Chapter 12
Kazz glanced around her shop for about the seventeenth time that morning. She was sure she’d forgotten something, but she couldn’t think what.
It was still dark out, but it wouldn’t stay that way for much longer. In an hour, the day would begin, and so would the start of a whole new chapter in her life, because today she would open the doors to her very own bookshop. It was a momentous occasion, and also an incredibly scary one. What if she didn’t get any customers? What if she did, but no one bought anything? Kazz didn’t know which would be worse. But what she did know was that she had tried her best. The shop was looking exactly how she had pictured it when she’d first begun to believe it could be a possibility. It seemed as though weeks had passed since Tia had thrust the keys in her hand, but it was barely a week ago.
Just six days.
Six long and incredibly busy days.
If someone had told her when she’d got off the bus last Saturday that by the following weekend she would have taken up residence in the flat above the tea shop and would be about to open a shop of her own, stocked with her grandad’s old books, she would have laughed in their face. Yet here she was, so nervous that she needed yet another wee, and wondering whether it was too late to back out.
Her phone pinged with a message from Stevie, wishing her luck and telling her she’d pop in later. Kazz had already received one from Leanne, who was usually up before the birds because she visited the wholesalers to buy the flowers before she opened her shop.
Tia had a wedding at the manor today and Kazz hadn’t expected to hear from her, but she had sent her a silly gif and several kisses. Kazz had even had a call from Rossiter last night, after he’d finished his shift, and she’d been moved that he wanted to keep in touch. It had taken him no time at all to find another job, but he was still looking because – after being front-of-house staff in a trendy restaurant – waiting tables in a pub chain establishment wasn’t his ideal position.
There was one person she hadn’t heard from, though, and that was her mum. Kazz still hadn’t told her what she’d done, and neither would she. Not yet. Not until she had something positive to report. She had spoken to her yesterday and Diana had sounded so incredibly happy that Kazz would cut off her right arm before she’d do anything to spoil it.
She paid another nervous visit to the loo, then made a cup of tea and took it onto the shop floor. Although that was technically what it was, Kazz secretly thought of it as ‘the library’. The room looked so cosy with the lamps lit (she would turn on the main overhead lights when she opened up), and she even had a Christmas tree in the corner. Decorating it had been the final thing she’d done yesterday, and she had derived great enjoyment from it, even though she wished she’d had someone to share the moment with. Scoffing a mince pie and slurping hot chocolate on her own had felt a little pitiful.
However, she could hardly expect Stevie or the others to give up their Friday night to wrap tinsel around a tree, especially since they had been so supportive over the past few days. Despite having their own businesses to run, Stevie, Leanne and Edie had all popped in to give her a hand, while Tia had sourced bags, organised for a sign to be painted above the shop and even persuaded her father-in-law to spare the handyman from the Manor to put up loads of shelves along the opposite wall to the bookcases, and along the available space on the back wall. Lord Tonbridge had even supplied the materials – old floorboards – although his handyman had made it clear he wanted them back at the end of the lease.
Everyone had been so lovely, and so kind, that more than once she had almost been reduced to tears. She felt a bit weepy now, if she was honest, which wasn’t in the least bit like her. Up until the day she’d lost her job and her home, and her mother had told her she was leaving the country, Kazz had been the least weepy person she knew. Now she seemed to be fighting back tears all the time.
No more, she vowed. Today was going to be just fine, she told herself. She would get to closing time and wonder what all the fuss had been about. Not wanting to tempt fate, she would wait until this evening before suggesting everyone go to the pub for a celebratory drink – her treat. It was the least she could do. And when she was more settled and had the chance to draw breath, she would cook them a sumptuous meal to thank them.
A rap on the window made her jump, and she smiled when she saw it was Betty.
While Kazz had been drinking her tea and musing, the village had begun to come alive, with lights on in the bakery and the butcher’s. Kazz guessed Betty was on her way to the tea shop to put the first batch of cakes and pastries in the oven, if Stevie hadn’t already done it.
‘Good luck,’ Betty said when Kazz unlocked the door, and she impulsively gave the old lady a hug. ‘You won’t need it, of course,’ Betty assured her. ‘I’m sure you’ll do brilliantly. I’ll try to pop in and see you later, but I’m not making any promises. Tanglewood is starting to ramp up for Christmas, and it’s getting busy.’
Kazz hoped some of that busyness would rub off on her little shop. There were only five more Saturdays until Christmas, not including this one, and she had to make the most of them. She was also looking forward to the Christmas festival. Stevie had told her it was being held two weeks before Christmas, and the event attracted loads of visitors.
