Chapter 39
Nina looked around the shop. It was different to how it used to be over a year before, when she’d closed it. Instead of rows of taffeta and lace, the shop was bursting with colourful cotton and wool. And the previous bridesmaid area was now a display of the baby hampers. They were her biggest seller with the largest margin – grandparents were her main target. They were also popular with workplace baby showers. She also catered for older children on her website but was keeping to the early years in her shop. Then there were her upsells – shelves of soft toys which she knew shoppers would find too cute to resist. She’d already taken a couple home herself.
She gazed at her logo which Holly had painted on the far wall – By Nina, with butterflies around it. The plan was to open further shops, as the internet sales had rocketed over the past few months, making her more money than the wedding dresses ever had. It seemed that whilst people liked life-hacks when it came to weddings, the sky was the limit when it came to showing off their children.
She moved a soft toy which had toppled onto its side.
“Ma,” Ruby called to her from her pushchair, having just woken up.
Nina unstrapped her and perched her on her hip, then turned to a rapping at the door.
Holly smiled through the glass at her. Nina unlocked the door and let her in.
“Oh my goodness it looks lovely here. And you’re all set for the reopening.”
“I know, I can’t believe it. I feel like I’ve really come home.” Nina took in a deep breath. It had been an emotional rollercoaster for over a year. “Can you hold Ruby for me, I just need to use the loo.”
She reached the toilet just in time. Even though she’d been sick, she smiled as she flushed the chain, then brushed her teeth with the toothbrush she kept in her cabinet. She’d been here before and knew it was only part of the process.
Back in the shop, she smiled at Holly bobbing Ruby up and down, singing a nursery rhyme. “Here she is,” she said to Ruby.
“Ma,” Ruby held her arms out.
“You’re lucky this place was still available,” Holly said as she passed Ruby to her.
“Connor nearly bit my hand off when I said I was interested in a new lease. All he’d had here were pop up shops. He’s had no long-term interest at all.”
“I bet you negotiated a good rate.”
“You bet I did,” she said with a laugh.
“I’ve heard your other news, that you and Warren completed on the cottage.”
“Yes, once we received planning permission to extend it to the side. It’s lucky there’s so much land around the cottages. We want another bedroom and a playroom downstairs.”
“It’s always handy to have an extra guest room. We haven’t got one at all, but we just stick the relatives over at the farm when they come in from Essex.”
Nina smiled, her extra room wasn’t intended for guests.
“How’s Warren getting along at the university?”
“He’s loving it. He’s still writing the course and will oversee the delivery in October.”
There was another rap at the door and Holly went over and let Warren in.
“How are my girls?” he asked.
“Daddy.” Ruby outstretched her arms to him.
Nina passed Ruby over and smiled as Warren kissed Ruby on the cheek. “It’s clear who her favourite is.”
“Don’t worry, you’ll be favourite next time,” he said.
“Next time?” Holly asked, looking at them both in turn.
Nina raised her eyebrows at Warren.
“You’re not?” Holly grinned.
“I am! But only Ma and Dad know, so far. We’re telling Nick and Jane today.”
“Congratulations, how lovely,” Holly said.
“There’s a crowd forming outside,” Warren said.
Nina looked out. “Are all these people here for the shop opening? I thought it was a coach party arriving for a trip around the cathedral.”
“I think Jaz got the whole village here.”
“Who’s she rustled up for the ribbon cutting? She said it was a local celebrity, rather than a national one,” Nina said.
“It’s actually your dad who arranged it,” Holly said with a laugh. “Oh, here he comes.”
Nina went to the door. Outside, the life-sized mascot Hoggy and Sam Brent came into view. She laughed. “At least he always draws in a big crowd.” She stepped outside.
Jaz started off the applause as Nina looked around. The bus from Eversley village must have been full, as it seemed that Holly saying that Jaz brought the entire village wasn’t that much of an exaggeration.
“Don’t worry,” her father said. “We’ve booked a room at the town hall for the drinks and nibbles after everyone’s had a chance to look inside the shop. We can’t fit this many inside.”
Nina stood in the doorway with Warren by her side as he held Ruby, who tucked her head against his chest, shy at being faced with so many people. Sumitra stood at the front of the crowd with a collection of her friends including Dr Gupta. Val and Len were also at the front, sitting, having brought folding chairs. The entire darts team had made it and she guessed they’d already been in the pub for a lunchtime drink, as they had their arms around each other. Grace and Brendan beamed at her. Mitch stood with the twins, who were enjoying an ice cream each. Next to them was Julian with his and Jaz’s clan. Nick and Jane also had ice creams and waved at her.
Sam came over and smiled as Jaz held one end of the ribbon and Tony held the other end. Sam turned around to address the crowd. “It’s an honour to be here for the opening of this new childrenswear shop, run by the super businesswoman Nina Hunter.”
She smiled up at Warren. Every time she heard her married name, she thought back to their wedding day at Eversley village church. It had been such a special day.
Sam continued: “Please let’s give a big cheer for...” He paused. “Sorry, Nina, what are you calling the new shop?”
“Something Special,” Nina said with a laugh, pointing to the original sign which has been spruced up.
“Three cheers for Something Special ,” Sam called out and then cut the ribbon as the hip-hip-hoorays came from the crowd. Nina looked up at Warren as he gazed down at her with Ruby in his arms, and knew she simply couldn’t be happier.
I hope you enjoyed this series if you want to read my new series Escape to Lake Blue set in an alpine village then you can start with New Beginnings at Lake Blue :
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