Chapter 23

TWENTY-THREE

WEDNESDAY 13TH DECEMBER

A buzz of excitement was thrumming around the bookshop, partly thanks to Leah's unbridled enthusiasm as she anticipated author Jenna Johnstone's arrival for her reading that evening.

‘Oh, my gosh! I can't believe you're actually real-life friends with Jenna Johnstone!' Leah was bouncing up and down on the spot, clapping her hands together, her dangly festive earrings bobbing back and forth wildly. ‘I mean, she's so cool ! And she's an actual celebrity ! All my friends totally love her books, especially And Now You Tell Me! .' The successful book had been made even more popular when it had been optioned for television and had aired as a series in the summer. It had been the perfect showcase for Jenna's already popular novel. And whereas readers often complained that some TV adaptations bore slim resemblance to the book upon which they were based, And Now You Tell Me! had stayed true to the story, capturing the essence of Jenna's characters, her delicious Geordie sense of humour threaded throughout, making for some truly hilarious scenes.

Florrie chuckled. ‘Yeah, it's one of my favourites, too. And, much as I would love to, I don't think I can say she's my friend, but she's definitely a friend to The Happy Hartes Bookshop. I couldn't believe it when she said she'd do a reading for us, and that's in no small way down to Jack.'

Jean was walking towards them with a tray of freshly made tea and smiled at mention of her son. ‘Ooh, I almost forgot to tell you, my Jack says he was talking to Jenna on the phone last night and she said she was thinking of setting off early today. Said she didn't want to have to cancel if the weather got too bad, what with her travelling from yon side of Newcastle, out in the sticks somewhere.' Jenna and Jack were signed to the same publishing house and had met at their publisher's annual summer party in London. It was this connection that had encouraged Jenna to agree to an author reading at the bookshop.

‘That's very decent of her.' Florrie had been so distracted making sure the bookshop looked perfect, she'd forgotten about the imminent threat of more snow. She could only imagine the disappointment it would generate if Jenna was unable to get there.

‘Aye, it is. She's a lovely lass, by all accounts. Very down-to-earth, Jack says.' Jean set the tray down on the counter before bending to give Gerty a pat and a dog biscuit, both of which were received with the Labrador's usual enthusiasm.

Florrie hurried over to the door, hoping to find no signs of fresh snow. ‘Ooh, goodness!' The chilly air took her breath away as she pressed down on the handle and peered out at the weather. Snow still hung around at the edges of the pavements and on the road where the grit hadn't reached. And from the spiteful nip in the wind, she guessed the temperature hadn't risen above freezing. People walking by wore pinched expressions and looked frozen to the core. She directed her gaze upwards to see thick clouds were now smothering the blue skies of earlier. They bore a faint purple tint that usually meant snow was on its way.

‘Come in where it's warm, lovey, and get your cup of tea while you've got the chance.' Jean smiled kindly over at her.

‘I'm not going to argue with that, it's freezing out there.' As Florrie went to close the door, her gaze snagged on the wreath she'd bought to replace the one that had been so mindlessly ripped to shreds the previous week. Dodgy Dick's arrogant, smirking face loomed in her mind, triggering a momentary feeling of dread, not least because of the latest incident that had happened earlier in the week.

They'd been sorting through the post when they'd come across a blank, padded envelope.

‘Wonder what this could be?' Ed had said as he opened it, his face falling as he tipped out the contents onto the small table in the kitchen.

‘What is it?' Florrie had asked, peering over at it. ‘Oh—' Her face had fallen as her brain registered what she was looking at. It was the remnants of a snow globe, the glass smashed into tiny, jagged pieces. But what had made her blood run cold was that it was identical to the one she'd given Ed.

‘I hate to say this, but the envelope's dry which suggests the globe had been deliberately destroyed before being placed inside,' Ed had said in disbelief.

‘This is seriously creepy,' she'd said, her eyes roving over the shards of glass and miniature cottage, her pulse racing. ‘There were loads of other designs to choose from in the gift shop. Makes me feel like I was being watched when I bought yours.' She'd given an involuntary shudder.

‘I don't get it… who'd do such a thing?' Ed had said, his gaze meeting Florrie's.

‘Dodgy Dick,' they'd both said in unison.

