How to Find Love in a Book Shop(96)

And at four o’clock suddenly the shop was emptied as if by magic. Emilia put on her coat, shut the door and turned the key. She thought of all the books they had sold, and imagined them being opened the next morning, and people being transported as they sat on the floor surrounded by wrapping paper, or curled up on a sofa with a glass of champagne, or sitting by the fire while the chestnuts roasted.

And she turned and Marlowe was there, smiling.

‘Ready?’ he asked, and she nodded, and hooked her arm through his.

They walked up the high street towards the church as the rest of the shops in Peasebrook shut their doors. And then, in the coldness of the night air, with the crushed velvet sky above them, she saw a bright star and although she knew it was nonsense she couldn’t help feeling it might be Julius, smiling down and feeling proud of them all. And she let herself believe it was him, and she tipped her face up to the sky to smile back, and she felt an overwhelming sense of warmth and joy and belonging.

‘What are you grinning about?’ asked Marlowe.

‘I feel happy,’ she said. ‘I didn’t think I would, because this is my first Christmas without him, and of course I wish with all my heart he was here but … I feel happy.’

Marlowe put his arm round her and squeezed her into him. She didn’t need to explain that he was one of the things that made her happy, because he knew without being told, and that was one of the reasons. Marlowe always knew.

The church was bursting at the seams, but Emilia saw June’s red gloves waving at her and they wove and wormed their way past seated knees to a space near the front, whispering apologies and smiling hellos at the people around them. The Basildons were in the front row, of course: Sarah in a fur hat next to Ralph, then Alice leaning on Dillon, who was looking slightly overwhelmed at being in such a conspicuous position.

The church was as quiet as a mouse as Mick Gillespie took the lectern and read ‘Ring Out Wild Bells’, his unmistakable timbre tinged with West Cork holding the congregation rapt.



‘Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky

The flying cloud, the frosty light …’



Next to her, Emilia saw June’s eyes fill with pride and fondness. With his hair now white, and his spectacles on the end of his nose, Mick was a million miles from the bright young star she had fallen for, but he could still hold an audience in the palm of his hands as Tennyson’s words resonated around the church.



‘Ring out the grief that saps the mind

For those that here we see no more; …’



Emilia felt Marlowe squeeze her arm and loved him for once more just knowing. She looked over at Sarah and wondered how she was feeling. In her pocket she could feel the soft package she was going to give her later. She’d found it in a drawer in the office when she was emptying it out. She knew it was meant for Sarah and that it was her duty to make sure she got it, even though she knew it would mean mixed feelings, both joy and sadness.

She watched Mick leave the lectern and make his way back to June’s side and watched her whisper well done to him, and she loved how he smiled his thanks and appreciation even though he was an Oscar-winning actor who didn’t need to be told he was brilliant. And she felt pride that in some small way she had been responsible for bringing them together at a time of life where they may both have feared they could be alone forever.

And there were Jackson and Mia and Finn, and she knew that amongst all the footballs and skateboards and Nerf guns Finn was going to get the next day, there was also his first Harry Potter, and she hoped that late on Christmas afternoon Jackson and Finn would curl up together and begin the journey to Hogwarts.

Everywhere she looked she saw familiar faces.

Afterwards she and Marlowe went to Peasebrook Manor for Christmas Eve drinks in the great hall. There was the biggest Christmas tree by the stairs, reaching up two floors, and a roaring log fire, and Ralph rushing round with a bottle of wine in each hand making sure everyone was kept topped up.

Emilia slipped away from the party and found Sarah in the kitchen, pulling sausage rolls out of the Aga and tipping them onto a silver tray.

‘I found something,’ she said. ‘In the bureau. I’m certain it’s for you. And I know my father would want me to give it to you.’

Sarah stood up, holding the tray in both hands. Her eyes were wide with uncertainty.

‘Oh,’ was all she said. Then she put the tray down and wiped her hands on a tea towel.

‘I can just leave it here …’ Emilia indicated the kitchen table.

‘No. Please. I’d like you to be here. While I open it.’ Sarah looked around to see if there was anyone listening, but it was quiet here, away from the hubbub of the jollity. She took the little package. Emilia had stuck fresh tape on it after she’d opened it, but she slid her finger under it carefully and took out a scarf: a long devoré scarf in midnight blue and silver grey, with silken tassels.

She nodded, as if in recognition that this was exactly what Julius would have chosen for her. She held it to her face and felt its softness on her cheek.

Her voice was slightly cracked as she spoke. ‘I feel as if he’s going to walk into the room any minute. And tell me he chose it because of my eyes.’

Emilia could imagine her father in the shop, comparing colours and fabrics, holding the scarves up to the light until he had found the right one.