Chapter 27
There was no point in keeping the bookshop open any longer today. Not only had Kazz not seen a single customer, but she was also in no fit state to serve one, even if one did happen to appear. So she locked up and hurried back to the flat.
A letter waited for her, and as soon as Kazz saw the postmark, she guessed it was from Freddie, but she was too upset to open it there and then.
After she’d had a crying jag to top all crying jags, and feeling marginally calmer, she blew her nose, splashed water on her red, swollen face, and decided she would see how much more Freddie was going to pay her. It would be nice for her expertise and skill to be recognised, even if Freddie was increasing his former staff’s salaries solely in order to try to tempt them back.
She eased her nail under the flap and tore the envelope open, thinking that the extra money would come in handy to help in her quest to find somewhere to live. She was dreading it, though, because—
Kazz let out a horrified gasp. With a shaking hand, she read the letter again.
It wasn’t from Freddie. Or rather, it was , but it had come from him via a solicitor:
…Mr French thanks you for your service and wishes you all the best in your future endeavours. Please find details of severance pay and additional remuneration below. Yours sincerely…
Kazz felt sick. She was being paid off! And the sum was bloody paltry. The ungrateful little— After everything she had done for him! She had put her heart and soul into his damned restaurant. OK, maybe she hadn’t asked how high every time he’d told her to jump, and maybe she had argued with him more than had been wise, but someone had to tell him that he shouldn’t treat his staff like dirt. The nasty little man was taking the opportunity to get rid of her so he could hire a chef who was more likely to dance to his tune.
Suddenly, it hit her that once again she didn’t have a job, and this time neither did she have a bookshop to fall back on.
She was in the same position she had been in on that fateful day nearly two months ago when her world had imploded, and this time she had the added torment of a broken heart.
When her phone rang, Kazz had to squash the urge to throw it against the wall.
Oh, lord, it was her mum. After not telling her about Tanglewood or the bookshop until she had been sure she had good news to impart, Kazz now had to tell her that the bookshop would be shutting its doors for good in two weeks.
She should have stayed in London. She should have listened to her common sense and not been swayed by visions of her grandad and his shop.
‘Mum, hi,’ she said weakly.
‘What’s wrong?’
‘Nothing—’
‘Don’t give me that, Karen. I can tell something’s up by the tone of your voice. Are you ill?’
‘I’m fine.’
‘It’s a fella, isn’t it? It’s always a fella. Don’t look at me like that, Vince,’ Diana added. ‘He’s rolling his eyes at me. Well, is it a man?’
‘Yes, and no.’
‘Spit it out – I haven’t got all day.’
Taking a deep breath, Kazz told her everything. She held nothing back.
Then she wished she hadn’t, when her mum said, ‘Right, we’re flying over. Vince, look up the flight times. I’ve got to pack,’ and hung up.
Kazz was left staring at the phone with tears trickling down her face. Never had she needed her mum more.
Saul gritted his teeth, anger sweeping through him. Three sheep dead, seven injured. And one of them was Donald.
‘The vet is on his way.’ His father put a hand on his shoulder. ‘Bloody dogs and their irresponsible bloody owners.’
It was horrific to see the devastation even a small dog could cause if it got amongst sheep. And it didn’t take long for it to cause that mayhem either – a few minutes, perhaps. The dog’s owner might not even be aware that their daft brush of a dog, who ‘wouldn’t hurt a fly’, had savagely attacked ten sheep.
Saul would love to say that this was a one-off, but the scenario was all too common.
He got to his feet and wiped his hands on the backside of his overalls. He had better let Kazz know that he was going to be late, and that if she was hungry she should go ahead and make herself something, because he didn’t know whether he would get to her before the takeaway closed. He had a feeling this was going to be a long night.
He took his phone out of his pocket, but before he could call her, it rang in his hand.
It was his sister, and he wondered whether Mum had already told her. He wished Mum hadn’t said anything; there was nothing Leanne or anyone – except the vet – could do. Anyway, she was probably in Scotland by now, so even if she had been able to do something, she was too far away to do it.
‘Did you know that Kazz is moving back to London?’ Leanne demanded.
Saul drew in a sharp breath. ‘What? No! What are you talking about?’
