Chapter 8
8
Much as I had wanted to slap him the day before, when we sat down and Dennis started to explain certain aspects of the business to me, he made an awful lot of sense. He asked what took up most of my time and got me to describe my typical bookshop day. There were so many ideas I’d had that I’d not yet put into practice because I didn’t feel like I had the time. I explained that I felt like I was doing two jobs; one being the manager and the other just being a worker and I struggled to do both at the same time.
But when he questioned how I was spending my spare time, I felt like he was personally criticising me.
‘Did you know the percentage of start-up businesses that fail within their first year?’
I thought back to the day we met and him telling me this information and what a surprise it had been to me.
‘I did not. But I bet they didn’t believe in the power of the universe taking care of everything for them, did they?’ I smiled.
‘Is the universe going to pay the rental on the shop when you can’t afford it though? Starting a business takes extensive planning, research and implementation. What’s your plan for staffing? What happens when you go on holiday?’
God, he really was a laugh a minute. How on earth did I think he was hot when I first met him? Just because he was well dressed and good looking wasn’t enough to endear him to me.
‘Nancy, are you listening to me? I’m trying to help you here, you know.’
‘Sorry, I was just wondering what you do for fun.’
‘Not really relevant, is it?’
‘It’s not, but it’s called conversation. I say something, then you say something back and so on and so on.’
‘Hilarious. Shall we get back to the business plan?’
‘Yes, would love to.’ I smiled sweetly again.
He sighed.
‘Sorry, it’s just so serious.’
‘Yeah, that’s exactly what it is. That’s my job and that’s what I’m trying to make sure you realise. Trying to get those bills paid for you. You can’t keep ignoring those brown envelopes, you know? You have a business to make profitable.’
‘I do know that of course, but Aunty Theresa’s money is in the bank too.’
‘Yeah, but that’s running out. Look, last night I set up this spreadsheet. I wanted to show you the outgoings and incomings. They just don’t balance at all.’
‘But you have to speculate to accumulate, isn’t that what they say?’ You see, I did know what I was talking about. I’d show him.
‘Nancy, this business is haemorrhaging money left, right and centre and you’ve only been open a few months. At the rate you are spending and not earning, you’ll be shut down by Christmas. Is that what you want?’
‘Oh, you’re just being dramatic now. It’s not that bad surely?’
He turned his laptop round and started talking through the figures.
‘So now do you see the problem?’
‘Erm, yes I think I do.’
‘Praise the Lord. She gets it.’
‘Has anyone ever told you how annoying you are?’
‘Plenty. It’s water off a duck’s back. I’m here to do a job and that’s what I’m trying to do.’
‘I know you said you weren’t charging me for this consultancy work you’re doing, but if you were, how much would you charge?’
‘Way more than you can afford.’
‘Rude! Seriously though, how much do you charge for this type of work? And do you insult all the business owners the way you seem to be insulting me?’
‘Only the stupid ones.’
‘I wish I was paying you.’
‘Why’s that?’
‘Because I could sack you! That’s why.’
‘You need me, Nancy.’
My hands instinctively flew to my hips and I could feel my nostrils flaring.
‘There’s a difference between needing someone and wanting someone, you know.’
His eyes locked onto mine and he raised an eyebrow.
The bell over the door rang then and Mum appeared, saving us from a confrontation. I quickly gathered the papers together and slammed the lid shut on the laptop and looked at Dennis, willing him not to say anything in front of her. The last thing I wanted her to know was that I was making a hash of her best friend’s legacy. I didn’t think she’d ever forgive me if she knew.
‘Oh, it’s so lovely to see you two together. I was chatting to Vi earlier when I was doing the cleaning and she was saying that Dennis was spending a lot of time here with you, Nance.’
Dennis blushed and excused himself to go to the bathroom.
‘He’s quite a dish, isn’t he?’ Mum said after he’d gone into the bathroom.
‘Well, I suppose if you like that type of thing then I can see why people might look at him that way.’
‘Oh yes, if I was ten years younger I’d give him a run for his money.’
‘Twenty years, more like, and you meant if you weren’t happily married to my lovely dad?’
‘Of course, that’s what I meant.’
Mum’s tinkling laugh was a joy to hear. Mum and Dad had a wonderful marriage and they’d not long celebrated their thirtieth wedding anniversary. I couldn’t imagine being married to someone that long. That was longer than I’d even been alive. At twenty-seven, I hadn’t had many serious relationships in my life, prioritising my career ahead of everything, but also being a teacher wasn’t just working nine to three every day and having all the school holidays off. There was all the other stuff that went alongside it – the marking, the talking to parents, the counselling and social work side of being a teacher and that didn’t leave me an awful lot of time for a social life. Also, I idolised my father, and so far, I hadn’t managed to find anyone who lived up to my high expectations of the perfect man.
‘What’s he like?’ Mum asked, tilting her head towards the back of the shop where Dennis had just been.
