Chapter 38
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
W e are a week away from the judge’s visit next Wednesday. Noah has replaced Jake and working at The Little Love Café has never felt so good. Noah has stayed over my flat twice since he returned. Each time it’s been amazing to wake up beside him in bed. I have had to pinch myself to ensure this is not a dream. We’ve also had an evening in with Lucas. Noah sat through an entire Batman movie with an excited Lucas telling him what was going to happen in the next scene.
Dad and I have not spoken which has been upsetting. I thought he would have come to speak to me. Noah has been supportive and keeps reassuring me that Dad and I will be okay.
I’m on my way back to the counter with an order for table six when Georgia, Ava’s best friend, taps me on the arm. ‘Alice,’ she says, ‘Great Grandpa Harold is in hospital.’
Her news makes me come to an abrupt halt. ‘Is he going to be okay?’
A worried look takes hold of her face. ‘A nasty chest infection. We are all hoping so. I went to visit him in hospital, and he gave me these envelopes. He said you know about his secret mission.’
She hands me a plastic bag. Inside are two cream envelopes containing letters to be delivered.
‘But he never gave me any instructions about his secret mission,’ I say.
Georgia fiddles with her pink hair which today has been plaited down one side. ‘Grandpa said that if these two letters are not delivered, Pearl won’t go on a date with him.’
Noah comes over and peers over my shoulder. ‘What’s up?’
‘Georgia’s great grandfather is Harold Brown. He’s been asking Pearl out every Monday at the Senior Tea & Chat session at the community centre for five years and she finally said yes. However, there was one condition: he had to complete a secret mission for her. Now he’s in hospital and wants me to do it for him. All I know is that he had to deliver some letters.’ I open the bag. A huge waft of lavender perfume comes out, making us all step back with surprise.
Georgia giggles. ‘Will’s nana loves a scented letter. She’s been dousing Will’s birthday and Christmas cards in perfumes for years. I bet she’s sprayed the envelopes.’
I take out the envelopes. On the front of one is the letter P and on the other envelope is the letter L. ‘Help me, Georgia. Who are these for?’
Georgia studies the envelopes. ‘They’re both sealed so we can’t be nosey.’
Noah chuckles. ‘Good luck, Alice.’
I look at the envelopes and try to think of two elderly Blue Cove Bay residents who have the same initials. I’m about to give up when it hits me. ‘Phoebe who owns the bookshop and Liam who owns the record shop.’
Georgia casts me a puzzled look. ‘Why are my grandpa and Pearl sending those two a scented letter?’
‘Oh, my goodness,’ I gasp. ‘Phoebe and Liam are the two lonely souls your grandpa was talking about. Also, Phoebe told me she’d spotted Harold and Pearl giggling in her bookshop when she was arguing with Liam. That’s it. Your grandpa and Pearl have been doing a spot of secret matchmaking. They must be trying to get Phoebe and Liam together.’
Georgia makes a face. ‘This is super cringe.’
I turn to Noah. ‘Are you okay to cover me? I am going to have to deliver these. Phoebe will laugh when I hand over her envelope.’
He nods and I take the envelopes. Georgia taps me on the arm. ‘Great Grandpa kept telling me that this is a secret mission. Even though I don’t think it is very cool, we can’t let Great Grandpa down.’
‘Don’t worry. I know Phoebe.’
She shakes her head. ‘You can’t just give them to Phoebe and Liam. That will blow the mission. I think you’re going to have to sneakily drop them at the bookshop and the record shop.’
‘Really?’
Georgia nods. ‘If Grandpa passes over this will have been his final wish.’
I stare at her. ‘Harold can’t pass over yet as he’s not had his date with Pearl. I will sort this.’
I walk into town with the two envelopes in my bag. How am I going to deliver them without Phoebe or Liam spotting me?
As I enter the bookshop, Keith spots me and comes over. ‘Phoebe has a secret admirer,’ he whispers. ‘She’s on her tea break out the back pretending to sort out new orders but I know she is trying to work out who it is.’
