Page 118 of Bea's Book Wagon
And despite not seeing him since the morning after the awards, Nathan sent a cheese hamper with extra bags of walnuts that somehow meant even more than the flowers.
More personal. More thoughtful. More Nathan.
* * *
Mr Pritchard was already at the shop waiting for her when Bea arrived early on Saturday morning to sign the paperwork.
‘Morning, Mr Pritchard,’ she said, swinging open the door, the bell tinkling above her head.
‘Ah, Bea, you’re here,’ he said, sounding different in real life. Anxious, nervous, worried. Not as he had on the phone at all.
‘Is everything okay?’ Bea asked, frowning as he started pacing backwards and forwards across the shop floor.
‘I’m afraid there’s no easy way to say this…’ He drew in a long, deep breath. ‘I’ve had a cash offer for the shop and both the flats that’s too good to turn down.’
‘What? But… I don’t understand, we’ve got an agreement,’ she said, shaking her head.
‘Well, technically, we haven’t, not until the paperwork is signed,’ he explained, unable to look her in the eye.
‘But… but, I’ve got the bank loan, it’s all agreed, and the paperwork is here, I’ll just sign it now. Please, Malcolm, we had a deal,’ she pleaded, picking up the lease agreement that was on the counter.
‘No, no, that’s not—’ said Mr Pritchard, making a grab for it.
‘Hang on, is this the cash buyer?’ she said, staring at the name on the contract.
EliteHaven Homes.
She shook her head. ‘Is this them? A developer is buying the whole building? My boyfriend’s firm is buying it?’
‘Oh, erm, I don’t know about that,’ said Mr Pritchard, stumbling over his words. ‘But, yes, EliteHaven Homes have made the offer and I’ve accepted.’
‘But, what about the bookshop?’ said Bea, reeling.
‘I know, I know,’ said Mr Prichard, looking at the floor. ‘And believe me, I feel awful. I’ve got no idea how they even knew the building was available, I hadn’t advertised it, and as far as I was aware you were the only person who knew the leases were up for renewal.’
Bea’s stomach hit the floor.
She thought she might be sick and placed a hand on the counter to steady herself.
She knew exactly how EliteHaven Homes had known the shop was available. Because she had told Lochlan.
‘Are you okay?’ Mr Prichard asked, genuine concern etched on his face.
‘I… I… I’m not sure,’ said Bea. She felt like she’d been hit by a truck.
There must be some kind of explanation. There’s no way Lochlan would have done this to her, surely? It was too awful to contemplate that he’d used the information she’d shared with him to steal her dream from under her nose.
‘And there’s nothing… nothing I can say to change your mind?’ she murmured, tears stinging the back of her eyes.
‘I don’t think so,’ Malcolm said, shaking his head. ‘Unless you can match their cash offer?’
‘What if I increased my rent? Could I have it then?’ she asked, and she could hear the desperation in her voice.
‘Is that an option? Could you do that?’ Mr Pritchard asked.
‘No,’ she whispered, hanging her head. ‘No, I—I don’t have that kind of money.’
‘Then I’m afraid there’s nothing to be done,’ he said, apologetically. ‘If your situation changes, then do let me know. It’s not a done deal with the developer until the deeds are transferred, so never say never,’ he said, trying to soften the blow.
