5. Jane
5
JANE
I glanced at my watch and groaned. I’d woken up much later than planned because I’d stayed up late, reading.
Experience had taught me that whenever I told myself I’d only read one more chapter, I always ended up reading more, so I knew I shouldn’t have, but I needed a distraction.
Even though it’d been days since Jackson had come to the library, for some reason, I still couldn’t stop thinking about him and how good he looked. Silly, really, considering it was obvious I’d never see him again.
Although the pay was fair at the library, I doubted it compared to what Jackson was used to getting as a City high-flyer. Plus, I’d overheard Jess and Theo mention he couldn’t work evenings, and I knew that wouldn’t be good because the earliest the library usually closed was seven. And we wanted to do more events after hours, so whoever they hired needed to be available for those too. That was why Jackson wouldn’t get the job.
I felt bad because he’d obviously applied for a reason, and even though we hadn’t spoken for years, I still wanted him to do well. But at the same time, it was probably a blessing in disguise for me, because if I was thinking about him this much after speaking to him for a few minutes, imagine how hard it’d be if I had to see him every day.
So to take my mind off having ridiculous thoughts about a man I hadn’t seen for ages, I’d escaped into a book and it’d worked.
Jess hadn’t been joking when she’d said Office Delight was addictive. I’d been highlighting and annotating the pages like crazy. I’d told myself I’d just finish the chapter, then I’d go to sleep. But one chapter turned into another seven .
Things were certainly heating up between Rocco and Virginia and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next, but at the same time, I didn’t want it to end.
After letting out a long yawn, I hid the paperback at the bottom of my handbag, jumped in the shower, got dressed, then went down for breakfast.
I was still fine for time. Technically I didn’t need to get to the library until around nine fifteen, ready to open up by nine thirty, but I always liked to get there around eight thirty so that I could get ahead of the day or snuggle up on the sofa and enjoy some relaxing reading time.
When I got to the kitchen, Dad was sitting at the table, his favourite talk radio show blaring.
‘Good morning!’ I said, attempting to sound cheerful.
‘Good?’ he barked. ‘What the bloody hell is good about it? The unemployment rates are up again. What’s this country coming to? It’s going to the dogs, I’m telling you. Someone needs to do something! ’
I rubbed my temples. This wasn’t how I wanted to start my day.
‘Is Mum around?’ I asked.
‘She’s at the shop. Although who knows how much longer we can keep that open with all these big discount supermarkets opening up all over the place, trying to kill off the little man. It’s outrageous!’
Mum and Dad ran a corner shop a few streets away. It was one of the few business ‘ventures’ Dad had come up with that actually lasted more than just a few months before he got bored and moved on to something else.
‘I’m… I have to get to work,’ I said, deciding that eating at home would be too stressful. I was about to wish him a good day, but knew he’d just say something negative, so once I’d grabbed my jacket and bag, I left.
After catching the train to Sunshine Bay, I considered going straight to the library. But when my stomach rumbled for the twentieth time, I knew I had to get breakfast.
I walked to Sweet Treats, a cute bakery and cafe, and stepped inside. As usual it was heaving with customers. It was one of the most popular places in town.
Once I got to the front of the queue, my mouth watered as I took in the display of cream cakes, pastries, muffins and colourful iced fingers. It was hard to choose what to get because everything looked so delicious.
‘Jane! Hi!’ Maddie, the owner said enthusiastically. She had olive skin and dark hair which had been tied into a high ponytail. Underneath her branded Sweet Treats apron she was wearing a blue T-shirt and jeans. ‘Sorry to keep you waiting. What can I get you?’
‘Can I have a double-chocolate muffin please? Actually, make it two,’ I said, thinking I’d get one for Jess. I knew she loved them as much as I did.
‘Coffee?’ she asked.
‘Please.’
‘I’ll bring it over in a sec,’ she said.
I tapped my card on the reader, then scanned the cafe for somewhere to sit.
Luckily a couple got up from one of the cute white tables towards the back and I quickly nabbed it.
A few minutes later Maddie came over with my coffee and muffins.
‘So, how’ve you been?’ I asked.
‘Good. Just busy, what with this place to run and getting everything prepared for the new cafe too.’
‘I bet! We’re so excited about the new place,’ I said.
The cafe opening in the library was going to be a joint venture with Maddie.
Sunshine Bay was big on community, and when Jess and Theo decided to open a cafe in the library, they didn’t want it to take away business from Sweet Treats. So they suggested that rather than competing, it became an extension of Maddie’s brand.
Although it’d be the library’s cafe, which meant they’d fund the building work, Maddie would be paid to supply all of the homemade cakes and biscuits, plus provide the staff, so it’d be mutually beneficial.
‘I can’t believe it’s happening so soon! And we still haven’t thought of a name for the place,’ Maddie said.
‘Oh! I thought it’d just be called Sweet Treats just like this place?’
‘No. Jess was thinking it would be better to have something that reflected not just the cakes and stuff but the bookish element too.’
‘Makes sense,’ I said. ‘Well, I can chat to her later and maybe we can do some brainstorming to come up with some suggestions.’
‘That’d be amazing, thanks! How are you getting on at the library?’
‘Best job ever!’ I said, meaning every word. ‘We just need to find someone else to join to help with the workload, y’know?’
‘Pretty sure that Jess has found someone.’
‘Really?’ I frowned. ‘They’ve been interviewing for weeks, but I didn’t think they’d hired anyone yet.’
‘I think it literally just happened. Jess was here about an hour ago and said she was heading in early to meet the new recruit. At least I thought that’s what she said.’
‘You could be right,’ I replied, thinking it was strange she hadn’t mentioned it. Jess was probably planning to fill me in this morning. If she was at Sweet Treats an hour ago, she’d be at the library now. ‘Actually, I might take these to go.’
‘I’ll pack them up for you. I need to get back too, but we should catch up properly soon. Maybe have a girl’s night at the Seaview Arms?’
‘I’d love that!’
I didn’t have many friends who lived locally. Shamwick wasn’t like Sunshine Bay. In general, people tried to leave Shamwick as quickly as possible and never came back, so the friends I’d had before were long gone.
When I lived in London, I used to hang out with people from the bookshop, but after what had happened, I hadn’t kept in contact with anyone .
‘Great! Ask Jess if she’d be up for it too. I’ll speak to Kara.’
‘Perfect!’ I said, excitement rippling through me.
Kara was the town’s favourite hairdresser. I hadn’t spent much time with her, but she seemed nice.
After collecting my coffee to go and two paper bags with the muffins, I headed over to the library.
As I stepped inside, I heard voices coming from the office. The door was open and when I caught sight of who was inside, my stomach plummeted.
‘Here she is!’ Jess beamed. ‘Jane, let me formally introduce you to your new colleague and our new librarian, slash bookseller, slash events manager: Jackson Campbell.’
Shit.