Chapter Eighteen
Doing his best to creep out without waking Tamara went well until Gage stubbed his toe on the leg of the bed, swore, lost his balance, dropped the armful of clothes he’d been holding and fell back on top of her.
She wriggled out from under him with a laugh. ‘Don’t ever apply for the part of the handsome prince waking Sleeping Beauty with a kiss. You won’t get the job.’ Tamara’s sleepy eyes rested on him.
‘I was trying to be thoughtful,’ he said wryly, giving her an apologetic kiss on the forehead and getting himself back up.
He’d done a lot of thinking while she’d slept, but wasn’t convinced this was the moment to share his new ideas.
‘Spit it out. Tell me what’s going through that devious mind of yours.’
Tamara glanced at her bedside clock.
Shaped like an unnaturally pink pig, its alarm was — at least to his mind — a disturbing sequence of loud oinks.
‘You’ve only got an hour before opening time, and I assume you’ll want to shower at yours and put on clean clothes before facing the customers.’
‘You’re right. If I don’t get a move on, Emily will beat me to the shop.’
‘I’ll get dressed and join you downstairs.’
Soon they were sitting at the kitchen table with the teapot in front of them.
‘You’ll say I’m out of my mind, but hear me out before you roll around laughing, okay?
’ He took a deep breath. ‘I’m sure you could go out and get another job in a pub easily enough, but I don’t think it’s what you really want.
Your dream is to open a café. I’ve got a shop with a full kitchen that only needs an upgrade.
Bookshops with cafés get a lot more business.
I know you don’t have spare cash to plough into a business, but I’m guessing the bank would give you a loan against your house. ’
‘But what if it fails and I lose my home? I can’t risk that.’
He understood the whole safety net thing and didn’t take it personally.
Gage wrapped his hands around hers, drawing her close.
‘We can do this. Together. You won’t be the strong, capable woman I know you are if you let this opportunity slip by.
This will give us more time together and fulfil one of your dreams. Take the plunge.
’ His heart thudded in his chest, waiting for her response.
Tamara’s eyes glittered. ‘Okay! You’re right. If I don’t seize the chance now, I’ll always regret it. I can do this. We can do this.’
* * *
‘I can’t believe you’re leaving me in the lurch this way,’ Pixie said sadly. She continued polishing glasses and stacking them behind the bar. ‘I know last night you said you’d had enough, but I didn’t take you seriously.’
‘You should’ve done.’
‘Why now? What did that man do or say different from all the others with too much drink in them? Don’t get me wrong — he absolutely shouldn’t have said what he did, but we’re used to that.’
Her friend genuinely sounded puzzled. Was she shooting herself in the foot? Did it make sense to give up a couple of month’s wages when she’d almost certainly lose her job in January anyway? Gage’s words flooded back and stiffened her spine.
She told Pixie the whole story.
‘Wow, you’re not doing things by half, are you?’
‘You could say I’m following your example. Remember the advice you gave me weeks ago?’
Pixie’s brow furrowed. ‘Are you sure I’m the best person to pay attention to? I’m starting to question my judgement.’
‘Why’s that?’
‘Come on. You don’t miss a thing that goes on here. I’ve seen you watching Christos like a hawk.’
If she tried to spin a line about observing Christos to make sure he didn’t need help with anything, it’d be a miserable failure. Her friend was far too shrewd.
‘He’s good with customers, but—’
‘We both know he’s got flirting with women off to a fine art. That’s about it. He’s useless with the rest of the job.’ Tears glazed her eyes. ‘Am I right?’
Inwardly squirming, Tamara nodded.
‘Despite all of that, I still love him. I’ve got a lot to lose all around. I paid for our aeroplane tickets and put down a deposit on a house, because Christos’s savings are tied up in investments that he can’t touch without paying a penalty.’
If you believe that, you believe in fairies and the Loch Ness monster.
