Chapter 17
‘I can’t believe how busy it’s been!’
It was the first of the late-night shopping evenings and Finch’s had seen a continual flow of visitors through the doors.
A lot of customers were looking for the books mentioned in the Sunday papers, the ones recommended on the Christmas gift lists which fortunately they had stocked up on.
Isla had ensured that this year’s most popular reads were prominently displayed at the front of the shop.
Other people came with recommendations jotted down on a piece of paper or in their phone which they would pull out and show to Isla and most times, she would have an eureka moment and go off to immediately locate it for them on the shelves.
If they didn’t have it in stock, then Isla would always offer to order it in because there was still time for any special deliveries to arrive before Christmas.
The pre-wrapped books had proved to be so popular that Isla had decided to offer a gift-wrapping service for all sales for a small charge, complete with ribbon and a tag to write on.
Isla was surprised by how many customers took up the offer, even if it had meant that poor Penny had to spend most of her shift sitting at the counter wrapping books as Isla’s wrapping skills weren’t really up to the task.
She quickly grew impatient, and although her first attempt turned out well, things only deteriorated rapidly from that point.
‘Here, let me do it,’ Penny had offered. ‘You get on with serving the customers.’
Isla was much happier with that arrangement, especially when there were so many new faces, and some familiar ones too, arriving at the shop.
‘Hi, Ryan, great to see you!’ she said as he came through the door, dressed in jeans and a checked shirt. She’d not seen him since that evening in the pub, but he was one of those people who was immensely likeable and easy to talk to, picking up exactly where they’d left off.
‘So this is where you’ve been hiding?’ he said, his eyes shining with humour.
‘Yes, it’s not bad, is it?’ she said, although she suspected that Ryan hadn’t been inside a bookshop for years.
He’d told her as much the other evening.
He spent most of his time working in the great outdoors, and when he wasn’t working, he was either to be found in his workshop restoring old tractors or down the pub with his friends.
Isla appreciated how quickly they’d been able to establish, without implicitly saying so, that their friendship was simply that, without any of the complications of romance.
‘Are you looking for a book?’
‘No,’ he laughed, as though that was a preposterous idea, and she couldn’t help laughing along with him when just at that moment, Guy Madley poked his head around the front door.
Seeing how busy it was and how Isla was occupied, he simply raised a hand and mouthed that he would pop back later. Isla turned her attention back to Ryan.
‘There’s a group of us meeting in The White Hart on Christmas Eve afternoon. It’s a bit of a local tradition, so I’m rounding up the troops now. If you fancy it, then why don’t you come along?’
‘Thanks, Ryan. That’s really kind of you to think of me. In fact, a couple of the other shop owners in the mews had mentioned it to me, so I’m hoping to be there.’
‘Excellent,’ said Ryan with a thumbs-up. ‘We’ll hopefully see you then.’
As Ryan left, a group of women, glamorous and well-dressed, who looked to be in their late forties, wandered in through the door and were clearly in high spirits, laughing and bantering with each other.
One of the women swooped upon a book that she spotted on a nearby shelf and held it aloft in the air.
‘Hey, Tess, look at this. It’s exactly what you need. It’s called How to Kill Your Husband. You should be able to pick up some good tips in here.’
‘Thanks very much, Gina,’ said Tess, with an indulgent eye-roll. ‘Must admit, that might have come in handy a few months ago, but I’m over that now. Onwards and upwards, that’s what I say!’
‘Can you tell she’s got a new, younger man in tow?
’ another of the women piped up, directing her question at Isla.
‘Honestly, it’s a cure-all for every problem in life.
I would recommend it. Not that I would know, personally, but I’m ever hopeful.
’ She giggled at her own comment before she stopped and peered at Isla more closely.
‘Although I don’t suppose for one minute that you would need any advice from an old bird like me.
Look at you, you’re young and gorgeous. I expect you have men falling at your feet. Oh, to be young again!’
‘Dilly!’ the woman called Tess chided. ‘This lovely young lady doesn’t need to hear your dubious life advice.’ She turned to Isla. ‘I’m so sorry. We’ve been to a bottomless brunch today and we may have overstayed our welcome!’
‘Do you know what would make this bookshop even better?’ said Gina, looking around her. ‘A Prosecco bar! Can you imagine how popular that would be? I’d be here all the time if that was the case.’
Isla smiled, immediately warming to this group of women who were obviously good friends, and were having so much fun together.
‘It’s an idea,’ she said, joining in the fun. A very doubtful one. ‘I’ll bear it in mind.’
‘Actually, it’s a rotten idea,’ said the other woman, who seemed the more reserved and sensible of the bunch. ‘Especially with you lot. This is a place of sanctuary and calm, or else it was until we all turned up. Besides, you’d get bubbles over the pages of these lovely books and ruin them all.’
‘Probably true. Anyway,’ said Tess, ‘I do actually need to buy a book.’ She shooshed her friends and sent them off to wander at their leisure around the shop, before addressing Isla.
‘My mum, who is in her seventies, has recently joined an online writing group and has started writing a novel. She’s into spicy romance. Apparently.’ Tess opened her palms up to the sky in a gesture of disbelief. ‘Honestly, I didn’t even know that she’d ever had sex!’
