Page 84 of Winter Nights at the Bay Bookshop
‘So Lily’s not in today?’
‘No. Didn’t she tell you?’
‘She didn’t, unless I’ve missed…’ I checked my phone but there weren’t any messages.
‘She’s taking a day off. Shattered after working so many hours.’
‘Oh, okay. I’m not surprised. She looked drained on Saturday and she had a headache.’ I tried to sound unconcerned but I was puzzled. Why hadn’t she told me she wasn’t coming in today?
Going downstairs to drop off my coat, I rang Lily but it connected straight to her voicemail. I left a message saying I’d heard she was taking a day off, I hoped she was able to rest and I’d hopefully see her tomorrow. What more could I do?
When George and Bluebell arrived, they reiterated what Alec had said that Lily needed to recharge her batteries. It seemed she’d actually spoken to them and also to Alec, so why hadn’t she spoken to me? Or even just sent me a message? I tried calling her again during my lunch break but it went to voicemail so I didn’t leave a second message.
I rang once more as I walked back to my car at the end of the day but it was still voicemail. This wasn’t like Lily so I drove to her house after work but the annexe was in darkness. Marcus must have seen me arrive as he poked his head out of the side door.
‘She’s not in,’ he said. ‘She’s gone to see Kadence in York. Do you want a coffee?’
Thinking they were going to tell me what was going on, I joined Marcus and Shelby but they told me what everyone else had – that Lily was feeling shattered and wanted a day off. Marcus shared how guilty he was feeling that he hadn’t insisted on them taking an extra person on and joked how strong-willed Lily could be when she set her mind on something. They were surprised Lily hadn’t told me and thought perhaps she’d sent an undeliverable text and hadn’t realised. The pair of them were as warm and friendly towards me as they’d always been and there were no awkward silences or loaded looks between them, which helped reassure me that I hadn’t upset Lily. Not that I could think of anything I could have said or done that would have upset her.
‘Do you know what time she’ll be back from Kadence’s?’ I asked.
Shelby shrugged. ‘She said late. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind you waiting, but late could mean any time up to midnight.’
‘No, it’s fine. If she is back late, she’ll want to go straight to bed. It’s my day off tomorrow but I’ll pop into the shop at some point to say hello.’
Driving back home, I wondered if Lily had put together the clues and discovered that I was the Paperback Pixie but it hadn’t delighted her as I’d anticipated. What if she was annoyed with me for keeping such a big secret from her? It would explain why she’d spoken to her grandparents and Alec but was seemingly avoiding me. I tossed that idea around for a while before dismissing it as ridiculous. It didn’t fit with the Lily I knew and loved. I remained convinced that she’d love the Pixie reveal. Something else was going on and hopefully she’d tell me what it was tomorrow.
45
LARS
On Tuesday morning I dropped in at Bay Books at half nine, my stomach sinking when I spotted Alec behind the counter again. He told me Lily was staying with her sister for a few days and had called him last night to ask if he could work two more extra days – today and tomorrow.
‘Everything all right between you two?’ Alec asked, presumably thinking it was odd that I was out of the picture.
‘We keep missing each other’s calls,’ I said, embarrassed to admit I was out in the cold. ‘I guess I’ll see you for tomorrow’s shift, then. Have a good one today.’
I wandered down to the end of the street and stood in Castle Park staring at the angry grey waves pounding onto the distant shore, my thoughts just as turbulent. What the hell was going on? My phone beeped with a notification and I grabbed it from my pocket, hoping it would be Lily, but it was Danika suggesting some dates for a pre-Christmas catch-up. I bit my lip. She was at work, but I could really use her advice right now.
To Danika
Any chance I can meet you at lunchtime? I can come to the practice. Something’s going on with Lily and I really need your take on it. I think she’s ignoring me
From Danika
Come to the practice at 12
Danika sat in my car over her lunchtime, me pouring out my concerns while she sipped on a flask of soup. I’d definitely ruled out Lily being angry about the Paperback Pixie reveal so I didn’t share that part. It didn’t feel right Danika knowing before Lily.
‘I don’t think you’re being paranoid,’ she said when I’d brought her up to speed. ‘It does sound like she’s avoiding you, which means something has to have happened. You said everything was fine when you returned from The Chocolate Pot but she seemed distant at the end of the day and there was the odd non-kiss when you said goodbye. That suggests to me that something happened between the snack run and closing time. It might be nothing you’ve said or done but, to rule that out, I think you should walk me through that hour or two. We’re talking step by step in miniscule detail. I want to knoweverythingyou said and did, no matter how insignificant it might seem.’
It was lucky I had a good memory and we were, after all, only going over a two-hour period. I walked Danika through the customers I’d served, my interactions with Lily, chatting to Flo while we sorted out the mess in the children’s section…
‘That!’ she cried, grabbing my arm. ‘Your conversation with Flo about Iceland. Could Lily have overheard that?’
‘It’s possible.’
‘What exactly did you say?’
