Page 46 of Whispers at The Bookshop Pretty Beach
‘Oh, you know, busy, busy, busy! I don’t know where the time goes, I really don’t.’
Daisy sat and sipped her tea and couldn’t help but listen to their tittle tattle as they chatted about reading levels, Georgia’s new car and a discussion about whether or not Georgia was going to boycott her usual twice-yearly jaunt to Spain thefollowing year because of Spain’s issue with tourists. She went cold as she heard the twins mentioned.
‘Did you see poor little Margot’s graze on her cheek when she went flying in the playground? Poor thing had half her skin whipped off!’
‘I know! Gosh, they do tumble on that playground. I must remember to put it to the committee about getting it resurfaced.’
‘Daisy must have been upset to see her like that. It seems to be healing okay, though.’
‘For sure. Any updates on that situation?’
‘No idea! She’s still just swanning around in her little bookshop, all boho lampshades and cinnamon candles as far as I can see. It might not last long, though, if that building gets sold.’ Georgia made a horrible cackling sound. ‘Thing is: all along she’s been playing at business when her Mum is the one paying for it all. Yeah, we could all do that if Mummy was paying our bills. Am I right?’
Daisy’s top and bottom teeth locked together and she closed her eyes for a second.
‘Oh, I know. I know, I know.’
‘As if she’d ever make it otherwise. I thought that at the meeting but I decided that no one would like to hear that about the Henleys.’ Georgia lowered her voice and was in full-on, rub-her-hands-together, snark mode. ‘Have you seen the mystery man recently?’
‘Miles?’
‘Yes.’
The other one snorted. ‘No one’s seen him. He’s vanished again, hasn’t he?’
Daisy felt the words land squarely on her chest. She pressed her thumb against the seam of the flask and stared out at the sea. A single seagull floated low across the surface and little sparklesof sunlight glinted on the top of the water as anger bubbled in her stomach.
Georgia continued. ‘We said it from the start, didn’t we? It had all the markings of a fantasy, but we all know how that goes down here. The brooding city type came along and swept her off her feet. What did she think he was going to do? Settle down with her and her kids and run the book club? My left foot.’
‘Itwasromantic, in theory. It was only a matter of time, though. We said that, didn’t we?’
‘In theory, yes, but this is real life. People don’t change postcodes and priorities like that. Not unless they’ve got a reason. She’s got so much baggage, too and even more with the impending threat about the sale of that building. What a shame…’
‘Do you think they’ve broken up then?’
‘I don’t know. I tried to have a little dig in the bakery, but Holly was having none of it. But I do know that the moment someone like that goes quiet, it’s usually for a reason. And not a good one.’
There was a pause. Daisy could hear the clinking of the chains on the side of the ferry. One of them tutted.
‘I mean, poor Daisy. Honestly. It must beembarrassingfor her because everyone else could see it coming.’
‘Well, that’s the thing, isn’t it? She always looked like she was playing house. The twins, the bookshop, the handsome hero. I think she just wanted it all to be true so badly, she convinced herself it already was. We all knew better.’
‘And now look.’
Georgia sighed. ‘I mean, I don’t want to sound awful…’
‘But you’re going to.’ The other mum tittered.
‘No, I just think it was always a bit performative, wasn’t it? The hampers, the flowers, the late-night fairy-light bookshop lock-ins. We heard about all of that on the grapevine. All veryromcom vibes, but we’ve all been there and know that sort of thing has a shelf life.’
‘Do you think he’s gone back to his old life?’
‘Wouldn’t surprise me. Men like that always do, if you ask me. It’s in their blood. The whole rugged coastal, small-town charm thing wears off once they remember they’ve got a corner office and a fancy gym membership.’
‘Still, poor Daisy. It must bemortifying. I mean, the bookshop’s sweet and everything, but it’s hardly a safety net when something like that happens. The GayesBooks thing, too. Double whammy.’
‘She’s a Henley girl,that’sher safety net. But yeah, she’s supposedly got a business to run, two girls to raise, a whole building to maintain. Although, from what I’ve heard, she’s had Suntanned Pete and Annabelle’s husband doing everything for her. The woman is like the local charity case.’
