Page 92 of Winter Nights at the Bay Bookshop
The shop was buzzing all morning. Cassie wasn’t working with it being the school holidays but Alec, Flo and Cyndi were in and Shelby had dropped Marcus off for a couple of hours to sit behind the till and help us across lunchtime. By the time he left, nearly all theJólabókaflóðboxes had sold and we knew they’d gone down well in our partner businesses too with just two people requesting to swap their books. The wrapped books had been heavily depleted too.
By 3p.m. there were still people in the shop but the queue had died down and the pressure was off. Cyndi finished her shift and Alec and Flo were restocking and tidying.
‘I think we’ve had our first successfulJólabókaflóð,’ Lily said, smiling at me as I removed the four remaining mystery books from the box and placed them on the counter instead. ‘Are you pleased?’
‘I am. It’s been an amazing day. An amazing week, actually.’
There was nobody in the front part of the shop so I leaned across the counter for a sneaky kiss.
The Christmas playlist was on and we laughed as ‘We All Stand Together’ came round.
‘I keep thinking I should remove it because we get strange looks from the customers each time it comes on,’ Lily said, ‘but it’ll forever remind me of our first kiss, so I can’t.’
‘Are you calling me a frog?’ I joked.
‘If the cap fits… Might as well add it to your range of identities.’
By half three, there were only a couple of customers browsing so Lily told Alec and Flo they could head off early, leaving just the two of us. Castle Street was still busy but it seemed to be people rushing home laden with bags of shopping or on their way to the pub rather than anyone actively trying to buy last-minute gifts.
‘That’s Christmas done for another year,’ Lily said, turning round the sign and locking the door at four o’clock. ‘And breathe…’
I flicked some of the lights off to convey that the shop was closed while Lily cashed up. I’d already run the vacuum cleaner round so I went downstairs to retrieve our coats and Lily’s bag.
‘I know we’re officially doingJólabókaflóðat your mum and dad’s,’ I said when I returned, ‘but I have a couple of books that, for different reasons, I’d prefer to give you privately.’
‘Great minds, because I want to do the same, although I’ve only got one to give you now.’
Lily removed a large gift-wrapped book from the store cupboard next to Jeeves and I retrieved the two paperbacks I’d hidden under my coat and we went through to the children’s section.
‘This one first,’ I said, passing her one of the paperbacks, barely able to keep the smile off my face.
She ripped open the wrapping and burst out laughing when she saw what it was –I’ll Have What She’s Having. ‘Is this the actual copy we knocked off the shelf in our moment of passion?’
‘The very same one.’
‘That’s hilarious. I can see why you wouldn’t want to give me that in front of my parents. Might take a bit of explaining.’
I handed her the other one and she gasped as she opened it. ‘This is never a…’ She carefully opened the cover ofAnne of Green Gables. ‘Oh, my God, Lars! It’s a first edition.’
‘I inspected your shelves and noticed you didn’t have one.’
She lightly ran her fingers over the cover, shaking her head. ‘I’ve dreamed of owning one but never imagined I would. Thank you so much, Lars. It’s amazing.’
She placed it down ever so gently before passing me her parcel. ‘I hope you like it but please forgive me if it’s misjudged.’
Intrigued, I carefully opened the gift wrap, removed a large hardback book and smiled at the title –Our Winter Nights with the Northern Lights.
‘I know it’s not quite the same as seeing it in real life,’ Lily said as I flicked through the pages, admiring the beautiful photographs.
‘It’s the next best thing. Thank you. I don’t think I’ll ever tire of seeing photos of the aurora.’ I closed the book and smiled at Lily. ‘I can’t wait for you to see it for real.’
‘Me neither.’
I leaned in to kiss Lily but she moved away, laughing. ‘You haven’t realised.’
‘Realised what?’
‘Look inside at the list of contributing photographers.’
