Chapter 3
THREE
I stood on Pilgrim Street opposite Palmer’s Arcade, chewing the skin at the edge of my thumb. Now that I looked at it, I felt daunted. It was a double-fronted building with an ornate arch over the open front door, the hallway beyond floored with black and white tiles. To the right was a window full of books, The Empty Inkwell written in curlicued letters on the glass . It looked classy. The left-hand side was vacant, and the window was wider – a bigger shop space – and it was empty, barring some shelving on the back wall.
Up and down Pilgrim Street were a selection of shops ranging from vintage emporiums to independent clothing stores, and next to Palmer’s Arcade was a glossy-looking cosmetics and skincare boutique. Further down the road was the Tyneside Cinema, an arthouse cinema that I’d never been to. It was all very… polished, and I was now not sure at all that stocking the pop-up shop with my mother’s eclectic product range would cut the mustard here.
I was just about to scurry away back to the Metro station when a man who looked to be in his sixties poked his head out of the door, peering around like a meerkat. His blue shirt embraced his ample tummy and was tucked into smart jeans. After a moment, he caught my eye and squinted.
‘It’s not Annie, is it?’ he called from over the street.
‘Yeah,’ I shouted back with a weak wave. Rumbled.
‘I thought so. It’s Mike,’ he said, gesturing to himself. ‘I saw you hovering. Come on over and I’ll show you around.’
I hurried over the road and shook his hand. ‘I was just making sure I was in the right place,’ I fibbed. I’d spoken to Mike the day after coming up with this bright idea, and I was now ten minutes late for this appointment.
‘Well, you certainly are,’ he said, leading me into the arcade and unlocking the door to the shop on the left.
Further down the hallway, I could make out entrances to two more shops, one of which smelled strongly of incense.
‘In you come then.’
We went into the shop, which was surprisingly light and airy considering the grey-tinged autumn sky outside. The walls and shelves were painted white, and the floor was honey-coloured polished floorboards.
‘So, this space has been recently vacated by a swimwear retailer – not much business for them at this time of the year. That’s the beauty of a pop-up shop – we can do seasonal products, limited stock sales, passing trends and so on. Renting short-term means you can commit for as little or as long as you’d like, really. So what kind of thing are you hoping to use it for?’
I thought about the elegant bookshop across the hall, the slick-looking beauty store next door and the painfully middle-class cinema down the road. And then I thought about the mélange of products in my old bedroom; herbal remedies, kitchen gadgets and hand-made fruity soaps.
‘Well… it’s a curated collection of wellness products, homewares and artisan skincare.’
It wasn’t exactly lying, merely embellishing. And I was desperate.
‘Great – that sounds right up our street, Annie. And what would you be calling the shop? Just so I know if it’s a good fit.’
I blinked. Why hadn’t I thought about this in advance? My mind scanned through various emergency options that would work for a store full of random objects. Objects that I needed to make me fast money.
‘Everything Must Go.’ It was to the point, and could hopefully pass as ironic and trendy.
‘Interesting. But that could work. Now, I must tell you we’ve had a bit of interest in the space already, and there’s another guy coming to see it. He should be here any minute now. So if you want the space, you might have to move quite quick.’
‘Right, I see.’ Mike didn’t seem the type to make that kind of thing up to pressurise me into signing, so I assumed he wasn’t spinning me a line. ‘Well, it is lovely. And such a great location. And I can be on a flexible lease, two weeks’ notice to vacate?’
‘That’s right. As I said, that’s how the business model works. Get in, sell your stuff and be on your way. Of course, we do have more long-standing tenants like Sven and Arthur next door, so you’d be welcome to stay as long as you’d like.’
‘Cool,’ I said, looking around the room again. I was starting to picture it all. The job lot of paperbacks on the shelves, tables here and there with neat piles of storage boxes and kitchen gadgets on them. I could paint the shop name on the window like they had next door. Or maybe get a sign made up?
I turned on the spot, taking in the airy atmosphere and period features.
Then there was a cough from the doorway.
The first thing I registered was a pair of familiar mahogany-coloured eyes, which blinked in surprise. It was the guy from the bar, the guitarist. Today, his hair was scooped up in a man-bun, which I could forgive him for as it accentuated his cheekbones. I felt my face heat up, remembering our back and forth, and the way he’d smiled down at me. The way I’d been disappointed when he’d walked back to the stage. He clearly recognised me too, but before we could renew our acquaintance, Mike bounded over.
‘Penn, isn’t it?’ Mike offered him a handshake.