Once they'd recovered from their initial alarm, they'd agreed not to mention the unscrupulous businessman's latest deed. They'd continue as if nothing untoward had happened, since they weren't willing to give him the tiniest sliver of satisfaction. Ed had tucked the envelope safely out of harm's way, keeping it as potential evidence in case the situation escalated. He'd done all he could to assuage Florrie's concerns, describing it as nothing more than a "mindless and petty" act of intimidation. ‘It's pathetic, when you think about it, laughable, almost.' She'd eventually found herself agreeing with him. But it did little to stop the anxiety that now gripped her each morning as she and Ed turned onto Victoria Square, wondering if any further unpleasantness awaited them. Unfortunately, this anticipation appeared to have created an air of calm before the storm. It lingered silently, seeping into Florrie's mind at any opportunity. It wasn't what they needed for Jenna Johnstone's reading. She just hoped Dodgy Dick wouldn't make his presence felt.

Ed, accompanied by Gerty, was adding the finishing touches to the reading room in anticipation of that evening's author reading, while Florrie was on the shop floor with Leah and Jean.

The bell above the door jangled cheerfully, making the three women look up. Leah clapped her hands to her mouth as she gave a giddy squeal, making Florrie and Jean jump.

‘Hiya, guys.' Jenna Johnstone's lilting Geordie tones sent a pulse of excitement bouncing through Florrie. ‘Eee, I can't tell you how glad I am to be here at last.' The author was wearing her signature deep-pink lipstick. Glossy chestnut-coloured hair, threaded with caramel highlights, was visible from beneath a boiled-wool cloche, while large, hazel eyes flecked with gold reflected the owner's cheerful disposition. She had a bulging overnight bag on her shoulder.

‘Jenna! And we're so glad that you are.' Florrie beamed happily at the author. ‘Thank you so much for taking the trouble to get here, what with the weather and everything. How was your journey? Did you drive down or come on the train?' Stop gabbling, Florrie! Give the poor woman a chance to catch her breath! Usually calm and collected, Florrie felt suddenly nervous at coming face to face with one of her favourite authors. And when she got nervous, Florrie gabbled. She took a steadying breath, rounded up her nerves and went over to Jenna, holding out her hand, giving a friendly smile. ‘Hi, I'm Florrie, by the way.'

‘Hiya, Florrie, s'good to put a face to the name at last.' Ignoring Florrie's proffered hand, Jenna dumped her overnight bag on the floor and pulled her into a hug, engulfing Florrie in a mix of the fresh air that lingered on the author's clothes and her subtle floral perfume. Much to Leah and Jean's delight, she did the same with them.

‘Oh, man! Wait till I tell my friends about this,' said Leah, grinning from ear to ear.

‘Aww, bless you, you're such a sweetheart.' Jenna smiled warmly and wrapped her arms around the young girl once more, sending Leah's levels of joy off the scale.

‘Can I get you a cup of tea, lovey? There's plenty in the pot, it's freshly made,' Jean asked. Florrie noted her friend was looking almost as excited as Leah at meeting the author. ‘And we've got some lovely Belgian chocolate biscuits specially for your visit.'

‘Oh, wow! They sound delicious. I'm a real sucker for a choccie biccie or two, as my curvy booty will testify.' Jenna gave one of her trademark throaty chuckles, delivering a playful tap to her bottom. The author's upbeat, sing-song accent only added to her friendly persona.

‘Give over, you've got a lovely figure,' said Jean.

‘You so do,' said Leah. ‘You're an awesome role model for my generation. My friends and me all love your social media, and your podcasts are amazing , they're so positive.'

‘Thank you so much, flower, that means a heck of a lot.'

‘Milk and sugar, Jenna?' Jean asked, making the most of the opportunity to get a word in.

‘Splash of milk, one sugar, thanks very much, Jean, pet.'

Florrie turned to Jean. ‘I'll take Jenna through to the reading room.' She was keen for the author to see where she'd be holding her event, make sure she was happy with how they'd set it out. And she also wanted to introduce her to Ed.

‘Okay, lovey, I'll bring the tea there.'

As soon as they stepped into the room, Gerty leapt to her feet and trotted over to Jenna, wagging her tail in an enthusiastic welcome. She plonked herself in front of the author and pressed a paw to her leg.

‘Aww, aren't you just a little darlin'?' Jenna didn't hesitate to ruffle the Labrador's ears. ‘And what's your name, then?'

‘Jenna, meet the bookshop's resident Labrador, Gerty Harte.' Jenna had shot even higher in Florrie's estimation now she'd revealed herself as a dog lover.

‘Well, hello there, gorgeous Gerty. And how wonderful that the bookshop's got a resident pooch, I love that!'

Florrie and Ed exchanged delighted smiles.

