Chapter 14

FOURTEEN

THURSDAY 7TH DECEMBER

The following morning, Florrie and Ed arrived at the bookshop early to discover the Christmas tree from above the shop door had been ripped down and thrown into the tiled entrance of the doorway, the lights that had decorated it hanging down and swaying in the breeze.

‘Oh my God!' A dart of panic shot through Florrie as she stood staring at the sight in disbelief.

‘What the—?' Ed came to a halt, tugging Gerty back on her lead as the Labrador went to investigate. ‘Is that egg running down the windows?'

‘Looks like it. Who would even think to do something like this?' Her eyes brimmed with tears as she also took in the mangled wreath that had been ripped from the door and dumped on top of the Christmas tree. ‘It's mindless and destructive.'

Ed's gaze swept around the square. ‘From what I can see, we're the only shop that's been targeted.' He heaved a sigh, his breath hanging in a cloud of condensation.

‘Why us, Ed? Why the bookshop…' Her voice tailed off as realisation dawned. ‘Dodgy Dick! He's who's behind this. I'd put money on it, it has all his hallmarks.' She could feel her cheeks burn with anger.

‘Me too, though he won't have got his own hands dirty, he'll have paid someone to do it on his behalf. It's all part of his plan to intimidate us into selling the bookshop.' He put his arm around Florrie, squeezing her shoulder. ‘But we'll show them we won't be beaten. We'll get this cleared up quickly, and the Christmas tree back in place before the shop's due to open, and before Leah gets here. We don't want her feeling she's getting dragged into it.'

‘I agree,' said Florrie determinedly, rooting around in her backpack for the shop keys. ‘Let's put on a united front, get this cleaned up and carry on as if it hasn't happened.' She made a silent promise that she was going to direct her focus on planning The Happy Christmas Memories Project. There was no way Dodgy Dick or Ed's parents' behaviour was going to dominate that by generating horrible Christmas memories instead. She'd make sure to get something in place this weekend.

All the same, it still didn't stop a background hum of anxiety from murmuring away, making it difficult for her to settle. From the stories that had been circulating since he'd been rumoured to be in the employ of a corrupt firm, Dodgy Dick now had no scruples in doing whatever it took in order to get what he and his bosses wanted. She didn't like to give too much thought to what he next had in mind for them and the bookshop.

‘I hope Leah and my mum will be okay.' Florrie turned to Ed, a frown knitting her brows together. It had just gone two p.m. and they were heading out of Micklewick Bay on the way to Middleton-le-Moors for the hour of ice skating she'd booked as part of The Happy Christmas Memory Project. It rankled with her that she was feeling so distracted when they were supposed to be making special memories for Ed. After Dodgy Dick's visit yesterday, she'd been having serious misgivings about leaving her mum and Leah in charge of the shop. She'd feel terrible if they had to deal with that man. The mess they'd found that morning had only added to her concerns. ‘I can't help but feel guilty. What if Dodgy Dick and Wendy turn up while we're out? What if the creep starts with his threats and sinister questions?' Florrie's stomach was tying itself up in knots.

Ed turned to her, offering a reassuring smile. ‘Try to put it out of your mind. I'd be very surprised if they showed up again so soon. Like we said before, the Christmas tree in the doorway, the wreath and eggs down the window is all down to him – he'll think he's done enough to rattle us for today. He'd be attracting attention if he rocked up at the shop again so soon, and though he's not the sharpest knife in the drawer, he's not that daft. He won't want to do that.' He indicated left, following the signpost for Middleton-le-Moors. ‘Remember what he was like last time? It was me he focused his attention on – he won't want other people to know what he's up to. You know how keen he is to pass himself off as a "respectable businessman".' Ed emphasised the words mockingly. ‘He's totally oblivious he's fooling no one. The word sneaky doesn't do justice to his methods.'

How could she forget what he'd been like? His campaign of intimidation had sent Ed fleeing in search of respite and headspace. The memory sent a shudder through her as she recalled Ed describing how menacing Dodgy Dick had been. She quickly pushed it out of her mind; she didn't want to head down the route of worrying about what else he might have planned for them.

‘Don't let him dominate your thoughts and taint today. Our trip is meant to create happy Christmas memories which don't in any way, shape or form, include Dodgy Dick and his wife,' Ed said, the easy tone in his voice easing the wriggle of anxiety in Florrie's stomach. He reached across and gave her hand a squeeze.

‘You're right.' She turned to him, pushing her mouth into a smile.

‘I am. So, try to stop worrying – Leah and your mum'll be fine. There's no point in fretting about something that's not likely to happen, especially when we've got something fun to look forward to.' Taking in his broad smile, Florrie made a conscious effort to tuck her worries out of the way and focus instead on enjoying herself with Ed.

