Chapter Twelve
Lola’s eyes almost popped out of her head when she brought the sandwiches out to Effie and Jake.
They’d decided to take advantage of the midday sun and sit at one of the outside tables.
Effie pulled her cardigan tighter around herself, secretly thinking it was a bit on the chilly side.
Still, the March sunshine was a warm promise of summer when she turned her face towards it.
She allowed herself a few moments to imagine how lovely it’d be to sit here with an ice cream, the seafront busy with families, the bookshop a roaring success.
Effie’s mind began to fill with images of the shop thriving under her management.
Sunlight flowing in through the window, an armchair and a little table piled with books, customers she knew by name, sharing recommendations, decorating seasonally.
‘BLT?’ Lola asked, rousing her from her daydream.
‘That’s me.’ Effie sat up from where she’d been lounging as Lola placed the plate in front of her.
‘So, you must be the toastie.’ Lola placed an oozing ham and cheese toastie before Jake.
‘Yep.’ He patted his stomach. ‘Melted cheese is my biggest weakness.’ He took a bite which resulted in him waving his hand in front of his mouth and wincing. ‘Too hot.’
Starving, Effie went to pick up her sandwich, the thick granary bread was bursting with plump tomatoes and the tantalising scent of freshly cooked bacon made her stomach rumble. However, Lola had other ideas.
‘So nice to see you becoming friends,’ she said as she pulled out the spare seat and sat down. ‘Especially after the swimming incident.’
Effie blushed, recalling the specifics of Lola’s tarot card prediction.
New love. She snuck a glance at Jake, who was itching for his sandwich to cool down enough to eat.
Could he be it? Effie threw a glance at Lola.
It seemed far too obvious. Effie caught Lola trying to communicate something with her raised eyebrows and encouraging smile, finished off with a subtle nod in Jake’s direction.
Thankfully he was too engrossed in his sandwich to notice the silent exchange.
Effie shook her head. Jake had dated a travel influencer – they were always glamourous, perfectly turned out and every time he’d seen her, Effie had been wearing a baggy T-shirt or a wetsuit. She didn’t think she was his type.
‘I’m helping Effie paint the shop,’ he told Lola.
‘Are you?’ Effie didn’t think it was possible, but Lola’s eyebrows raised even further.
‘I hate painting,’ Effie explained as she took a bite of her sandwich, almost swooning as the delicious flavours popped on her tongue.
Salty, hot bacon, fresh tomatoes and crisp lettuce, the perfect combination in her opinion.
‘Oh gosh, this might be one of the best BLTs I’ve ever had,’ she groaned, hastily taking another bite.
Lola brimmed with pride at the compliment.
‘I’ve got until Good Friday to get the shop shipshape.
With Jake’s help I think I might do it.’
‘We must talk about the opening!’ Lola gushed. ‘Easter weekend, it’ll be perfect. What do you have planned?’
Caught off guard, Effie froze with her sandwich halfway to her mouth.
‘Erm, nothing yet. I’m just trying to get it ready to open.
I’ve not spoken to Clive about it. He did say something about trying to arrange a local author to come and cut the ribbon, sign some books, but I’ve not had time to follow that up. ’
‘If I’m helping you, it’ll free up some time for you to concentrate on the other parts of the opening,’ Jake said, popping the last bite of his sandwich into his mouth, before swooning. ‘Lola, that was stunning.’ He used his finger to wipe a stray smear of cheese off the plate.
‘Thank you,’ Lola said before changing the subject back to the bookshop. ‘Easter Saturday is less than three weeks away! You’ll need catering. Hot cross buns and Easter bunny cakes, book-shaped biscuits,’ she reeled off, a vision forming in her head that didn’t quite transfer into Effie’s.
‘I hadn’t even thought of all that,’ Effie said. ‘I’ve been too busy panicking about getting the shop looking presentable. I hadn’t even considered guests might want some treats. But of course they would.’
‘I make my own hot cross buns,’ Lola pointed out proudly. ‘I could do some mini ones. What if I make a selection of treats and you can try them and let me know what you think?’
Effie sat back in her seat as if trying to put some physical space between herself and Lola’s ideas. ‘I’ll have to check with Clive if there’s budget for that sort of thing. We’ve always just popped to the supermarket for refreshments,’ she admitted.
‘That won’t do!!’ Lola gasped in horror.
With the bookshop situated next door to a café peddling stunning bakes, Effie had to agree. ‘You’re right. It’d be great if you could bake some buns and biscuits for the opening. If Clive isn’t happy, I’ll pay for it.’
‘I’ll offer a discount, especially as being next door to each other is definitely going to help both our businesses. Leave it with me, I love planning a party, although I always get a bit carried away. Are you coming to Alf’s birthday on Saturday? It’s his ninetieth. I’m making a three-tier cake.’
‘No, I hardly know him,’ Effie pointed out. Jake shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
‘Oh, I’m sure he won’t mind. It’ll be the most perfect way for you to meet the rest of the village. Jake, why haven’t you invited Effie? Your mum has been busy making all the bunting.’
‘It sounds lovely, but I can’t just crash the party,’ Effie protested.
