Chapter 20
TWENTY
‘I’m going to do it today,’ Ciara said to Maureen as they were having breakfast at the kitchen table.
Maureen put her mug of Barry’s tea on the table. ‘Do what?’
‘Ask for a leave of absence,’ Ciara replied. ‘It’s as if a voice inside me is telling me to do it. I’ll go down to Enniskerry to call my boss later today.’
Maureen nodded and took a slice of toast from the breadbasket.
‘Good idea. And as we’re going to sell the shop as soon as we’ve done all the restorations, we need to decide how to restock it before it goes on the market.
Better to have fully stocked shelves and a few clients just to show that it’s something viable.
I’ll be with you to do anything and everything it takes to get it going. ’
‘I know you will,’ Ciara said. ‘I want us to be a team to get this off the ground.’ She pulled a notepad towards her. ‘If you get me the biro over there on the counter, we can make a list.’
‘Several lists, I should think,’ Maureen cut in as she handed Ciara the biro. ‘The halfway solution of getting the shop up and running will still require a lot of planning.’
‘I know,’ Ciara said, pen poised to take notes. ‘So what do we have to do?’
‘Well,’ Maureen started. ‘First of all we have to see what books to get in stock for the shop.’
‘Okay,’ Ciara said. ‘I’m going to take a look at the bestseller lists in the national newspapers and also look at what’s popular online.
Then I’ll put in an order and have a good mix of romance, detective stories, thrillers, and then some non-fiction, especially those that are about this area of Wicklow. ’
‘We need to stock maps and guides for walkers as well,’ Maureen cut in. ‘This area would be fantastic for hiking once it becomes better known.’
‘Brilliant.’ Ciara’s gaze drifted from her list to the view of the rolling green hills that she could see through the kitchen window.
‘With a little marketing with photos on social media, we might highlight the wild beauty of this area,’ she said, adding the items to her list. ‘But how do we tackle the business end of things? I mean, we’re selling the shop, so maybe we don’t have to follow all the rules and regulations? ’
‘I’m afraid we do,’ Maureen said. ‘Even if it’s just to start up in order to sell, we have to register the business in your name and do everything it takes to get it going.
Plus Revenue for the tax and register for VAT and…
’ She stopped and smiled. ‘Don’t look so worried.
I know how to run a business. I’ve done it before, remember. ’
‘You were selling tractors,’ Ciara remarked. ‘And it wasn’t your business.’
‘Tractors, books, what’s the difference?
’ Maureen asked. ‘It’s all the same when it comes to selling and paying tax.
I ran that company, actually. Not officially, but I did all the bookkeeping and accounts.
Don’t worry about that end of things; I’ll take care of it.
I have a few contacts in Revenue who I can ask for advice. ’
Ciara heaved a sigh of relief. ‘That’s lucky.
Then I can concentrate on other things. I’m planning to create a reading corner around the old stove that I think can be restored and made to work again.
Wouldn’t it be great to have that up and running to show a potential buyer it’s something to build on? ’
Maureen nodded. ‘Of course. But I think you should start with a small amount of stock, nothing too ambitious, and see how it works. I mean, this village is a little quiet, so we need to get people to come from the surrounding areas like Enniskerry and Wicklow town, maybe even Dublin if we can get that all-important word-of-mouth thing going.’ Maureen drew breath and took a sip from her mug.
‘And do tell me off if you feel I’m getting too bossy. ’
‘I will,’ Ciara promised. ‘We can tell whoever is at that tea party in a few weeks that we’re opening the bookshop.’
‘But it’ll take a while to get it going,’ Maureen said, looking doubtful. ‘Either way, we won’t open until August or so, if we can get our act together and work hard.’
‘I’d like to set a deadline for the end of July,’ Ciara said.
‘That’ll give us two months to get the shop stocked and the place painted and freshened up.
And you know what,’ she added as an idea had just hit her.
‘We can have a place in the back garden with benches and chairs under the big oak for people to sit and read in the summer months.’
‘I’m not sure about that,’ Maureen protested. ‘I can’t have the back garden ready so soon.’
‘Not you,’ Ciara argued. ‘We’ll get a gardening firm to do some landscaping.’
‘That will cost a lot of money,’ Maureen remarked, frowning.
‘Yes but I have the money from Martha. Plus, wouldn’t that be a business expense that we can claim against our taxes?’ Ciara suggested.
‘That’s a possibility,’ Maureen said after a moment’s reflection. ‘But what about Brian? He loves that place.’
‘He can be our mascot,’ Ciara said. ‘He can lie in the grass looking magnificent. He’s so friendly and everyone will love him.’
‘Some people might. Others might find him a little scary,’ Maureen remarked, spreading marmalade on her toast.
‘I’m sure he’ll soon be very popular.’ Ciara knocked the top off her boiled egg.
‘In any case, we have to decide on a budget and find out what all the work will cost.’ After she’d finished her egg, she started writing on the pad.
‘Painting and decorating, more books, landscaping, a new sign, and a new cash machine…’ she mumbled as she wrote.
‘I’ll go online when I’m in Enniskerry, or maybe later in Wicklow town when I’m there with Oisín tonight and find some local firms I can contact for quotes. ’
‘Won’t he find that a bit rude?’ Maureen asked. ‘He’s invited you to dinner after all.’
‘He said he wanted to find out about my plans for the bookshop,’ Ciara explained. ‘So I think he’ll find it interesting. But I’ll try not to be too obsessive about it.’
‘You might ask him about the vicarage,’ Maureen suggested. ‘That house looked deserted when we walked past it that evening, if you remember. But then we get an invitation to tea there.’
Ciara nodded. ‘Yes, that’s right. But there must be someone living there despite what we thought. I’ll ask him if he knows anything about it.’
‘Oisín knows a lot about many things,’ Maureen said. ‘But I have a feeling he’ll only tell you what he wants you to know.’
‘Maybe I can get it out of him by not actually asking?’ Ciara suggested.
‘That’s the best way,’ Maureen said. ‘Pretend you’re not really interested and then he’ll be trying to impress you.’
Ciara laughed. ‘You’re very devious, Ma. I’ll play it by ear,’ she said and got up. ‘Lots to do before tonight, though. So let’s get started and sort out books and stuff and make more lists.’
‘Good idea,’ Maureen said and started to clear the table. ‘We have some social events to look forward to as well. First that lunch with Ronan and his girlfriend at Powerscourt tomorrow, then the tea party in a few weeks.’
‘I’m exhausted just thinking about it,’ Ciara said. ‘Never thought we’d be partying like this in a remote village in the Wicklow Mountains.’
Maureen smiled. ‘Neither did I. But I have a feeling that tomorrow will bring us nearer to the truth about all the mystery if Ronan has found out more.’
‘I certainly hope so,’ Ciara said. But it was the evening with Oisín that gave her butterflies in her stomach.
Not because of his good looks and obvious charm, but because of what he might know.
But how could she get him to reveal all he knew about Martha, the bookshop and maybe also the history of the Fitzgerald family?
She had a feeling it would take some persuading and more than a little cunning.