‘And don't forget, your dad's not far away. He'll be there like a shot if your mum needs him, and Nate's just down the road, too. He's twice the size of Dodgy Dick, so I very much doubt the slimeball will want to take him on.'

Florrie giggled at the mental image Ed's words had triggered. ‘Yeah, I doubt it, too.'

The further they drove from the seaside and out of the clutches of the salty air, the more the snow lingered on the footpaths and verges. Ed slowed his speed, driving steadily. She eased out a relieved sigh as tension ebbed away and her shoulders relaxed, Ed's voice of reason and upbeat tone offering the reassurance she needed. She glanced out of the window, surprised to see daylight was already succumbing to the dusk that was nibbling away at the pale blue edges of sky.

As they drew closer to Middleton-le-Moors, it became evident that winter had a tighter grip here, where the altitude was higher. The road to the town skirted the perimeter of the North Yorkshire Moors whose stark, wintry bleakness stretched out for miles in the distance. Frost sparkled on the roadside while snow dusted the naked branches of the trees and hedges that lined the route, glittering under the diluted rays of the sun.

‘Blimey, look at the sky over there.' Ed nodded to the left of them.

‘Ooh, looks full of trouble, doesn't it?' Florrie had already noted the foreboding clouds that had gathered over the moors, ready to release vast amounts of snow at any moment. She knew the moorland weather could be capricious, with sunny skies one minute and thunderstorms the next. As for the snowfall, she'd heard horrendous stories of people finding themselves stranded high up on the rigg roads, their cars getting buried in snowdrifts – the worst she'd been told was of a heavily pregnant woman giving birth in the back of a Land Rover, assisted by a local farmer and his girlfriend. Florrie couldn't even begin to imagine how terrifying that must've been. Much as she loved snow, she hoped it would hold back until they'd got their ice-skating session out of the way and were safely parked up in Micklewick Bay.

‘Don't worry, I'm sure it won't affect us. I checked the forecast, and the moors are set to get a substantial covering, but it'll be much lighter here and back home. The roads have been gritted, too, so we'll be fine.'

‘That's good.' Their eyes met, happiness dancing between them as they beamed at one another. Florrie had surprised herself at just how much she was looking forward to tackling this next item on the list of The Happy Christmas Memory Project, especially given Ed's sense of fun. He'd been in raptures when she'd presented him with the tickets the previous day. She'd booked them last minute, after checking her mum and Leah could cover for them, and had been excited to share the details with him.

‘Oh, wow! I've always wanted to have a go at ice skating! This is awesome! Thank you!'

‘Thought you'd be chuffed.' She'd been thrilled by his response.

‘Will I need shin pads and a helmet?' he'd chuckled.

‘Don't be so daft! It's not ice hockey! You're hardly going to be charging across the rink, chasing a puck and wielding a hockey stick,' she'd said, giggling.

‘Hey, you never know. I might surprise everyone and have a natural affinity for it.'

‘Much as I hate to burst your bubble, I very much doubt it. I reckon we'll both be spending most of the time gripping onto the side for dear life, which is pretty much how I remember my last attempts when I went with Jasmine and Stella. It was donkey's years ago, mind, but we still had a great laugh. Poor Jazz had bruises on her bum that lasted for weeks.'

‘Er, remind me again why we're doing this,' Ed had said dryly, making Florrie giggle some more.

‘I promise you, this festive experience will deserve its place in The Happy Christmas Memory Project. You'll look back on your time on the ice – whether it's on your bum or your feet – with a whole load of happy memories, I promise you.'

‘Hmm. I'll take your word for it,' Ed had said, his wide smile betraying the fact that he shared her excitement. ‘It's actually the thought of a meal at the pub afterwards that's keeping me going.'

Florrie had chuckled, shaking her head. ‘Honestly, I reckon if you were an animal, you'd be a Labrador… you think as much about your belly as Gerty thinks about hers.'

‘I hold my hands up to that one, and I'm more than happy to be in such good company.' He'd bent to ruffle Gerty's ears and been rewarded with a lick on the end of his nose.

As it turned out, Ed proved to be quite the natural on ice skates, but not before he'd provided a few laugh-out-loud moments where he'd pushed himself off from the side, waving his arms around windmill-like before ending up unceremoniously on his backside. He'd hooted with laughter, dusted himself off and tried again, getting the knack far more quickly than he and Florrie were expecting. Once he'd mastered the art of staying upright, he skated gently round the rink, Florrie's hand in his, the pair of them grinning from ear to ear as festive music rang out from the pub's speakers.

By the time their session was up, they were tired and hungry.

