Page 89 of Winter Nights at the Bay Bookshop
‘A PhD?’ I suggested.
‘I’m seriously tempted. Anyway, hope it goes well with Lars. Whatever it is that’s caused a problem between you, I’m sure you can work it out.’
‘I hope so. If I’m back quickly, you’ll know it’s all gone wrong.’
* * *
I was a bundle of nerves as I drove towards Hutton Wicklow that evening and, turning onto Hutton Valley Lane, my stomach lurched. There were no house numbers – only names – so I crawled along the road, trying to spot the signs under the glow of the streetlights.
I couldn’t picture Mrs Mayflower’s house anymore so doubted I’d recognise it twenty-six years after my piano lessons had ceased. Unless, of course, it still had the ducks in the window. I hadn’t thought about the ducks in years, or the keyring on my school bag until Lars had mentioned it.
Hutton Valley Lane inclined steadily and it was at the peak that I spotted a sign for ‘The Lodge’. Recognising Lars’s car on the drive, I pulled up beside it and took several steadying breaths before opening the door.
I removed the large paper carrier bag from the boot containing the two pictures, the book and the letter from Eva and Axel. Lars had put a kiss on his message and he’d even made a joke about phones on silent at work which suggested I hadn’t blown it but, even so, this wasn’t going to be easy. But nothing worth doing was easy.
Heart pounding, I made my way towards the front door. Just before I reached it, I glanced up and gasped. There weren’t any ducks there but I’d recognise that arched window anywhere. Lars’s new home was the home of my former piano teacher – the home I’d said I wanted to live in when I was all grown up. If this wasn’t the universe telling me that Lars and I were meant to be together, I didn’t know what was.
48
LARS
I couldn’t stop pacing up and down in the lounge. I’d never been this nervous about anything in my whole life and desperately wanted it to go well. Best-case scenario was that we’d had a misunderstanding which we could laugh about and put behind us. Worst-case scenario was… I shuddered, barely able to acknowledge it. I was so annoyed with myself. I knew Lily’s insecurities from Ewan and Wes abandoning her and it had never entered my head to reassure her that I’d never do that. Whitsborough Bay was my home and always would be for so many reasons. I wasn’t sure whether thethere’s no place like homegifting on my Paperback Pixie feed would be enough to convince her on its own but hopefully what I’d done with the house would.
I paused my pacing and turned in a slow circle around the room, taking in the results of my purchasing frenzy after work last night. Thank goodness the garden centre stayed open until late.
Car headlights momentarily dazzled me. She was here.Deep breath, stay calm!The doorbell rang – a proper old-fashioned deepding-dong– and I took another deep breath before opening it.
My heart leapt at the sight of Lily standing on my doorstep, a large paper bag in her hand.
‘The Paperback Pixie, I presume?’ she said, her smile hesitant as though unsure as to whether a joke was an appropriate ice-breaker. It absolutely was.
‘Also answers to Christmas Elf or Lars the Arse.’
Her eyes widened. ‘Cassie told you that?’
‘It might have come up this week and it’s true. Iaman arse. I’m so sorry for…Helvítis bjáni, I haven’t even invited you in and it’s freezing.’
‘I have no idea what those words mean, but thank you.’
I hadn’t even registered that I’d spoken in Icelandic, but it figured – something I’d always done when I was nervous.
‘Damn fool or idiot,’ I explained. ‘Me, not you. Come through.’
I led her into the lounge. A good host would have offered a drink but I couldn’t prolong it by faffing with the kettle. I needed to know if I was dumped or not.
‘You bought a tree!’ she exclaimed, crossing the room. ‘A real one!’
‘I forgot to buy baubles but I did get a lot of lights and someone once told me you can never have enough lights.’
She turned and smiled at me. ‘Vintage gold and red. It’s beautiful.’
‘I, erm… I don’t have a sofa but I bought some garden furniture.’
Lily had evidently been so transfixed on the tree that she’d missed the dark grey metal bistro set and she did a double-take. ‘You’ve made a very seasonal purchase, I see.’
‘Perfect for winter nights spent inside,’ I said, smiling at her. ‘There weren’t any on display in the garden centre but the manager took pity on me and retrieved me a sale set from storage. The seat pads are surprisingly comfy.’
We sat down and I couldn’t wait any longer. ‘I know you overheard me talking to Flo about travelling and I’m so sorry I hadn’t…’ I tailed off as Lily raised her hand to stop me.