‘How is the festival planning coming along?’ she asked.
Betty pressed her lips together. ‘It would be grand if it wasn’t for Julia Ferris, more commonly known as Lady Tonbridge. She’s a right pain in the arse. Can you believe she even suggested holding it at the Manor? I soon told her where she could stick that idea. It’s always been held in the village itself.’
Kazz had yet to meet the Lord and Lady of Tonbridge Manor, but she had heard all about Lady Tonbridge’s interference in William and Tia’s wedding plans, the most significant of which had been her attempt to dictate the dress Tia wore. She had been having none of it, though, and had secretly arranged for Edie to design and make a very special dress indeed. Stevie had sent Kazz photos, and Tia had looked stunning. Now, Edie was also making Stevie’s dress, as well as the bridesmaids’ ones, and Kazz couldn’t wait; she loved weddings, as they were an excuse to get dressed up and have some fun. And this one would be particularly special because it was her best and oldest friend who would be tying the knot. However, that was months and months away yet; Kazz had a shop to open first.
As she said goodbye to Betty, she waved to Edie, who was hurrying along the street towards the pretty cobbled courtyard, where the bridal shop was located, and she noticed that a few more shops and businesses had come to life.
Taking a deep breath and squaring her shoulders, Kazz knew it was time her little shop did the same.
A few hours later, Kazz wouldn’t exactly describe the bookshop as buzzing, but there had been a steady trickle not long after she had opened the door. And when she’d made her first sale – a first edition 1863 book on housekeeping – she had been over the moon, and it had taken every inch of self-control not to do a jig on the spot. With her heart in her mouth, she’d keyed the amount into the card machine, and had held her breath until the sale had been processed.
The next one had been a little less fraught, and five sales later (five! Eek!) she was feeling marginally more confident.
‘There you go,’ she said, handing a paper bag with a copy of Locomotive Cyclopedia inside to the woman who had just purchased it. ‘I’m sure your nephew will love it.’
‘He definitely will,’ the woman said. ‘He lives and breathes model trains. That’s another Christmas present to tick off the list. I’m so glad I found you. I’ve been saying for ages that Tanglewood needs a bookshop.’
The customer’s words made Kazz’s heart sing. Comments like this were exactly what she needed to hear.
‘Please tell your friends about it,’ she urged, hoping she sounded upbeat and not desperate.
‘Oh, I will,’ the woman said. ‘Merry Christmas.’
Kazz repeated the sentiment back to her, thinking it was maybe a tad early to be wishing people a merry Christmas. But she was starting to get in the mood, and she put it down to having a Christmas tree in the shop. Usually, she would be in a hectic kitchen, with steam and swear words floating on the air, and not a hint of anything festive in sight.
This was certainly less frantic, although it was more nerve-racking, because at least she knew what she was doing in a kitchen. She didn’t have a clue what she was doing in a bookshop.
But, if she was honest, that wasn’t strictly true: she did have some idea. Subconsciously, she must have absorbed more than she’d thought from all those hours and hours she’d spent with Grandad, because she soon began to realise she was conversing somewhat knowledgeably with her customers. Or at least, she wasn’t making a total arse of herself.
Another customer claimed her attention, and when she next turned around, her pulse leapt and she faltered, because standing inside the door was Saul.
Their eyes locked and her heart stuttered, missing a beat. Hastily, she cast her gaze downwards, her mouth dry, dismay coursing through her. Oh no, you don’t , she told herself. Saul was not the kind of man to have palpitations over. Surges of lust? Yes. A crush? No. But, flipping heck, he was so damned sexy that she defied any woman not to react to him the way she had.
No wonder he had a reputation as the local Lothario.
When she managed to gather her wits and risked looking at him again, she almost yelped as she realised that he was close enough to touch.
‘Looks good,’ he said, scanning the shelves. ‘I can’t believe you’ve managed to get it done so fast.’
‘I had a lot of help,’ she said.
‘Yeah, I heard.’ He pulled a face. ‘I should have… you know… given you a hand.’
‘You did more than your share,’ she said. ‘Thanks again for hauling this lot back. I wouldn’t have been able to do it, if not for you.’
‘You would have found a way,’ he said. ‘I mean it. You don’t strike me as the type of person to give up easily if you want something badly enough. How’s it been so far? Sold many books?’
