Page 55 of The Breakup Bookshop

‘Hot off the press,’ Eilidh says, approaching us, her phone in her hand. ‘The television crew is in the area. They’re down at the beach asking people what they think about the bookshop.’

‘Oh shit,’ I say, my stomach flipping. ‘I hope Rory’s not there. He’ll go off on a rant about what a terrible idea it is.’

‘He wouldn’t,’ Donna and Eilidh protest at the same time.

‘I thought you two were friends now?’ Donna adds.

‘Not sure I’d go as far as friends,’ I say. ‘Neighbours. Everybody needs good neighbours. He’s okay. Fine.’

Eilidh raises an eyebrow. ‘Methinks the lady doth protest too much.’

‘They may want to ask him about his mural,’ Donna points out. ‘It would be good to show that the local community has been involved in the shop renovation. It looks amazing now he’s fixed it all up.’

‘And it would help promote him as an artist,’ I say. I think back to our conversation on the boat. Rory may not be encouraging of my goals, but I can take the moral high ground and support his. He is a fantastic artist, whether he admits it or not, and itwouldlook good if the whole village were shown to be rallying around the bookshop.

It also won’t hurt for Seb to see Rory support me on the national news. Someone is bound to send him the clip. A big, handsome Scotsman stepping in to prop up my business venture will leave Seb wishing he’d said so much more than ‘congrats’.

I pop into The Toolbox and find Rory in deep conversation with an older man about power tools. I hop impatiently from one foot to the other until the man leaves.

‘Ants in your pants?’ he asks.

‘The six o’clock news is on its way to interview me about the bookshop. You should talk about the mural. It would be a great way to get some interest in your artwork,’ I say, the words tumbling out of my mouth.

He looks up at me, then back down at the notepad he’d started scribbling on. ‘No thanks.’

‘They’re interviewing people around the village about the bookshop anyway. People should know it was you. You might even get some recognition—’

He puts down his pen. ‘Ava, look. My mum called this morning. My sister is having trouble finding a nursery for the baby, so they’re staying a bit longer until she’s set up. It looks like I’m in charge for a while longer. So, thank you. I do appreciate your offer, but I won’t have time to do an interview or any artwork commissions, even if they were to come. Not now. Probably not ever.’

He lets out a long sigh, his shoulders slumping.

‘Oh, Rory, I’m so sorry. I really am.’

He shrugs. ‘It’s fine. I’ve just got to get on with it, don’t I? But thanks for thinking of me. Just as well you were the one who got the shop in the end. Look at what you’ve done! It would still be a shell if it was left to me.’

‘Shit, Rory. I didn’t want—’

‘Don’t worry about it. It’s just… not the right time.’ His tone is different. Lighter. Appreciative. Sad.

He looks up at me. I stand in the doorway for a second, unsure what to say. I have a sudden urge to envelop him in a hug, but I resist. Rory would hate that.

‘Are you still here?’ He offers me a small smile. ‘Go on next door and get ready to show them everything you’ve got. Seriously, Ava, take the credit for it. You deserve it.’

I hesitate before turning to leave. ‘Okay. We can discuss this at the next breakup bookshop. You’ll be first up. We can just talk all around you, so you don’t feel stuck in the silence.’

He laughs.

‘By the way, Ava?’

I turn to face him again.

‘You don’t need me to back you up, you’ll be great on your own,’ he says. ‘You look… beautiful, by the way. Good luck.’

My whole face flushes a bright shade of pink, which thankfully can’t be seen under the fifteen layers of make-up Donna has applied.

‘Thanks,’ I whisper.

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