Chapter Thirty-Nine
Effie hopped from foot to foot feeling like a spare part as Sue set up the second Polcarrow book club.
She knew in her heart she should concede defeat and delegate to Sue properly, but the book club had taken off due to Effie’s enthusiasm, so she was clinging on as best as she could.
Effie’s heart warmed to see so many people crowding into Lola’s café, clutching their books, chattering away about what they had been reading.
Just as everyone had settled down, hot drinks in front of them, Sue clapping her hands to get everyone’s attention, the door opened and in slipped someone who made Effie’s heart grind to a halt, and not in a good way.
She gasped to see Zach looming in the doorway like an ominous shadow.
‘I hope I’m not late, I’ve come to see what Effie has been up to.’ His voice was low with menace.
The whole room fell into silence. Sue threw Effie a confused look.
‘It’s fine. This is Zach, Clive’s son, you know, owner of the shop,’ Effie explained, watching as everyone shifted to welcome him, unaware of how much of a snake in the grass he was. Only Lola picked up on the change in atmosphere.
‘Are you OK?’ She pulled Effie aside.
‘Yes, fine,’ Effie lied whilst wondering what had brought Zach to Polcarrow. What did he have to check up on? Clive had been happy enough the last time they’d spoken. ‘Shall we get going?’
The evening ran smoothly with lively discussions about the book, copious cups of tea.
Alf and Jan had a very heated debate about the ending, which Lola had to referee before it got out of hand.
When the subject of the next meeting’s read came up, everyone had very strong opinions and no one was afraid to voice them.
In the end it came down to a vote between a thriller that had been at the top of the charts for several weeks and a travel memoir.
‘Raise your hands for the thriller,’ Effie did a count, ‘now, all for the memoir.’ She totted up the numbers. ‘Ah, I’m sorry thriller lovers, but the memoir has beaten you by one vote. But we could do the thriller next time? How does that sound?’
‘Good to me.’ Alf nodded, which had everyone else nodding in agreement.
After that, the meeting began to break up, people gathered belongings and lingered outside the door to continue their conversations and discuss what they might bring next time.
Effie imagined the next meeting might be a very lively event judging by some of the conversations taking place.
She began to help Lola tidy up but Zach stopped her, laying a hand on her arm, which made her suppress a shudder.
‘I’ll see you in the morning.’ It sounded like a warning. ‘I want to inspect the shop.’
‘Oh, OK,’ Effie said, glad to feel Lola’s presence lingering like a protector. ‘We open at nine thirty.’
‘I know, it’s my business after all,’ he said, before turning and heading out of the cafe.
His business? Effie’s stomach sank. Was there something Clive hadn’t told her?
After a night of tossing and turning, Effie threw back the covers and got out of bed just after six, knowing that the stress of Zach’s impending visit was disturbing her sleep.
Yawning, she reminded herself she only needed to get through the next few hours and then he’d be gone back to Penzance.
She picked up her phone, but it was too early to text Maddie.
She also managed to stop herself from checking Jake or Tara’s social media.
Instead, Effie did what she always did when she was stressed: she swam.
Although the waves didn’t wash the worry away, they did smooth out the jagged hackles that had risen. Satisfied that her soul was calm, even if her brain was still racing, Effie went to collect her morning hot chocolate.
‘Are you OK, Effie? I didn’t get a nice vibe from that Zach last night.’ Lola shuddered as she sprinkled the marshmallows on top.
‘Yes, I’m fine now I’ve had my swim. He’s not a nice guy,’ Effie replied as she paid for her drink. ‘He’s Clive’s son. I’m sure he’ll be gone once he’s seen the shop. He was always popping in and out in Penzance, but he can be a menace. Gosh, I’m nervous.’
‘You’ll be fine. You’ve done a wonderful job, I’m sure he’ll be impressed.’ Lola pushed the cup across to Effie, then dropped an extra marshmallow on the top.
Effie sipped her drink. She hoped so too but her stomach still churned as she headed back to her flat for a shower.
Worried Zach would be waiting outside, Effie hurried down the stairs just before half nine, her damp hair in a braid.
Relief washed over her to see he hadn’t arrived yet.
Effie opened the shop a few minutes early, wanting to feel in control of the space.
As she raised the blinds she couldn’t help but smile to see the bay spread out before her.