‘Really?’ I try to sound surprised.
He nods. ‘They’ve been leaving her cryptic messages in envelopes on bookshelves. It’s been so exciting in here lately. I was worried about handing in my resignation the other day, but this development has helped me.’
‘Resignation? Keith, you can’t leave this bookshop. Who will I turn to when I need a cracking gothic thriller recommendation?’
He grins. ‘I have always liked you, Alice. Yes, I am off to pastures new.’
I think about Esme, and I wonder whether she knows. To hear Keith is leaving will be upsetting for her. The way she talks about him, and the way her face lights up at the mention of his text messages is lovely to see, especially as I never heard her talk like that about Steve.
‘Where are you going? Not another bookshop I hope?’
‘I have a few irons in the fire,’ he chuckles. ‘I have told Phoebe I don’t want my successor in here to be better than me.’
‘It’s going to be tough for Phoebe to replace you, Keith.’
He casts me a mischievous grin. ‘I sense things will be changing around here.’
‘What do you mean?’
Keith straightens his red bow tie. ‘I have to say that these messages have been an unexpected plot twist for Phoebe.’
I smile at Keith, who always gives every situation a book angle. ‘What do you mean?’
He chuckles. ‘The messages arrive in heavy lavender-scented envelopes. Her secret admirer loves a lavender spray. So far, the messages have been about how pretty her eyes are, how her smile makes their day and yesterday’s message was about how they might be soulmates.’
‘Wow.’
Keith nods. ‘The plot twist is that she and Liam have been getting close over the last few days. I knew she fancied him the second he strode into this shop to introduce himself to her when he first moved here. The way she gazed at him when he removed those dark shades said it all. Then we had all the arguing with each other outside which, I might add, has followed a “typical enemies to lovers romance” plot. I have read too many of these romances to know that underneath all these dramatic rows are two beating hearts that long to be entwined. I have seen the way Phoebe and Liam struggle to stop gawping at each other. When Liam helped her find Piggy and invited her over for a playdate, I knew we were onto something.’ He leans closer and whispers, ‘I think she wishes it was Liam writing the messages, but he doesn’t strike us a lavender letter type of guy.’
A customer goes to the till clutching two books. Keith looks up and grins. ‘I better go and do my day job, as opposed to gossiping to you.’
After he hurries away, I head for the romance section, with its tea-for-two display. While Keith is busy telling his customer that the books they have chosen are his all-time favourites, I carefully take out the envelope marked P and slide it next to the teapot.
To avoid detection, I wander into the crime section and then casually stroll out giving Keith a wave.
On the right of Phoebe’s bookshop is the record shop – Vinyl Dreams . Painted a pale peach colour, its front window is adorned with an array of colourful albums and single sleeves, posters advertising local gigs and a selection of funky Vinyl Dream T-shirts for sale. When I enter, I assume the tall guy with the swept back brown hair, the strong jawline coated in stubble and piercing blue eyes is Liam. He is talking to a group of students about an album. I can see why Phoebe was struggling to argue with him, he’s very handsome.
I don’t know where to put the final envelope. To my relief two record enthusiasts enter his shop and stand by the heavy metal record storage crates. I loiter behind them and discover the jazz section. Carefully I slip out the envelope and rest it on top of the vinyls. After faking an interest in classical music vinyls, I leave the shop.
Noah grins at me as I come back into the café. ‘How did it go?’
‘Successfully delivered. Keith in the bookshop told me that Phoebe and Liam are getting closer which is good. Let’s hope Harold and Pearl’s matchmaking works. Have I missed anything?’
Noah shakes his head. ‘Pam came and was stressed as usual. She’s received your order for the judge’s visit next week.’
‘Great,’ I say. ‘It’s all coming together.’
Grabbing hold of my waist Noah pulls me into a hug. ‘We have one problem though.’
‘Oh, no – what?’
‘I don’t think I have had enough kisses today, Alice.’