Isla couldn’t stop herself from bursting out laughing.
‘Well, good for her! I mean about writing a novel.’
‘Yes, we’re all really pleased that she’s found such a passion at this stage in her life. Anyway, I thought I’d buy her a book for Christmas that has tips and ideas for an aspiring writer. Do you have anything suitable?’
‘Yes, we’ve got a whole shelf of writing craft books. Come with me and I’ll show you where they are.’
Isla pulled out a couple of books that she knew were very popular and gave Tess a brief summary of each one.
‘I think any of these would be a good place to start. They’re the sort of books you can dip in and out of, with helpful suggestions on character development, theme and plot.
Also, a book I always recommend to writers is On Writing by Stephen King.
The horror writer. It’s part autobiographical and part writing guide, but it’s written in such an easy, captivating style that it draws you in right from the beginning.
There’s the standard paperback but there’s also this special anniversary edition which would make a lovely gift.
’ Isla reached for the hardback copy with the embossed typewriter on the front.
‘It’s the sort of book that’s truly captivating, that makes you want to pick up your pen and start writing straight away. I have a copy on my bookshelf at home.’
‘Ah, are you an aspiring writer too then?’
‘I suppose so,’ Isla said, surprising herself with her answer.
‘Like a lot of people, it’s something I’ve always wanted to do, and I’ve promised myself I will get around to it one day.
I should probably reread this book. It might give me the inspiration I need to get started!
I used to work in publishing as an editor.
’ It startled Isla to think that she was now referring to her publishing career in the past tense.
‘Really, that’s so fascinating.’ Tess seemed genuinely interested. ‘So you know the business from both sides then? That must give you an advantage, knowing what’s popular and what works in a book and what doesn’t?’
‘You would think so, wouldn’t you? But I’m not sure it’s as straightforward as that,’ she said, laughing. ‘I have a lot of admiration for writers who can actually finish a whole book. It takes a lot of work and dedication, so the best of luck to your mum.’
‘Right, well I’m definitely going to take the Stephen King book. I might even borrow it from my mum once she’s read it.’
Back at the till, Penny got to work wrapping up the books Tess had selected while her friends hovered alongside, waiting, chatting all the while.
‘My God! I need a drink,’ said Gina. ‘Shopping is exhausting!’
‘This is the first shop we’ve been in,’ said the other woman, the quiet one of the group. ‘And we’re meant to be late-night shopping. The clue is in the name. Haven’t you had enough booze today?’
‘Never! I’m getting withdrawal symptoms. Perhaps it was a bad idea to combine the two. Should we bin off the retail therapy and go and find a bar instead?’
‘We’re open late all this week,’ said Isla, in what she hoped was a helpful aside, but she couldn’t ignore the doubtful reactions from the others.
‘There we go,’ said Gina, seemingly buoyed by that bit of information. ‘Let’s go and celebrate Tess’s book purchase with a glass of something bubbly.’
‘You know, I think we should definitely set up our own book club in the new year. I mean, we’ve talked about it often enough. Just the four of us, taking it in turns to host at home. Wine, nibbles and then a good discussion about the book,’ suggested Dilly. ‘You can come to me first, if you like.’
‘I joined a book club once, but it was a bit highbrow and they all took it very seriously,’ said the fourth lady. ‘They would also get very cross if you didn’t read the book for any reason. I stopped going in the end.’
‘Well, our book club won’t be anything like that. We can take it in turns to choose the books and they’ll be no pressure. It’ll be fun,’ said Dilly, who seemed rather keen on the idea. ‘I’m sure this lady here… sorry, I don’t know your name…?’
‘It’s Isla,’ she said, handing over the receipt to Tess.
‘I’m sure Isla here will be able to help us out with suggestions of good books for discussion.’
‘Absolutely. Any time. Just come and find me.’ She handed over the wrapped books in a brown paper bag to Tess, imagining what fun these four would have at book club, although she wasn’t sure how much time they would actually spend discussing the book, as opposed to drinking wine and gossiping about every other topic under the sun.
The women left the shop under a cloud of chatter and laughter.
‘Well, they were slightly the worse for wear, weren’t they?’ said Penny, with a good-natured roll of her eyes.
‘They certainly seemed to be enjoying themselves, and hopefully, they’ll actually get their book club up and running.’
‘That’s if they even remember their conversation tomorrow, which I doubt,’ said Penny, giggling.
Over the last couple of weeks, Isla had had several people come into the shop asking if she could recommend any book clubs, but despite asking around, she hadn’t been able to locate any in Bramlingham, although there were some in the surrounding villages, including Diana’s, which was fully subscribed.
She’d often thought that Finch’s would be an ideal spot to hold a book club, after hours in one of the back rooms, but she couldn’t imagine Jonathan and Miriam having the time or the inclination, although it would definitely be something Isla would want to implement if it was her shop.
She turned to Penny. ‘Look, why don’t you get off. I’m more than happy to finish up here.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Absolutely.’
Once Penny had left, Isla swept around the empty rooms restoring peace and calm to the shop, making sure everything was in place for the next day’s trading. There was only one last job to do.
‘Come on, Heathcliff, it’s time to get out of here,’ she said, smiling as the cat brushed against her legs and scooted out in front of her, disappearing off into the cold December night air.