‘Yeah,’ he replied, his voice almost lazy with nonchalance. He gave me a quick glance, then it occurred to me. This Penn character, despite our friendly exchange the other night and how my stomach had fluttered when he walked in, was now potentially standing between me and my plans. He looked around. ‘Looks good,’ he said.
‘Glad you think so,’ said Mike. ‘I’m just showing this lovely lady around too. Sorry your appointments have clashed,’ he said, glancing at his watch. ‘It’s just I need to be somewhere. So, are either of you interested?’
‘I am,’ Penn said smoothly. ‘This space is exactly what I need.’ He regarded the shelves. ‘I can display the vinyl on there, and if it’s okay, I’ll bring in some display cabinets of my own?’
‘Of course – you can use it however?—’
‘Excuse me,’ I interjected, the flutters in my stomach now becoming quivers of panic. ‘Um, I’m still here. I was actually thinking the same. I’d supply some tables and benches to display my stuff too.’
Penn locked eyes with me and smiled slowly. ‘Sounds like I’ve got competition.’
‘Yes. You have,’ I said, looking to Mike with growing anxiety. ‘And I was here first.’
Penn laughed and shook his head. ‘I don’t think it works like that.’
Mike’s eyes flicked between us nervously.
‘So, let’s talk money, Mike,’ I said, turning slightly away from Penn, blocking the space between him and the now slightly frightened-looking landlord.
‘Yes, let’s,’ agreed Penn, matching my proximity to Mike. His elbow bumped against my upper arm, given our difference in height, but I stood fast. ‘I’m sure we’ll be able to shake hands on it right away.’
‘Same here,’ I snapped, straightening my shoulders. ‘What’s the deal?’
‘Well, there’s a five-hundred-pound security deposit, which is refundable when you vacate. Provided it’s all still in good nick, of course.’
‘Okay.’ I thought of the money that Mam and Dad had given me. With that and a little nudge further into my overdraft to pay Neo, I could stretch to covering the cost.
‘Then, ongoing, the rent will be six hundred pounds.’
‘A month?’ This sounded very reasonable.
He smiled patiently. ‘A week.’
I tensed my jaw to prevent it dropping wide open. ‘Right,’ I said faintly. ‘Righto…’
‘So, who’s shaking hands?’ he asked, holding out a palm to each of us.
I looked at his hands, my heart racing, and made a split-second decision.
‘So, the boxed baubles go over here on the square shelves, and the loose baubles in these baskets around the Christmas trees. Tinsel is up on the far wall, and door wreaths by the till on that stand.’
A week later, I found myself in a very different kind of pop-up shop – a Christmas tree farm on the outskirts of Gosforth that had a seasonal shop filled with festive decorations and trinkets. Now that it was the beginning of November, they had just started trading and needed staff for the shop right away, and to take payment for the trees when they were ready later. And I’d turned out to be just the person they needed.
I wasn’t sure exactly why this was the case but found out that morning. After looking me up and down in a frankly disconcerting way, Judy, the manager, told me I’d be taking the role of a Christmas elf once December came. The tree farm boasted a Santa’s grotto in the run-up to Christmas and apparently I was a similar size and build to last year’s little helper.
All I could do was grit my teeth and get on with it. Since Palmer’s Arcade was well outside my budget, and I couldn’t see a way to make the books balance with the products I’d be selling, I’d been disappointed to walk away. After my frustratingly handsome competitor had emerged triumphant, I’d been honest with Mike that it was more than I could afford. I still felt an idiot for thinking I could breeze in there and sign on the dotted line.
‘Here you go,’ said Judy, placing a dusty box into my arms. ‘These are from last year. Could you get these strung up around the cornices and across the cash desk?’
‘Yep, no problem.’
Judy smiled and headed outside with her clipboard.
I opened the box to find several balls of Christmas lights, the cables in horrifying knots. I lifted one monstrosity out and sighed. This was going to be worse than that time I got chewing gum stuck in my hair, and no amount of baby oil was going to help here.
I laid them on the desk, worrying away at the fine cables, trying not to break the bulbs, and thought about Mam and Dad. They’d tried to hide their disappointment about the shop. Dad had already been talking about making some tables to display the stock, Mam had been on standby to help make signs and decorations, and we’d all agreed to split the profits down the middle. But, as ever, they were stoic in the face of adversity and had cheered me on when I got this Christmas gig.
I’d just managed to free twenty centimetres of cable when the door jingled and a woman came in. She was windswept and wrapped up in a patchwork coat with multicoloured evil eyes embroidered here and there. She tugged down her hood and smiled.