‘Can you imagine what a field day the village gossips will have if this all blows up in my face? I’ve got to believe that Christos and I can make this work. Surely you can see that?’
‘I can, but—’
‘But?’ Two blotches of heat flared in Pixie’s cheeks. ‘I thought you were my best friend, but I clearly got that wrong. I think you’d better go.’ She shook her head sadly. ‘And don’t come back either.’
Anger filled Pixie’s voice now and Tamara knew there was no point trying to defend herself.
Rocky came out from the kitchen and his sharp blue eyes checked them both out. ‘Is everything okay?’
‘Ask Pixie.’ Tamara said with a gulping sob. ‘I’m leaving.’
* * *
One of the downsides to being tall was the need to continually scan the environment around him for low-hanging objects. The shop was now a danger zone that included ropes of fake greenery with clumps of bright-red holly berries and swags of gold tinsel.
His niece’s college had a staff development day, so she’d come to work. This morning Emily had sat cross-legged on the floor, sorting through boxes of old books discarded from libraries that he’d picked up for next to nothing on eBay.
She’d seen a TikTok video of a ‘tree’ made out of books, so they’d created a Christmassy twist on that for the centre of the shop and now she was decking it out in fairy lights. It seemed safest to leave her alone.
Doing the window display was on the agenda for when they closed tonight. Earlier he’d helped Emily to cover up the window with her ingenious Christmassy sign, which told customers to watch for a big reveal tomorrow morning.
‘I blew it.’ Tamara burst through the door and flung herself at him. The tears trickling down her face and huge, sad eyes told him something was badly wrong, so he checked to see what customers were left. Only two older men engrossed in rifling through the military-history section.
‘Ems, would you mind keeping an eye on the counter for a few minutes?’
Her flash of pleasure amused him.
He’d discovered a lot about his niece already: she hated her full name; Greta Thunberg was her idol; her love of hardcore American rap (mostly to piss off her parents) equalled that for traditional Cornish folk music; she was an avid computer coder, but also a voracious reader — and always printed books, never the digital versions.
Like so many people these days, she was into fantasy novels, but also had a secret liking for Sherlock Holmes and Jane Austen.
Gage took Tamara’s arm and steered her towards the kitchen. ‘Tea? Coffee?’
‘I don’t need any drinks. I need . . . Oh, I don’t know.’ She sank into the nearest chair and clasped her head in her hands. ‘I should’ve been more honest. She might not have wanted to hear it, but at least I’d feel now that I did all I could.’
He lifted her chin so she was forced to look at him. ‘Tell me the whole story.’
Tamara brushed back a strand of hair. ‘Perhaps I’ll have that tea after all.’
Gage listened to the whole dismal tale while he made their hot drinks. ‘Do you think she’ll give Christos the elbow?’
‘I’m not sure. She’s still very much in love with him but I think she feels made a fool of. The idea of being gossiped about all over the village horrifies her.’
‘We both know Penworthal has a short attention span when it comes to scandal.’
‘Thank goodness.’
Emily poked her head around the swing door. ‘One of the oldies wants to buy a couple of books.’
‘I’ll come,’ he said. ‘Another day, I’ll show you how to use the till.’
‘Yeah, that’d be great. I told them they should open one of our wish-list accounts.’
‘Our what?’
‘All the online shops have them and it’s catching on with regular ones too now.
Customers make up a wish list from the inventory and give the link to whoever is interested so they can buy direct from us.
We could offer gift wrapping as well. I could add it to our website later if you like?
’ A tiny frown settled between her eyes.
‘I think it’s a great idea and I’ll happily take you up on the offer.’ He grinned. ‘It’ll mean a bonus in your pay too.’ Gage touched Tamara’s arm. ‘You two can plot the finer details of our window decorations while I go pretend to be the boss and sell some books.’
Their laughter followed him out.
His phone dinged with a new text from Taff. He’d have time enough to take a look at that later. Right now, he had business to drum up.