Page 23 of The Cornish Cream Tea Bookshop
‘Thanks, Ollie,’ Thea said, smiling. ‘How has today been? Becky said you were getting the hang of the till.’
‘It’s all straightforward, so no worries there. And I had another idea – a Halloween ghost walk. I know it’s only a few days away, but I’m sure we could drum up enough interest.’
Thea frowned. ‘How would that work?’
‘I would lead our group of intrepid customers round a few spooky places in town – I’ve got a book of local legends that Liam gave me – then bring them back here, where they will inevitably purchase horror stories and books on local hauntings.’
‘Wouldn’t you need to learn all the ghost stories beforehand?’ Thea asked. ‘That’s not easy.’
‘It’ll be fine. I’ve got the legends, and mostly I can just wing it.’
Thea sighed. ‘Ollie—’
‘I know it’s another quick event,’ she cut in, ‘and that there isn’t much time to prepare, but we need to make the most of all the opportunities the calendar offers.’
‘You really think you can run anentireghost walk, all by yourself?’
‘I wouldloveto run an entire ghost walk,’ Ollie assured her. ‘We’ve got the Halloween theme in the children’s section, but why don’t we have a table in Fiction, too? I’ve already written a list of books we can order in. Just say the word, and I’ll do it.’
Thea gave a tiny nod. ‘OK then, but I don’t want you stretching yourself too far. We need more space to plan things.’
‘And after this event, we’ll have it. But with this and the book club, there’s no cost except our time, and they could generate some good sales, and show people that A New Chapter offers a diverse range of events. In future, I’ll be more on top of things, but just because Halloween and Christmas are rushing towards us, it doesn’t mean we should ignore them. I was thinking ten pounds a ticket for the ghost walk, fully refundable if we don’t get enough interest, and it’ll include a drink when they get back here afterwards.’
Thea laughed. ‘You’ve already planned it all out!’
Ollie grinned. ‘I wouldn’t be very good at my job if I didn’t come prepared.’
‘So when you come in tomorrow, you’ll have a list of authors and their publicists’ contacts for the Christmas meet and greet, and you’ll have sold ten tickets for our ghost walk?’
Ollie opened her mouth, her thoughts stumbling, and then noticed the gleam in Thea’s eye. ‘You had me for a minute. Give me until Friday, at least!’
‘That’s only two days,’ Thea pointed out.
‘It’s Halloween on Monday, so we haven’t really got a moment to lose.’
‘No.’ Thea peered through the banisters as heavy footfalls sounded on the stairs. ‘You’re right.’ Then her face split into a grin, and Ollie twisted on her beanbag, making sure she didn’t fall out of the dent she had created for herself. She understood why Thea was smiling.
The man who stepped onto the upper floor had short, chestnut hair, and his dust-covered T-shirt – where was his coat on this cold, wet day? – showed off a strong, lean torso. He looked serious until he saw Thea, then he smiled, and it was as if he was two different people: the Brooding Thinker and the Handsome Charmer.
‘Hey,’ he said, as Thea got out of her beanbag and went to greet him.
‘Hi.’ That single, tiny word conveyed a level of familiarity it didn’t take a rocket scientist to interpret. The man bent and gave Thea a quick kiss, then she turned and pulled him across the room. ‘Ollie, this is Ben, my boyfriend. Ben, meet Ollie, our firecracker from London.’
‘Firecracker?’ Ollie laughed as she pushed herself out of the beanbag and shook his hand.
‘Oh God! Sorry!’ Thea covered her eyes. ‘It’s your red hair, and the fact that you think anythingis possible. I didn’t mean to insult you.’
Ben gave Thea a fond look.
‘Firecracker is a massive compliment,’ Ollie said, windinga strand of hair around her finger. ‘When I went to the hairdresser, desperate to cover up my mousy brown, I asked for a combination of copper and fire engine. They did a really good job, so I’ve stuck with it ever since. I’m hoping I can find a hairdresser in Cornwall who can keep it going.’
‘It’s beautiful,’ Thea said.
‘And I’m not remotely offended. I’m going to have to work extra hard to live up to the name now, though.’
‘I was going to ask if you’re settling in OK, but it seems like you are,’ Ben said.
‘Of course! How could anyone fail to feel at home in Port Karadow?’