‘A few. I’m hoping to sell a few more before the day is out. Excuse me.’ She hurried to see to a customer, leaving him free to wander.
But she couldn’t prevent herself from glancing at him every so often out of the corner of her eye and when he went to the counter, she hurried over.
He was grinning. ‘When I was loading your books onto the trailer, I didn’t get a chance to have a proper look. I can’t believe what an eclectic and random range you’ve got: fiction, and children’s books, poetry, cooking… Aren’t you tempted to hang on to any of those, considering your profession?’
‘Believe me, I have picked out a few.’ She laughed. ‘But I can’t keep them all.’
His gaze swept over the nearest shelves. ‘Some of those travel guides are for countries that no longer exist. They must be real collectors’ items.’
‘Possibly.’ Kazz didn’t know whether they were or weren’t.
‘And I love your Christmas table.’
Kazz noticed that he’d spent some time looking at the selection of Christmas-themed books that she had placed on a table near the door.
‘Look at this,’ he said. He was holding up a beautifully illustrated edition of A Christmas Carol . ‘I’ve got to have it.’
There was no way she was taking money from Saul – not after he refused any payment for driving her to London and back. ‘It’s on the house.’
Saul shook his head. ‘I’m not having it if I can’t pay for it.’
‘I insist. You wouldn’t take any money from me when you drove me to London.’
‘That was different.’
Kazz put her hands on her hips and her eyes flashed. ‘How?’
‘It just was. Anyway, if you start giving stock away, you’ll never make any money.’
Betty’s voice interrupted their argument. ‘See, Agnes, I told you this shop won’t affect the library. Hello, Saul.’ Betty smirked at him.
Kazz was amused to see him cringe, and she wondered why.
He turned his attention back to her. ‘Please let me pay for it and I’ll be out of your hair.’
‘Seen something you like?’ Betty asked, coming to stand next to him and jabbing him in the ribs with a bony elbow.
Saul shuffled a few steps to the left.
The woman who was accompanying Betty was standing in the middle of the shop. She had her eyes closed and was breathing deeply. Kazz wondered if she was OK.
Betty said to Kazz, ‘This is Agnes, Tanglewood’s chief – and only – librarian. You have met, but you were half-asleep, so I doubt you remember. She’s twenty years younger than me but acts ten years older.’
‘Don’t you love that smell?’ Agnes said dreamily.
Ah, so that was what she had been doing: book sniffing.
‘And for your information,’ Agnes said haughtily, opening her eyes, ‘I only act older than you because you behave like a teenager.’
Kazz had to agree. At this very moment Betty was singing the lyrics to ‘Love Is in the Air’ and winking at Saul.
‘What did you say?’ Agnes demanded. ‘What’s in the air? All I can smell are old books.’ She inhaled again, drawing the air in through her sharp nose and letting it out in a whoosh.
Saul was slowly shaking his head, looking mortified. Quickly, without saying anything to Kazz or Betty, he took his wallet out of his pocket, threw several notes onto the counter, picked up the book and dashed to the door, leaving Kazz staring at him in astonishment as Betty creased up with laughter.
What on earth had that been about!
It was coming towards the end of the day and Kazz slumped against the counter, her body sagging in relief. She couldn’t believe it! She had taken more than she’d thought. Much more.
She double-checked the figure, adding each individual number up for a third time.
Kazz had religiously made a note of every single sale, and she compared it to the end-of-day report that she had run on the card machine, and the amount of money in the till (that was actually a drawer in the sideboard, in which she had slotted a cutlery tray to hold the various notes and coins).
The figure was correct.
Oh, boy. She hadn’t been expecting that, and she hugged herself, squealing softly at the realisation that she had made a fair amount of money.
Gathering up most of the bank notes but making sure she left enough in the float, she stuffed them in her bag and locked up the shop. It was time to celebrate, and the drinks were on her!
First, though, something to eat. She was starving, and she made a note to bring sandwiches with her on Monday. She simply hadn’t thought about food this morning, having been too nervous; but she was thinking about it now all right.
She was making an omelette when she had a message from Stevie.
How did it go?
Stevie had briefly popped into the bookshop after the lunchtime rush, but she hadn’t been able to stay long.
Kazz replied, Better than expected , and added a smiley face, clapping hands and a blowing kisses face. Let’s celebrate. How about the pub? She quickly put the suggestion in the ‘Bridezilla’ group chat that Stevie had set up to keep in touch with her bridesmaids.
Stevie’s reply was a sad face. Sorry, too knackered. Also, Nick is on his way back from a showjumping event and I promised I’d have a meal ready. Another time?