Coming to Polcarrow had definitely been an unexpected blessing, it was such a lovely community and she couldn’t imagine ever leaving.
Effie was just waving off a couple who had popped in to buy a book on Cornish coastal walks when Zach arrived, standing hands on hips in the doorway, surveying the shop with a sneer. Taking a few calming breaths, Effie reminded herself that she was in charge, this was her shop.
‘Good morning,’ she chirped with a brightness she didn’t feel.
Zach stalked in, takeaway cup of coffee in hand, and peered down his nose at the interior of the shop. Anger flashed in Effie; how dare he not even greet her?
‘How can I help you, Zach?’ she asked, thinking it was more polite than ‘What on earth are you doing here?’
Zach sat in one of the chairs. ‘Good view. Did my father sign all this off?’ He waved his hand at the chairs, the pretty blinds, the general décor.
‘Yes. I also had to decorate it all myself,’ she told him.
Zach let out a laugh. ‘I’ve heard that’s not true. You got one of the local men involved. I’m not sure that was sanctioned.’
Sanctioned? What? Effie stared at him in disbelief.
‘Why is everything yellow when the company colours are blue?’
‘Yellow looked fresh for the spring opening. It’s been a hit on social media. Your dad liked it.’
‘So, you’ve been spending all your time on social media rather than working?’
‘No, but it is important to drum up business, especially in a holiday destination. The shop has been a success. Your dad congratulated me on it last week. Turns out his idea to open here was a good one. I’m pleased with what I’ve done.’ Effie pulled herself up proudly.
Zach stood up and stalked around the shop, running his disapproving eyes over the shelves. ‘What’s this? Book matchmaking?’ He pointed to the poster on the wall.
‘It’s my new idea, like a gift box for readers.
They tell us their favourite authors and we match them with new books,’ she explained, ‘I’ve had several enquiries already.
’ She didn’t tell Zach that she had one box all ready to go for Sue’s daughter, Mattie’s, birthday.
It had been such a pleasure to choose new books to inspire the teen.
‘Did Dad say this was allowed?’
‘Er, I don’t know, I didn’t ask. He seemed happy for me to do as I wish.’
‘Do as you wish? Effie, this is not your shop and you’re clearly treating it like it is.
I don’t see how Dad can be happy with you deviating from the business plan so much.
Yellow door? That has to go, so do those chairs, we don’t want people sitting here just to put their photos online.
We want them buying things. It’s a business not a hobby. ’
Effie’s jaw hung open in outrage. She spluttered back some expletives before gathering her wits enough to say, ‘The business is doing well. People come because it looks nice and then they buy books. You can check the figures.’
‘I have,’ he said ominously before crossing over to Effie.
‘Look, I came down here as a favour to Dad while he is away to check what you are up to. I was worried you were taking the piss and taking advantage of his good nature. Then I find out that is exactly what is happening. You’re running this shop like it’s your own rather than his or mine. ’
‘What?!’
‘I’ve heard all about you joining in with the locals, getting them to do your work for you. You’re more concerned about yourself than the shop. I’m really not happy and I’m sure if Dad knew what was really going on, he’d agree with me.’
‘What are you talking about? Clive is happy,’ Effie insisted.
‘But I’m not. You’re forgetting that you’re just an employee, this business will be mine one day so it’s in my interest to protect it. That’s why you need to go back to the main shop and I’ll be taking over running this one.’
‘Sorry, what?’
‘Pack up, you’re leaving, I’ll call a mate with a van, he can take you and your stuff home.’
‘But I’ve relocated my entire life here to open the shop. I’ve worked hard.’
Zach shrugged. ‘I don’t care. Dad just asked you to set it up, it’s your fault that you went beyond that remit. He never said it’d be permanent, did he?’
Cold ran down Effie’s back. Zach was right. Clive had only asked her to get the shop up and running, there’d been some vagueness between them about the permanence. ‘I just assumed,’ she stuttered.
‘Well, you assumed wrong. Thanks for what you have done, but I’m here to put everything right.
’ Zach pulled his phone out of his pocket and pressed a number.
‘Yeah, Dave, can you get that van down here in a couple of hours? Great, cheers, see you soon.’ He ended the call and fixed Effie with a cruel look.
‘Get packing.’