‘That was the best fun!' Ed was glowing with happiness, his hand around a pint of alcohol-free beer. They were sitting in the warmth of The Golden Fleece, Christmas carols playing cheerily in the background, a roaring fire in the hearth, and a heavily bedecked Christmas tree twinkling away in the corner.

‘Told you you'd enjoy it,' Florrie said, laughing at the joy shining in his eyes. They were both rosy-cheeked thanks to the heat kicked out by the blazing fire at the far end of the room, and the frost that had nipped at their skin whilst they were ice skating. ‘And it's great to have another item ticked off the list.' She took a sip of her mulled wine, savouring the warmth and evocative aroma of festive spices that swirled under her nose. The chill from her wet trousers was becoming less noticeable by the minute. ‘Mind you, I reckon we could be a bit achy tomorrow after the tumbles we took. The left cheek of my bottom's throbbing. It's going to be colourful tomorrow.'

Ed chuckled. ‘Yeah, and I know I've used muscles I didn't even know I had just trying to stay upright.' He reached across the table and took her hand in his, a serious expression suddenly replacing his smile. He rubbed his thumb across her knuckles. ‘I hope you know how much I appreciate what you're doing, Florrie.'

‘Hey, it's not about you being appreciative, it's about you having some awesome experiences to add to your festive memory bank,' she said brightly. ‘And besides, I'm hardly having a dreadful time, am I? It's great fun for both of us, doing things like this together. It's good to be able to have a bit of a break, to be honest. Much as I love the bookshop, we've been working flat out recently – we've needed this bit of down time. I didn't realise that till now.'

Ed nodded, looking thoughtful. ‘You're not wrong there. Business has really taken off over this last year.'

Mention of the bookshop sent Florrie's thoughts skittering back to Dodgy Dick. Her mind had headed down that route several times since they'd arrived in the town though she'd made a conscious effort to focus on the good time she was having with Ed. She'd surreptitiously checked her phone to make sure there'd been no concerned messages from her mum or Leah, thankful there had been none.

Before long, two large plates piled high with Christmas dinner and all the trimmings arrived, together with an extra plate of vegetables and a jug of gravy. Florrie's tastebuds started dancing at the delicious aromas that were swirling around their table.

‘Oh, wow! This looks amazing.' Ed wasted no time, dropping his napkin into his lap and diving straight in.

‘Mmm. Those roasties!' Florrie popped one into her mouth and gave an appreciative eyeroll as the crisp skin gave way to buttery softness.

‘It was great to see Maggie's Christmas teddy bears featuring so prominently in the Campion's window. Must've given her a huge thrill when she and Bear popped over to see them the other day.' Ed sliced into a large ball of sage and onion stuffing.

‘It was wonderful to see them. I'm so happy for her, especially after all the trouble she had in the summer with that cousin of hers. Despite that, it's turned out to be a good year for her and Bear.'

Before their ice-skating session, Florrie and Ed had enjoyed a mooch around the shops that lined the Georgian market square, stopping to gaze into the tasteful window display of Campion's of York. It was the flagship store of the company that had recently been sold to a mystery buyer who had plans to invest in the flagging shops and restore its previous reputation as the place to buy exclusive and luxurious items. Adding to this, the new owner was keen to support local companies and cottage industries and was eager to stock the stores with goods that met his exacting standards. The shop in Middleton-le-Moors was benefitting from an extensive refurbishment programme, the scaffolding that had obscured the frontage for several months being dismantled just days before the town was decorated for Christmas. The shabby exterior woodwork had been given a fresh lick of eggshell paint, and a hand-painted sign, which included the logo Maggie had designed for the company, had been hung above the wide oak door. The window display was decorated in a suitably festive theme, including a luxurious Christmas tree, showcasing Maggie's limited edition handmade Christmas bears that were exclusive to Campion's. The sumptuous styling was a testament to the artistic skills of the visual merchandiser the store now employed.

Over their delicious meal, Florrie and Ed had excitedly discussed their plans for the tearoom in the bookshop, Ed doing all he could to help Florrie visualise his ideas. ‘It'll be easier to picture when Alex has something drawn up,' he'd said.

Cautious by nature, the only part of the project that cast any doubts in her mind was the cost. The staircase itself was almost a thousand pounds, and that was with a great chunk of money knocked off the asking price thanks to the mates' rates Nate had generously given them. But, from what Ed was saying, the tearoom would occupy the two rooms at the front of the first floor, which meant the flat's kitchen would have to be moved – they couldn't have the wait staff lugging trays of tea and cakes along the hallway that led off to rooms that would be taken up with books and stationery. Plus, they wouldn't simply be able to use the kitchen and equipment they already had, there'd be rules and regulations to comply with; they'd no doubt have to kit the room out with a professional-standard kitchen. Then there was the matter of washrooms; they'd have to provide at least one, potentially two, since she doubted the outdated one in situ would suffice. And then there was furniture for the tearoom itself to think about. Her dad had offered to do the structural work for free, but neither she nor Ed would hear of that. Their project would take a huge chunk out of Charlie's building schedule and there was no way they wanted him to be out of pocket.