‘She’s going back to her old job in the restaurant she used to work at.’
Saul staggered, shock slamming into him.
His father reached out a hand, grasping him by the elbow. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘It’s Kazz; she’s going back to London,’ Saul muttered. Then he said into the phone, ‘But what about the bookshop?’
‘She’s not renewing the lease.’
‘How do you know? Did she tell you?’ And why the hell hadn’t she told him ?
‘Tia called me. She’s just spoken to Kazz.’ Leanne paused. ‘There’s more – it’s being let to the company that Joelle Lawson works for. Were you aware of that?’
‘No, why would I—?’
Leanne broke in, ‘I thought she might have told you when you were having lunch.’
Saul felt sick, dread cupping his heart in clammy hands. ‘How do you know I had lunch with her?’
‘We saw you. Kazz and me. You and Joelle looked very cosy.’
He briefly closed his eyes, his stomach churning. ‘It wasn’t like that. Yes, she did mention that Rosy Glow was opening a branch in Tanglewood, but it never crossed my mind it would be where the bookshop is.’ He dropped his head back and stared up at the sky, blinking back tears. ‘I can’t believe Kazz didn’t tell me. I thought we had something special.’
To think that he had been considering telling her that he loved her.
Kazz had played him like a fiddle. Had he merely been an amusing interlude while she played at being a bookseller? Had he merely been someone to have a bit of fun with until it was time for her to return to her old life?
If he was honest, he wasn’t entirely shocked to learn that she wanted to work in a kitchen again; she was far too talented a chef to sell dusty old books in a small village in the middle of nowhere. He must have been out of his mind to believe she would stay in Tanglewood, and even more stupid to think that he would be enough to keep her here.
Leanne was saying something, but he wasn’t listening. ‘I’ve got to go, the vet’s here,’ he lied, and ended the call with cold, stiff fingers.
The chill had gone right through him and had settled in every cell of his body.
Kazz would be leaving Tanglewood shortly and she would be taking his heart with her.
Kazz read the message from Vince. He and Mum were at Valencia Airport and their flight was due to take off in forty-five minutes. She did a quick calculation and realised they would be landing in just over three hours, assuming no delays. Vince had asked if she could sort out car hire or, failing that, if she could pick them up from the airport.
She was about to start checking Bristol Airport’s website for car rentals, when hammering on the door made her jump and she let out a cry. Oh, God, it must be Saul. He was here. She wasn’t ready for this; but then no one was ever ready to be dumped, were they?
But it wasn’t Saul. The person who was standing on the top of the spiral staircase, grasping the handrail and panting for breath, was Betty.
‘Oh, um, hi, I… um… This isn’t a good time, Betty,’ Kazz stammered.
‘I’d say it was the perfect time.’ The old lady pushed past her into the flat. ‘Stevie needs to do something about that metal monstrosity. It’s bloody lethal. I nearly did myself a mischief coming up it. God help me when I go back down.’
‘Er… Betty—’
Betty broke in before Kazz could finish her sentence. ‘What’s all this rubbish about you going back to London?’
The speed at which news travelled around Tanglewood never ceased to amaze Kazz. She didn’t even bother asking Betty how she knew.
Betty carried on, ‘I can’t believe you’re going to let your lovely little bookshop be turned into a shop selling cosmetics. If you ask me, people spend far too much time preening and primping as it is. They don’t need any encouragement. What they do need is more books. Reading is far better for you than a bath bomb, or false eyelashes that make you look like a startled giraffe.’
All Kazz could do was stare at the old lady open-mouthed.
‘Well?’ Betty demanded. ‘What have you got to say for yourself?’
‘It’s complicated.’
‘Life is supposed to be complicated, young lady. If it wasn’t, it would be downright boring.’
‘You don’t understand,’ Kazz said.
‘Because I’m old, you mean?’ Betty glowered at her.
‘No! I’d never—’
‘Good. Ageism isn’t nice. I might have saggy boobs and varicose veins, but I’ve got all my marbles. Put the kettle on and make us a cup of tea. And while we drink it, you can try to help a poor old woman understand all about young love.’ The ‘poor old woman’ shucked off her coat and shoved it at Kazz, then plopped down on the sofa. ‘Chop, chop! I haven’t got all day. You’re not the only person who needs sorting out this evening.’
