS
My face was already aching from smiling and I’d only been awake for an hour. A message from Lily had been the perfect way to start a new week, although I had a feeling there was something I was never going to live down.
From Lily
Last night was my favourite Christmas prep night ever. Thank you for being my Christmas elf, for being so honest with me, for the best kisses ever and for being you. Can’t wait to see you this morning. Not sure whether to sign off with a kiss or a salute x
She’d added a saluting emoji after the kiss, which made me laugh. I reread the message, particularly noting the mention of me being her Christmas elf. How close she was! It was nearly time to change the branding on my socials to the Christmas Paperback Pixie. As for being totally honest with her, when would the time be right to reveal my secret identity?
As I drove into Whitsborough Bay for the start of my shift, I replayed last night over and over. We’d dealt with some seriously heavy issues but I also hadn’t laughed so much in ages and I marvelled at how Lily had refused to let that difficult confrontation with Justin put a dampener on our night. I believed her when she said she was relieved to have pushed him out of her life, but I was conscious it might hit her at some point later and I’d be there for her whatever she wanted to do – reminisce, vent, cry or a combination of all those things.
I’d hesitated at the top of the stairs last night, ready to rush down if Lily needed my support. Not that I thought I was a knight in shining armour and she was a damsel in distress. Lily was a strong, determined woman who didn’t need my protection but Justin was a big bloke who’d clearly been drinking so I’d been ready to intervene if he’d become aggressive. After the way he’d treated her, nothing would have given me greater pleasure than to physically eject him out onto the street. But Lily had maintained her cool and, as I’d told her, I was cheering her on, in awe of her refusal to be manipulated. When she’d said she was going to help Justin, I thought she might hand him whatever cash she had in her purse and send him packing and I certainly couldn’t have blamed her for doing that, but I’d jubilantly punched the air when she’d told him her only assistance would be finding helpline numbers.