Kazz felt a twinge of disappointment. No probs . Heart emoji. Speak later.
That’s a shame, she thought. She would have liked Stevie to be there this evening. She would have liked Leanne to be there too, but Kazz already knew that she and Rex were off to a show in Cardiff. A reply from Tia that she was still up to her eyes with the wedding at the Manor (it was going brilliantly, and the newlyweds were having the time of their lives) meant that she couldn’t come, either. Kazz was thrilled for her, though, aware of how much work had gone into setting up the manor as a wedding venue.
As she hopped in the shower, she realised that it would just be her and Edie tonight. But that was OK; she liked Edie a lot and it would be fun getting to know her better.
Edie arrived at the pub a few seconds after Kazz, her face glowing from the chill outside. They hugged briefly, before Edie shrugged off her coat and hung it on the back of a chair.
‘What can I get you?’ Kazz asked.
‘Um, a virgin bloody Mary, please.’
‘Are you sure you don’t want something with a bit more oomph? I’m buying.’
‘Best not. I’ve got the car. I would have asked James to pick me up, but he’s out all night with the beavers.’
James worked for Natural Resources Wales and was also part of the beaver reintroduction project. Edie and James lived on a smallholding on the hills above Tanglewood, and although Kazz understood that Edie was being sensible, she was disappointed to be drinking alone.
She ordered Edie’s drink plus an oak-aged single malt for herself, and took them back to the table.
The pub was about half-full, mostly with people enjoying a meal, although there were a couple of chaps propping up the bar with pints of real ale in front of them. One of them had brought his dog. Music played in the background, not so loud that it would impede conversation, and the log burner was lit. It was all rather genteel and a far cry from the places Kazz usually frequented on her rare Saturday nights off.
‘How did your first day go?’ Edie asked.
‘Really well. I sold more than I expected.’
‘That’s brilliant! Good for you. I did try to pop in but I had appointments back-to-back. You’d be surprised how many people get married around Christmas. I’m going to be up to my eyes in alterations for the next month.’
‘That’s good, isn’t it?’ Kazz felt like knocking the whisky back, but she held the urge in check, sipping at the drink instead.
‘Very,’ Edie agreed. ‘Business is booming, and I’m sure yours will too. Cheers.’ She tilted her glass towards Kazz, who clinked it with her own.
‘So, where do you want to go after this?’ Kazz asked.
‘I don’t follow.’
‘Once we’ve finished these,’ Kazz clarified, lifting her glass. ‘Is there somewhere a bit livelier?’
Edie laughed. ‘The Hen and Duck is as lively as it gets. If you want a bit more life, you’ll need to go to Abergavenny. I believe a couple of bars there have live music.’
‘Abergavenny?’ Kazz pulled a face. The town was only six miles away, but she had been hoping for something closer.
Edie continued, ‘If you want clubs you’ll have to go to Cardiff.’
Kazz’s spirits dropped. Cardiff wasn’t the easiest place to get to from Tanglewood.
It looked like it was the Hen and Duck or nothing tonight.
Feeling a little deflated, she tried to look on the positive side – it mightn’t be the celebration she had envisaged, but she was probably too tired to enjoy it properly anyway.
‘Perhaps we can arrange a night out, all of us?’ Kazz suggested. ‘I haven’t been to a club for ages.’
‘Me, neither. Not since before Sammy was born. That reminds me, I can’t stay long. My mum’s babysitting him, so I need to pick him up soon. He’s another reason I’m not drinking this evening,’ she explained with a smile. ‘Kids and hangovers don’t mix.’
Kazz managed a second whisky before Edie announced she had to leave.
‘I’m so glad the bookshop has got off to such a good start,’ Edie said. ‘I’ll definitely pop in on Monday.’
Kazz watched her slip out of the door and debated whether to go for drink number three. But sitting on her own in a pub looked a bit sad, so she finished her whisky and left.
The street was quiet, just two people strolling arm-in-arm along the opposite pavement, although the chippie at the top of the road had several customers, and she wondered what people did for fun around here.
Not a lot, it seemed, and a pang went through her as she realised the Saturday-night scene would only just be beginning in the capital. People would be piling into bars and restaurants, hurrying off to the theatre or to see a show. There would be buses and taxis, pedestrians and cyclists, and people hurrying here and there, the sound of laughter and shouting, planes overhead, and sirens in the distance.
Living in Tanglewood was going to take a bit of getting used to.