Feeling as though she had been thrust into a parallel universe, Kazz hung up Betty’s coat, then went to make some tea.
When she returned to the living room, carrying two mugs, she found Betty with her feet on the coffee table and a determined expression on her face.
‘You thought I was Saul, didn’t you?’ the old lady said, taking the mug with both hands.
‘Yes. I don’t want to be rude, but I’m expecting him any minute, so—’
‘He’s not coming. Have you got any biscuits?’
Kazz blinked. ‘I’ve got some gingerbread.’
‘I’ll give it a miss, thanks. By the end of the festive season, I’m sick to death of gingerbread. And mince pies. I’ll have a bit of Christmas cake, though, if you’ve got some.’ She looked hopeful.
‘Sorry, I don’t. Betty, it’s lovely to see you, but why are you here? And what do you mean Saul isn’t coming?’
‘He’s found out about you buggering off to London and he’s not happy.’
Kazz scowled. ‘Huh! Well, I found out about him and his ex, so I’m not happy either.’
Not happy was an understatement. She was heartbroken. But she was also furious – mostly with herself, for not heeding Leanne’s warnings and also for giving her heart to a man who didn’t deserve it.
‘Which one?’ Betty slurped her tea noisily.
‘Which one what?’
‘Which ex? If you’re talking about the hundreds that came before you, they don’t matter. If you’re talking about Joelle Lawson, she doesn’t matter either.’
‘This is what you don’t understand,’ Kazz said with a despondent sigh. ‘I saw Saul with her yesterday, having lunch.’
‘So?’
‘They looked very cosy.’
‘ She might have looked cosy – I wouldn’t put anything past that one, she’s a user – but I bet he didn’t.’
‘He did! They were staring into each other’s eyes and she had her hand on his arm.’
‘Nah, that’s not enough. Did you see them snogging?’
‘No! They were in a restaurant.’
‘I rest my case.’
‘You’re not in a courtroom, and you’re not putting a case for the defence.’
‘Too right I’m not. I’m putting a case for love. Saul loves you.’
‘How can you possibly know that?’ Kazz demanded.
Betty tapped the side of her nose. ‘I just do. You need to take my word for it. Anyway, let’s get back to the bookshop. How did you let Joelle snatch the lease from under your nose?’
Kazz took a steadying breath. ‘I was waiting until after Christmas to speak to the landlord. Or his solicitor I should say, because everything is dealt with through them.’
Betty tutted. ‘Basically, you faffed around and left it too late. If you could negotiate another lease, would you?’
‘I don’t think so.’
Betty pressed her lips together and squinted. ‘We’re back to Saul and that Joelle woman, are we?’ The old lady’s sigh was loud. ‘I wish you would believe me when I tell you he loves you.’
Kazz’s gaze flickered to the ceiling, before coming to rest on Betty again. ‘I think Saul has been feeding Joelle information about the bookshop and the lease.’
Betty’s bark of laughter made her jump. ‘Can you hear yourself? You’re talking total rubbish. Why would she need to do that when she could contact the estate agent direct? If you search for commercial properties to let in Tanglewood, it’s the first to come up. The other is that shop three doors down from the Hen and Duck, the one that used to be a pet shop.’
‘Oh.’
‘Yes, oh .’
‘Maybe I did jump to the wrong conclusion,’ Kazz admitted quietly.
‘You think ?’
‘OK, no need to rub it in. It was an easy mistake to make.’
‘It was a silly mistake.’
Kazz blinked away tears. ‘It doesn’t make any difference, though – he still had lunch with her and lied about it, the lease is due up, I don’t have a job, and Stevie is going to need her flat back soon. And even if she doesn’t, I can’t afford the rent. Oh, and my mother and her partner are flying in from Valencia tonight and I need to sort out transport from the airport for them.’
Betty tipped the last of her tea into her mouth and put the mug down. With a bit of heaving, she hoisted herself off the sofa, then she turned to Kazz and stared her straight in the face.
‘Is that all? Pfft. Come on, young lady, we’ve got work to do.’