Page 26 of The Little Provence Book Shop

‘No. Well, only the pastries from there. Not the chocolate.’

‘You’re missing out. It’s divine. As is the guy who makes it!’

‘André?’

The woman shrugged. ‘The tall guy, you know. Good-looking.’

Adeline smiled. ‘That’s the one.’

‘Yep. His chocolate costs a fortune, but talk about tasty!’

Adeline wasn’t sure if Stacey was alluding to André’s looks or the deliciousness of the chocolate, but decided to move the conversation on, either way. Michel had hopefully spoken to André by now, smoothed things over after her collision and rude departure. But thinking about how she’d barged into him always made her prickle with residual embarrassment.

‘Hey, you’ve gone red!’ Stacey seemed delighted. ‘Don’t fancy him, do you?’

‘Don’t be ridiculous!’ she said, perhaps a little too sharply.

Stacey looked at her knowingly. ‘Well, can’t say I blame you!’

‘I don’t… it’s not…’

But Stacey smiled at her, clearly convinced. It made more sense to change the subject.

‘So, are you looking for anything in particular?’

‘Just thought I’d have a browse. Don’t often come in here.’

‘Not a reader?’

‘Nah. It’s not that,’ Stacey said, looking furtive. ‘It’s just the other woman that’s normally here… Sometimes she gives me the creeps.’

Adeline found herself stiffen as her body went into defence mode. ‘The creeps?’

‘Ah, she’s nice enough. It’s just someone told me once that she used to do witchcraft. You know, spells and that. Fortune telling. I just…’ Stacey shuddered. ‘That sort of stuff gives me the chills.’ She grinned, as if to make light of her words. ‘I know lots of people believe in it,’ she added with a shrug.

Adeline laughed. ‘Oh, Monique’s lovely! Yes, maybe a little eccentric, but you definitely don’t need to worry about coming in. She’s not going to cast a spell on you.’

Stacey nodded and gave a self-conscious grin. ‘That’s good to know. I like bookshops, it’s just people talk and…’ She trailed off. She picked up a book, almost at random, and thrust it at Adeline. ‘I’ll take this one.’

Adeline looked at it. It was a recent release from an American crime writer. ‘Oh, this is a great book,’ she said. ‘Had me up half the night afterwards though.’ She rang the purchase up on the till, then made change from a twenty euro note.

‘Thanks, love. And look,’ Stacey jotted a number on the back of her receipt and handed it back to Adeline. ‘Let me know if you want to grab a coffee sometime, see the lie of the land. It can be hard here, on your tod.’

‘Oh. Thank you.’ Adeline tucked the receipt into her pocket and smiled. ‘It’s really kind of you.’

Stacey shrugged. ‘People always say to integrate, and I do try. But it’s hard – always nice to have someone to talk to who gets it,’ she said. ‘Have a proper natter about things back home, that kind of thing.’

Adeline nodded. ‘Well, thanks.’

The bell rang to signal the door had opened and they both looked up to see Monique, carrying a paper bag with a greenpharmacielogo on it. She looked at Stacey. ‘Bonjour,’ she said with a smile.

‘Bonjour,’ Stacey nodded. Her shoulders seemed to stiffen.

Adeline handed her the book she’d purchased. ‘There you go. Let me know if you enjoy it.’

‘Will do.’ Stacey turned and made her way to the door, giving Monique a rather wide berth, but smiling at her as if not wanting to cause offence.

Once she’d exited, Monique came over and set thepharmaciebag down on the stairs, then looked at Adeline quizzically. ‘She was a little strange,non? I have not seen her here before.’

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