Page 34 of The Cornish Christmas Book Clu
‘I hope you’re right.’ Melissa’s smile inched back. ‘I feel much better for talking to you.’
Now they both had tears in their eyes. Her developing relationship with Gage was lifting her spirits, but she’d never make the mistake of abandoning her friends.
‘Let’s lighten the mood for a minute,’ said Melissa. ‘I hear Gage and Evelyn are pretty friendly these days, so have you heard anything about what’s going on atShangri-La?’
‘You tell me. He turned into a clam when I tried to probe.’
‘Nathan’s the same about Quinten. They’ve met for a pint a couple of times — well away from here — but he won’t spill the beans either. He gets all pompous and starchy — a bit like I imagine his father was.’
‘That describes old Mr Kellow perfectly.’
Melissa coloured. ‘I know I’m being unfair because if Nathan wasn’t honourable and trustworthy, I would never have fallen in love with him.’
‘That’s true — but we’d still like to know, wouldn’t we?’ Tamara gave a sly smile.
‘Are you through with your coffee? I know I am.’ Neither had taken more than a couple of sips. ‘I should’ve warned you it was Vernon’s half-price special last week.’ Tamara dumped the dregs in the sink and rinsed the mugs out, leaving them on the dish rack to dry. ‘Do you want another look around?’
For the next few minutes, she watched Melissa behave like a little kid in a sweet shop, oohing and aahing at the enticing way they’d arranged the different sections.
The stunning floor-to-ceiling maple-wood bookcases around the walls housed the used books. It’d been an insight into Gage’s mind, when they’d been sorting these out, to see the changes to his reading and buying tastes over the years.
The smaller shelves that ringed the centre of the space featured new books, curated with advice from the independent booksellers’ group he belonged to. To her mind it was the perfect combination of old and new, both in the stock available and the chosen décor.
An old manual till sat on the counter. She’d bought it at a car-boot sale, purely because it appealed to her, but it had sat in the attic until finding its new home here. The fancy modern one next to it would actually be used for sales.
Whipping out her phone, Melissa took pictures of all the books she planned to buy when Gage opened on Saturday. Miraculously, her normal wide, infectious smile had returned to full strength, and there was a distinct spring in her step. Tamara couldn’t help thinking that people who insisted books weren’t important were deluded. They were missing out on one of the simplest mood-lifters, with the bonus they were calorie-free and with no artificial stimulants.
‘There’s only one thing missing. You need comfy chairs scattered around to tempt customers to sit down and get so into the lovely books they won’t be able to leave them here.’
‘We’re on it. If all goes well, that’ll be put right on Wednesday.’ Tamara explained about the estate sale they were targeting near Tintagel. Gage was in full agreement that new chairs wouldn’t fit the cosy atmosphere he was determined to create. ‘Think squishy. Comfy. Mismatched. Vintage. We need small tables too, for people to set their books down.’
‘And teacups when you get the café going.’
Tamara ignored the last remark and suggested Melissa might want to head off unless she wanted Nathan on the warpath.
‘Thanks again for everything. I feel it in my bones, by this time next year, you and Gage will be all loved up, and we’ll have winkled Evelyn’s annoying sister out so she and Quinten can have their happy-ever-after too.’
‘You read too many romances, Melissa Kellow.’ Tamara shooed her friend out and closed the shop door with a wistful sigh.
Chapter Thirteen
‘Are you going to tell me what’s eating at you or do we keep pretending nothing’s wrong? According to you things went well at Becky’s on Sunday, but you’ve been like a bear with a sore head ever since.’
Gage squirmed under the force of Tamara’s fierce glare. ‘You might want to slow down. The sign says sharp bends for the next half mile.’
‘Really? And there was me thinking the zig-zaggy symbol on that pretty red sign is warning me to beware of drunk pedestrians wandering in the road.’
He couldn’t blame her for the heavy dose of sarcasm. After all, she’d opened her home to him and slaved away beside him in the shop until she was dropping with tiredness. Now she was forced to cope with the large, unwieldy van he’d hired for the day because he was out of commission where driving was concerned. And in the pouring rain, no less. And how did he repay her? By shutting her out.
‘So?’
‘Lunch was great. The kids are awesome and I can’t wait to get to know them better. Paul’s a friendly, easy-going chap and not thrown by any of this.’
‘I knew he wouldn’t be. We’ll be there in five minutes, so you’re running out of time to confess all to Aunty Tamara.’
He was aware the driver’s door controlled the power locks and didn’t doubt she would hold him hostage if necessary.
‘As I was leaving, Becky asked something that threw me.’ He cleared his throat, but that didn’t help. The words remained stuck there.