‘You won’t be crashing it,’ Lola said, getting up and taking their empty plates, ‘I’ll let him know I’ve suggested it. Do you want anything else?’
Both Effie and Jake shook their heads. Once Lola had bustled back inside the café, their eyes met and they both began to laugh, shaking their heads in disbelief. Lola was a very difficult woman to say no to.
‘I’m sure you’ll be fine to come along,’ Jake told her. ‘Alf has always enjoyed a fuss. He pretends he doesn’t, but secretly he loves it.’
‘Thanks, but I’m not sure it’s my thing.
I wouldn’t feel comfortable just turning up,’ Effie said, memories of lingering awkwardly at far too many parties flashing through her mind.
One of the joys of getting older and having a smaller, more understanding friendship group meant that it had been a relief for Effie to realise she could decline an invite or simply leave an event early.
No judgement. Polcarrow was somewhere new and everyone was exceptionally sociable and friendly, maybe they wouldn’t understand.
‘I’d like you to be there and Lola’s right, it’s a perfect way to meet everyone. It’ll be weirder if you’re the only one not there.’
‘What if I wait and see if Alf invites me?’ Effie compromised, still unsure about just turning up.
Jake considered this before nodding his agreement. ‘If he doesn’t, I’ll just sneak you in.’
Later that afternoon Effie was busy packing up their decorating equipment and Jake was in the small kitchen cleaning down the brushes, singing along to Queen on the radio, making her chuckle with his Freddie Mercury impression, when there was a knock at the door.
Stretching her aching back, the thought of plunging into a steaming hot bath the only thing that was keeping her going, Effie crossed the shop and pulled open the door. Alf stood there, Scruff by his side.
‘Hello,’ Effie said, bending to give Scruff a scratch behind his ears, which set his tail wagging happily. ‘How can I help you, Alf?’
‘Is your young man about?’
‘He’s not my young man, Alf,’ Effie rushed to remind him.
Alf gave her a look that seemed to say, You’ll see.
‘Jake,’ she called, ‘Alf’s here.’
Jake emerged from the kitchen, drying his hands on a towel. He draped it casually over his shoulder before running his hands through his hair, pushing it back off his face. Effie’s breath caught at the sight of him as the blond waves fell back into place, framing his face.
‘Hey, hey, buddy,’ he greeted Scruff. ‘How can we help you?’
‘I hear Lola’s been dishing out invites to my birthday party. She shouldn’t do that, but she can’t help herself.’ He rolled his eyes.
‘It’s OK, I wasn’t expecting an invite,’ Effie assured him.
‘Don’t be daft. Of course you’re welcome! What I’m saying is, she shouldn’t be dishing out invites on my behalf. I was going to toddle over tomorrow morning and ask you – properly, that is. So here I am. What are you doing on Saturday afternoon?’
Effie threw Jake a glance and he gave her an encouraging nod. ‘Nothing,’ she said.
‘In that case, consider this your formal invite to my ninetieth birthday party.’ Alf beamed.
‘I can hardly believe it, you know, ninety. I’m already planning on getting to one hundred, so this is just a warm-up.
Dress nice but not too fancy if you don’t want.
But please come, it’ll mean everyone will be able to get a look at you in one go.
Nosey lot they are. Like to meddle. Harmless though. ’
‘Ah, OK, sure, why not,’ Effie said with a cautious glance at Jake. She wasn’t sure she liked the idea of being on display to the entire village.
‘You’ve really sold it,’ Jake laughed. ‘Mind if I bring my camera? I’d love to take some photos.’
Alf gave him a look whilst considering the offer. ‘That would be splendid. Now, I’ll leave you two young’uns to whatever you have planned this evening.’ With a wave, Alf shuffled off, practically dragging Scruff with him.
Effie turned to Jake and exhaled. ‘Should be fun,’ she said, but Jake’s focus was still on Alf as he crossed the road and made his way onto the beach.
‘That man is a legend,’ Jake said as he turned back to her. ‘He seemed ancient when I was a kid but he just keeps going. I hope I’m that sprightly at ninety. Hey, if you’re nervous about going alone, I can meet you beforehand and we can go together?’
‘You sure?’
Jake nodded. ‘I wouldn’t have offered otherwise.’
‘OK, that’s kind, thank you,’ Effie said, her nerves about attending a social function starting to settle.
‘Cool. Let’s pack up for the day. I’ve washed everything. Are you ready to go?’
Effie nodded. She’d tidied everything up whilst he’d been in the kitchen.
She picked up her bag and headed towards the door, holding it open whilst Jake switched the radio and lights off.
Once outside, with the door locked, Effie suddenly felt nervous around him.
Should she offer to buy him a drink? Would he want to spend any more time with her?
Jake was smiling at her in a way that discombobulated her normally ordered mind.
Before she could broach the subject, Jake’s mobile rang. He pulled it out of his back pocket. Effie noticed the name Tara flash up on the screen. His ex. It was a sobering reminder of the type of woman he usually spent time with.
‘Sorry, Effie, I’ve got to take this.’ He gave an apologetic wince. ‘See you tomorrow.’
Before she could say anything, he was already walking away, leaving her paint-stained, exhausted and feeling forgotten in the doorway.