With Gerty's greeting out of the way, Jenna pulled herself upright. ‘Oh, wow! What an enchanting space! I love the atmosphere you've created!' Her gaze travelled around the room, taking in the décor that had been given a facelift to suit the cosy romcom style of her books. The festive decorations had been joined by a large display featuring the author's latest publicity imagery – she'd emailed the relevant information to Florrie, and Ed had liaised with the local printing firm, so that the resultant posters and stand were glossy and professional-looking. ‘Oh, jeepers, are you sure that's not going to scare the customers away?' She chuckled as her eyes landed on the life-size image of her Ed had positioned next to the leather-topped desk where a pile of her latest books had been placed. At the opposite end of the desk, a blowsy arrangement of faux flowers spilled out of a rustic jug.

‘I think it looks great! I'm Ed, by the way.' With a wide smile crinkling his eyes, Ed strode over to her, his hand outstretched.

‘Hiya, Ed, I'm Jenna.' As previously, the hand was ignored in favour of a hug. ‘I'll bet my ugly mug's been giving you lot nightmares.' She giggled once she'd released Ed from her embrace.

‘Not at all, we're really pleased with it.' Ed smiled. ‘And your reading's generated a load of excitement. We're all very much looking forward to this evening. We've got more of your books over here next to the till.' He gestured to a table they'd positioned in the corner as a makeshift counter. They'd decided to invest in a separate till for the reading room after one of Jack's readings, hoping to maximise sales and ease the lengthy queueing process after such events.

‘Ey up, you've done a grand job in here.' They all turned on hearing Jack's gravelly North Yorkshire tones.

Jenna's face lit up. ‘Jack!' Florrie and Ed looked on as the author rushed over to him, hugging him tightly and delivering a noisy kiss to his cheek.

‘By 'eck, it's grand to see you, lass.' Jack chuckled, oblivious to the pink lipstick kiss that was smudged across his cheek. ‘How was the trip down? Not too scary, I hope.'

‘Ugh! Fraught doesn't even begin to cover it.' Jenna rolled her eyes. ‘We so can't cope with winter weather in this country. The first train was cancelled – too much snow on the line at the station it was coming from apparently. After an hour's wait, the next one turned up, only to break down halfway here. I feel like I've been travelling for flippin' hours. And to make it worse, the station waiting rooms were absolutely freezing, my feet were like blocks of ice. In fact, they're still numb.'

‘Please tell me you're not travelling back tonight?' Florrie asked, concerned.

‘No, definitely not. I was hoping to stay overnight, get booked into one of the little guesthouses here.'

Florrie pulled a regretful face. ‘I don't fancy your chances. It's out of season, they'll all be closed for winter.'

Jenna's face fell. ‘No way?'

Florrie's eyes met Ed's, and from the expression she found there she knew they were thinking the same thing. She was just about to offer Jenna the use of their tiny box room for the night when Jack stepped in.

‘Don't worry, I've got a spare room at my little cottage down in the cove – you're very welcome to rest your head there for the night rather than tackling the trains.' Jenna's frown was instantly swept away and replaced with a bright smile.

‘Jack, pet, you're a star! As long as it's no bother, I'd love to take you up on that offer.'

Just then, Jean came into the room armed with Jenna's cup of tea. A smile lit up her face when she spotted Jack. ‘Hello there, son. I'll grab you a cuppa in a tick.' She patted his arm affectionately on her way to Jenna. ‘There you go, lovey.'

‘Now then, Mother.' Jack smiled back at her. ‘There's no need, I can sort myself out.'

‘Thanks, Jean.' Jenna looked from Jean to Jack, her eyes twinkling. ‘So this renegade's your son, then, is he?'

‘He is that,' Jean said proudly.

After discussing the plans for the reading, Jack set his mug down on the desk. ‘Right then, Jenna, I reckon we'd best get off. I promised I'd treat you to a bite to eat down at the Jolly and as I'm a man of my word, we'd best get a wriggle on before they think we're not going to show up.'

Florrie exchanged a knowing look with Ed – he'd clearly picked up on the frisson that had been dancing between Jack and Jenna, too. Now Florrie came to think of it, the author's name had cropped up regularly since Jack had returned from his publisher's summer party. Plus there was the fact she knew Jack had been influential in orchestrating this evening's reading. Why else would an author of Jenna's standing offer to make an appearance at a little place like The Happy Hartes Bookshop? Granted, Jack was nationally revered, too, but his birth mother was the connection to the bookshop. Could there be a budding romance playing out before them? she wondered. With Jack in his mid-fifties, and Jenna in her mid-forties, there was a bit of an age gap, but they seemed to hit it off really well; it would be nice for Jack to have some love in his life. She'd often thought there was an air of loneliness about him. And from the way Jean was observing her son's interaction with Jenna, she evidently felt the same. Ooh, watch this space!