‘Serious. Annoying. Dull. Money mad. Did I mention annoying? Shall I go on?’
‘Oh, he must have some endearing qualities, surely?’
‘Nope! I don’t think so.’
‘He told Vi he thought you were really pretty.’
‘Dennis did?’ I couldn’t have been more surprised.
‘Yep. She thought he… What were her words now? Oh yes, that’s right. Has the hots for you.’
‘I don’t think that could be further from the truth. And he’s certainly not my type at all.’
‘So why are you spending so much time with him then? It looked like you were as thick as thieves when I came in, poring over that laptop.’
Neither of us had realised that Dennis had returned until he was right behind me and when he spoke it made me jump.
‘I just had a few ideas that I thought might help Nancy, and she was telling me about some ideas she’d had too. She just wants me for my business consultancy skills. Isn’t that right, Nancy?’
‘Err yes, that’s right.’ I chewed the inside of my cheek and Mum raised an eyebrow.
After a few seconds’ hesitation she started talking again.
‘Oh, how lovely. That’s so kind of you to offer your advice, Dennis. I know that Nancy is living her dream here in her little bookshop and that her aunty Theresa would be so proud of what a fabulous job she’s doing. She saved up for years, you know, and when she knew she was ill, sold everything she had just so she could help Nancy fulfil her ambitions. I’m so glad it’s all working out for her and she’s doing so well.’ She squeezed my cheeks in the same way she did when I was the sheep in my primary school nativity play. ‘My little entrepreneur.’
Nothing like a little bit of pressure of that type to give you a kick up the backside. Maybe I did need Dennis a lot more than I’d originally thought.
I couldn’t bring myself to look at him. He must have thought I was a complete numpty. Only open for a few months and making a right blooming mess of everything. Someone like me must have seemed so ridiculous to someone of his standing.
‘Right, I was only popping in to bring your lunch. I’ll go and put it in the fridge. It’ll probably feed both of you if you are stopping around, Dennis.’
‘That’s very kind, but I have things to do. Thank you though.’
We both watched her as she left, both silent in our thoughts.
‘Look, Nancy. I feel like we’ve really got off on the wrong foot. We don’t have to like each other for us to work together. I’ve worked with plenty of people that I don’t like.’
‘You really do have a way with words, don’t you?’
‘You know what I mean. I’m trying to help you here, you know. Why don’t we just start again? Deal?’
He held his hand out to me.
I sighed. Sadly, I didn’t think I had much of an alternative.
I put my hand in his and immediately we both jumped back as an electric shock jolted us both.
He shook his hand and pulled a face.
‘Right, what are you doing after the shop has shut later?’
‘It’s Tuesday. I close early as it’s my afternoon to be a beach angel.’
‘A what?’
‘Beach angel. There’s a group of us that take it in turns to collect and remove rubbish from the beaches.’
‘That’s all very commendable, but does it pay?’
‘Not everything in life is paid, Dennis. There are people who don’t treat our beaches the way they should. There are fragments of plastic being dumped all over the place. If someone doesn’t clean them away then they’ll be here for generations to come. Maybe you should come with me. See for yourself. You could even help.’
‘Thanks for the offer but no thanks. I’ve got better things to do.’
‘Such as?’ My hands had rested themselves on my hips again.
‘I’m sure I’ll think of something.’
‘It’s easy to sit back and do nothing.’
‘If it’s such a big issue then a small group of people in the corner of Cornwall aren’t going to have much of an impact.’
It was opinions like this that really riled me. If everyone made more of an effort to help then the world would be a better place. Sitting back and doing nothing was not an option for me. Ever since I was a little girl and heard of the beach angel scheme, I’d been at the beach every free chance I had, collecting rubbish after the holidaymakers abused our little seaside sanctuary. Yes, they spent money in our shops and yes, they ate and drank in our establishments, but then they littered our beaches and it broke my heart to see what they’d left behind. To think of all the marine life that was in danger because people just don’t think. I might not be able to do everything but I could certainly do something and I would. Awareness and action were top of my agenda.
‘OK, well that’s clearly more important to you than your bookshop so I’ll pop by again tomorrow lunchtime if that’s OK and we can run through some more ideas. We’ll put a firm plan into place and start taking some quick action. Then you can go off and do your beach cleaning later. That OK?’
‘Yep.’
He slung his Gucci leather man bag over his shoulder and winked at me before he slowly slid on his aviator sunglasses.
Blimey.
OK, so maybe Mum did have a point and every so often I was reminded of what I’d thought of him when we first met. When he smiled, his eyes crinkled and his whole face softened. If I was the type of person who succumbed to the powerful smile of a handsome man with perfectly manicured designer stubble, then now would be the time I would melt into a little puddle.
‘See you tomorrow.’
As he walked towards the door and into the street, I got a funny little fluttering in my tummy. It must be dinner time.