Page 31 of An Enchanted Moment on Ever After Street
‘Yeah. We obviously have similar tastes in books. I’m eternally grateful to you for bringing that book into my life. I look forward to chatting to you every time I come in… Couldn’twego on a friendship date and see what else we have in common?’
I don’t intend to start giggling, but it’s such a coincidence that it feels like a nudge from the universe. Actually, it feels more like the universe is giving me a drop-kick up the backside. ‘You’re not going to believe this, but when I came up with this idea, I thought of you. You’ve always seemed like someone I’d get along with, but it would be so unprofessional, not to mention quite sad and desperate, to accost you and say, “I like you, will you be friends with me?” so I’ve never said anything.’
‘You should have! I would’ve said yes in a heartbeat! I’m Cleo, by the way.’
‘Marnie.’
‘See? We’ve been chatting for ages –howis this the first time we’ve known each other’s names?’
‘I don’t know. It’s weird trying to befriend customers. I want to jump all over them and squeal about books we like, but I feel like I should remain professional and keep an aloof distance.’
‘Making friends in a bookshop is a great idea. I don’t think anyone feels alone in a bookshop. It must be incredible to work here. I’d never want to leave.’
I’m staring at her with hearts in my eyes. That’s exactly how I feel about A Tale As Old As Time and someone who understands that is exactly the kind of person I want to be friends with. I can already picture us going to visit libraries together, sharing our favourite books, swapping bookish memes online, and excitedly recommending books to each other. ‘What’s your favourite book, other thanOnce Upon Another Time?’
‘Alice in Wonderland,’ she says without a nanosecond of hesitation.
‘Oh, I love Alice. It’s timeless. Even so many years later, it’s still relevant to kids everywhere learning to push boundaries, stand up for what’s right and question authority figures, and believe in the impossible.’
Now Cleo’s looking at me with hearts in her eyes. ‘I feel like you’re my new best friend already. No one appreciates the genius ofAlice in Wonderlandlike I do, and you’ve been right in front of me all along and I’ve always been too nervous to push you for much of a chat in case you’re busy. Shall we really go on a friendship date?’
‘I’d love to! I was thinking of doing an initial set-up evening to start with. People could mix in the bookshop, then go on their dates, then fill in a reaction form. If it’s a success then I’ll give them free tickets to Bookishly Ever After for their next date, and if there’s enough interest, then we do it again with a new set of people. We could make it a semi-regular occurrence, and take it online to open it up to a wider range. People might want to make virtual friends even if they don’t live close by…’ I’m gettingoverexcited and force myself to stop yammering before I scare her off completely.
‘Are all the dates going to be in here?’ She looks around my little shop in awe.
‘If the weather’s nice, I’m going to send everyone to next door’s garden for tea and cake.’
‘The weird angry guy’s place?’
‘He’s not that weird. And not… always… that angry.’ I try not to think about the doomed meeting with poor Ali the other night. ‘He’s…’ I don’t know quite how to describe Darcy, and I stall long enough for the right word that Cleo’s eyebrow starts rising in a suggestive way. ‘I’m sure he’s got his reasons, and his kindness outshines his weirdness.’ I didn’t know I was going to say that until the words are out, but I realise how true it is as I say it. I’ve always thought of Darcy as the Scary Neighbour next door too, but now I’ve got to know him, he’s a real prince under the beastly reputation.
She looks at me curiously. ‘That’s good to know. Usually I avoid his shop because he’s lurking out the back and he ignores you if you try to speak to him, but if you say he’s sound, I’ll pop in and get myself something on the way home.’ She takes one of the friendship questionnaires, promises to pop it back in soon, and waves as she goes out the door, leaving me feeling like I’ve finally found the thing I was meant to be doing. Something good can come of my loneliness with these friendship dates. Maybe my awkwardness can help make other outsiders feel less alone too.
10
Just after 3.30p.m. a couple of nights later, I’m awaiting the arrival of the after-school group for story time, when there’s a knock on the front door, which is weird because the shop is open and customers would be very, very welcome. I push myself up on my hands on the counter and lean over, but I can only make out a shadow standing outside.
I walk over to the door, ready to greet eager book shoppers and reassure them that knocking isn’t necessary. The bell tinkles as I pull the door open, and the person who was facing away, looking out at Ever After Street, turns back my way.
It is not a customer.
It’s a man dressed head to toe in a white Hazmat suit. Not a centimetre of him is visible, from the hooded visor covering his face, to the rubbery suit covering every part of his body, long gloves that reach his elbows, and plastic boot covers covering knee-height black boots.
The man clears his throat. ‘Heard you’ve got a knotweed problem.’
Every hair on the back of my neck stands on end and goosebumps race across my arms. ‘Darcy?’
‘And there was me thinking you might not recognise my voice.’
‘I’d know your voiceanywhere.’ Usually, when you’re feeling tingly about someone, you picture them every time you close your eyes, but I can’t picture Darcy, so his voice is all I’ve got. I’ve come to know every nuance, from every breath to every grunt and groan. I’ve heard every smile and imagined every laugh lighting up a face that I can’t imagine at all. And now I’m standing in the doorway, staring at him like a mute lemon because he’s never come to the front door before, and this is the first time we’ve spoken since he stormed off after the friendship date last week. I’ve continued chopping down weeds and digging out their roots every evening, listening for the sound of him in his garden, but it’s been wretchedly quiet. ‘I thought I needed a specialist contractor to get rid of the knotweed?’
‘It just so happens that Iaman experienced removal expert.’
I don’t know why, but it makes me laugh. He’s a gardener – ofcoursehe is.
‘And I owe you an apology for the other night.’
‘You owe Ali an apology for the other night.’ I fold my arms and raise an eyebrow.