She didn't want to burst Ed's bubble, especially when he seemed so enthusiastic about the idea, but she didn't know how they would be able to afford to pay for it all. Granted, the bookshop had generated a decent profit over this last year in particular, but it wouldn't go anywhere near covering the cost of Ed's plans. She supposed they could apply for a business loan, though that held little appeal with interest rates being what they were. There was no two ways about it, they were really going to have to give this some serious thought, get their ducks in a row if they were to approach a bank.

Oh my days! Florrie's mind was in a whirl, excitement being the overriding emotion.

By the time they'd left The Golden Fleece, buttoned up tightly against the cold, darkness had properly set in. The square looked even more magical than when they'd first arrived. Florrie cast her gaze around at the nostalgic scene of Christmas card perfection. It could have come straight from the pages of a Dickensian novel. Festive lights were festooned from each of the Georgian buildings, with glittering displays filling their windows, while a large Christmas tree dominated the centre. The sweet aroma of roasting chestnuts from the stall in the far corner of the square mingled with the smell of woodsmoke that curled up into the dark sky from the chimney pots. This was the only town, other than Micklewick Bay, where she could imagine herself living.

As they headed along the moor road towards home, featherlike snowflakes started tumbling from the sky, slowly at first, the flurry getting denser as they bypassed the moors. A gritter rumbled by on the opposite side of the road, showering rock salt over the car as it passed. Ed upped the speed of the windscreen wipers, snowflakes covering the glass as soon as one lot was swiped away. Though it appeared to be settling on the roadside and verges, Florrie was relieved to see the roads themselves were clear thanks to the endeavours of the gritter. She retrieved her phone from her backpack, texting her mum to say they were on their way home, and asking how things had gone at the bookshop. It didn't take long for a reply to land.

Glad to hear you've both enjoyed yourselves, lovey. All went fine at the bookshop, just very busy! Gerty's been a good lass. Take it steady on your way back. Snow's been forecast. See you soon Love you! xxx

Her mum signed off in her usual way with a series of hearts and kissing face emojis. Relief rushed through Florrie. She puffed out a sigh, causing Ed to steal a quick glance at her.

‘What's up?' he asked. From his tone, she could tell he was thinking the worst, that Dodgy Dick had shown his face at the bookshop, spreading his menacing air like a suffocating fog.

‘Don't worry, everything's fine.' She was keen to quash his concerns. ‘Looks like the bookshop had no unwelcome visitors, thank goodness. Mum says they've been busy, though.'

‘That's good news, I mean Dodgy Dick not showing his face.'

‘It is.' Hearing that had put her mind at rest more than she'd been expecting. ‘And she says Gerty's been a good lass.' Her heart filled with warmth at the thought of the Labrador.

‘Gerty's always a good lass,' Ed said affectionately.

‘She is, she's a star.' She smiled at the thought of how much the Labrador would be enjoying being spoilt by her parents that evening. ‘Mum also said heavy snow's been forecast for the moors so we should take it steady.'

‘Don't worry, the car's got winter tyres on, we'll get home safely.'

Pulling up outside Florrie's parents' house, Ed stilled the engine and twisted his body towards her, light from the streetlamp spilling into the car, highlighting the gentle look in his eyes. ‘Thanks for organising this afternoon, Florrie. I've had more fun than I could ever have imagined, and have loved every minute of it, even when I ended up on my backside.'

‘Yeah, me too.' She smiled at him.

‘What? You're saying you enjoyed seeing me end up on my backside?' His expression of mock hurt made her giggle.

‘Well, now you come to mention it, it was pretty entertaining.'

Ed laughed. ‘Seriously, though, I haven't had so much fun for ages.'

Joy bloomed in her chest. She'd had a brilliant time, too, despite how tricky it had been to keep upright at times, and her face had ached from laughing so hard. ‘Which was exactly the object of the exercise, to create some happy Christmas memories.'

‘Well, it definitely did that.' He reached his hand out, touching the side of her face before leaning in and brushing his lips gently across hers.

‘Mmm.' Florrie felt her heart melt.

Seconds later, their moment was interrupted as the front door of the house was flung open and a blaze of bright light flooded the footpath, Charlie's silhouette appearing in the door frame. Gerty pushed her way past him and came bounding down the path, giving an enthusiastic bark as she stopped beside the car.

‘To be continued when we get home,' Ed said, kissing the tip of Florrie's nose.

‘Can't wait,' she said, a wave of happiness rising through her.