‘Blowing a hooley out there,’ she said, out of breath. ‘Oh. Are you open?’ She looked around at the boxes that still hadn’t been unpacked and the cluster of fairy lights in my hands.
‘Yes! We are. But excuse the boxes – we’re still finishing off the stocking up. No pun intended,’ I said, nodding to the faux fireplace with Christmas stockings hung along the mantelpiece.
She chuckled. ‘That pun was a Christmas cracker,’ she said, making me laugh in return. She came closer, emanating the faint scent of patchouli. ‘So, I’m looking for some Christmas decorations. The vibe I’m going for is kind of organic, things from nature. Woodland, berries, foraged items, that kind of thing?’
‘Um…’ I tried to draw on any expertise I’d gleaned from my two hours of being in the job. ‘Well, it’s too early for real foliage. That will be ready in December, I think. But we do have some natural decorations over here?’ I led her to one of the fake Christmas trees decked out in a more folksy style. ‘These raffia baubles could be good? Or there’s some dried oranges and limes, cinnamon sticks, pine cones… Oh, and these.’
I held up a dried brown thing that looked like a wizened shower head, a horn shape with holes in the end. ‘I think this is a…’
‘Lotus head,’ she finished, grinning. ‘I love these.’
‘Yes. They’re… beautiful.’ I put the wrinkled cone back in the basket.
She narrowed her eyes at me. ‘Do I know you from somewhere?’
‘I don’t think so.’ I looked at her more carefully. Henna-coloured hair in a sharp bob, nose ring. I’d never seen this woman before in my life.
‘Oh, I know! You came to see the empty unit at Palmer’s. I saw you talking to Mike as you were leaving.’ She held out her hand. ‘I’m Christa; I have the unit at the back. Sacred Aura.’
I shook it, thinking that explained the drift of incense down the hallway. ‘Annie. It’s lovely to meet you. But it didn’t work out unfortunately, which is why I’m here.’
‘That’s a shame. It would have been nice to have another girl on board. The rest of them are all fellas, and the new one’s a man too.’
‘Yes. We met.’ Despite having already drawn a line under my ambitions, my heart still sank.
‘Yeah, he’s moving in tomorrow. So what put you off?’
I rubbed my thumb and forefinger together and smiled glumly. ‘Out of my budget.’
‘Ah. Sorry about that. I really am. Listen, I’m having a gem bath tonight, so I’ll pop some citrine in there for you.’
‘You’re having a what, and you’ll what?’
She laughed. ‘A gem bath is when you put crystals in your bathwater and visualise their energies. Citrine is good for manifesting wealth and success, so I’ll send some of that your way.’
‘Right!’ I said, a little thrown. ‘That’s lovely. Um, is there some kind of “thank you” bath I can have in return?’
‘Well, amethyst would work, but I’ll let you off,’ she said with a wink. Then she popped outside, returning a few minutes later to bring me a hot chocolate from the festive drinks van, and to pay for her purchases.
‘Thanks for the hot chocolate,’ I said. ‘And also for the citrine spells and whatnot. That’s so kind of you.’
‘No problem. I like to spread positive energy wherever I can.’
She waved goodbye, and it felt like she really had brought some positive energy, with or without the help of crystals. I felt buoyed up and optimistic. Then Judy came back in with the elf outfit for me to try on and the day went downhill from there.
The next day, I’d just finished my shift and was heading for the bus stop when my phone rang.
‘Hello, is that Annie?’
‘Yes.’ I shuffled to the side of the pavement to let other people past.
‘It’s Mike. From Palmer’s Arcade?’
My brow knitted. I hadn’t expected to hear from him ever again. ‘Hi! How are you?’
‘I’m good, thanks. Listen, are you still interested in the shop?’
‘Uh… I’m afraid my circumstances haven’t changed, Mike. I can’t afford it. Plus, I thought that Penn guy was moving in.’
‘Yes, but there’s been a change of situation. He’s just informed me the unit is a bit on the large side for his stock. It turns out vinyl records stack up quite compact.’ He sounded weary and irritated. ‘Obviously it’s left me in a bit of a situation. So I suggested we could look into a shop-share – two businesses sharing the same space as well as splitting the costs down the middle. I told him about your artisan products and he’s keen. What do you think?’
I stared into the distance, my mouth hanging open. What I was thinking was: That citrine bath worked bloody fast . But then my mouth caught up with my mind, and I asked, ‘When can I move in?’