Page 60 of The Cornish Cream Tea Bookshop
‘And what doesthismean,’ she said, indicating the cosy study, their friendship.
‘It means you have generosity, and energy, in abundance. Even as things get busy at the bookshop, you’re still happy to spend time with me, to do my typing.’
‘Of course I am,’ Ollie said. ‘And it’s not just out of obligation, either. I love spending time with you, and I’m intrigued by your memoir. I would never think to do anything like this. Are you hoping to get it published when it’s finished?’
Liam chuckled, swirling his port around in his glass. ‘Good God, no. Nobody would be interested in the tales of an old codger like me.’ Then he added, so quietly that she almost missed it, ‘Not any more, anyway.’ He looked up, smiled at her. ‘No, lass. It’s just for posterity, and ink fades after time. At least if it’s on a computer, it isn’t likely to disappear.’
‘Well, I think tons of people would want to read it: you’re more interesting than you give yourself credit for.’ She returned his smile, then glanced at the shelves, the paperbacks and hardbacks all organised neatly, reaching right up to the ceiling. It certainly felt as if she and Liam had been meant to end up together, rubbing along on the Foxglove Farm estate, surrounded by books. Everything in her life felt weighted with meaning, but perhaps that was because, in some respects, it was all still so new. She was less than two months into her Cornwall life, and a whole lot had happened already. So much for the slow, easier pace she had been craving. Ollie smiled to herself, and kept on typing.
Chapter Twenty-Four
When Max knocked on the door the following evening, Ollie was in the common but undesirable state of having filled the whole barn with incense smoke.
She’d lit some sticks when she’d got home after a frantic day at the bookshop, people starting their Christmas shopping in earnest, and a delivery van getting blocked in in the parking area, resulting in a grumpy driver and fractious customers. Thea had handled the situation calmly, but it had left a pall of irritability over the shop, rather than the joyful atmosphere Ollie had come to expect. She had tried to change the mood, had considered leading everyone inside the shop in a five-minute meditation, but had decided to help Thea sort out the storeroom instead.
Now, as she hurried to the front door, she tried to waft the rose-scented smoke away. It hung in thick, stubborn clumps in the air.
‘Hello! come in,’ she said. Was it obvious how pleased she was to see him?
‘Hey.’ Max handed her a bottle of wine, stepped into the hall and bent to take off his shoes. He looked up at her as he undid his laces, and his smile made her breath catch. She didn’t know if she would ever get used to it. Raindrops sparkled on his coat and in his curls, and she wanted to wrap him up in her arms.
‘Sorry about all this.’ She waved her arms as she led the way into the living space. ‘Shall I open the wine now? I’m making tacos, if you’d like some? Spicy chicken, peppers and onions. Sour cream and cheese.’
‘You didn’t have to cook, but they do sound delicious.’
‘Just be glad that this smoke is from my incense and not the oven.’
‘I’m glad to be here, with you.’
Ollie, her back to him as she got out glasses, smiled into the kitchen cupboards. ‘How was the café today?’ she asked as she poured the ruby-red wine.
‘Busy,’ Max admitted, sitting on the sofa. ‘It feels like everyone’s upped their game, as if they’ve suddenly realised Christmas is coming and someone’s pressed a panic button.’
‘That’s what the bookshop was like.’ Ollie came to join him, resting her shoulder against the back of the sofa, her whole body turned to face him. ‘Customers are getting impatient, unhappy if they have to wait a couple of days for a book to come in. I love how busy it’s getting, I just wish everyone would be a bit more considerate of their fellow shoppers.’
‘You didn’t have a bookshop brawl, did you?’ Max widened his eyes comically.
Ollie laughed and shook her head. ‘A driver got blocked in, the owners of the cars doing the blocking said theyshould wait for ten minutes – that sort of thing. Have you ever had a café fight? Gingham tablecloths whipped off, cream buns used as ammunition?’
‘In Sea Brew? Never. Our customers are unwaveringly happy.’
‘Loving your self-confidence,’ Ollie said. ‘But then, I’m always happy when I’m in Sea Brew, so it’s probably justified.’
‘You might be slightly biased, though.’
‘Because I’m in a … kissing relationship with the owner?’
Max grinned. ‘Kissing relationship? I’ve not heard that one before.’
Ollie shrugged. ‘I’m not sure what else to call it.’
‘Does it have to have a name?’ Max asked, his smile softening. ‘Whatever it is, I’m really enjoying it. Being here, spending time with you.’
‘Me too. And I just … are you OK if we take it slowly? I don’t want to rush into anything.’
‘Rushing never did anyone any good. Just look at the hare and the tortoise.’
‘So you want to be tortoises together?’
