Page 93 of The Cornish Cream Tea Holiday
‘Exactly,’ Meredith said. ‘Though I did sell this as an informal chat, so I’m sorry if you feel unprepared.’
‘It’s fine,’ Thea said quickly. ‘Without you I wouldn’t even have this chance.’ It was true, but it didn’t stop trepidation snaking through her like an icy wind. It had been bad enough when she was going to put her case to Meredith and Anisha – and she’dmetAnisha. Now there was the big boss man to impress. Thea was used to local council managers, of course, but this was one she didn’t know, and she’d have to be her best, most confident self, and—
‘Let’s sit down,’ Meredith said. ‘Latte?’
‘Please.’ While her friend went to order, Thea got out her trusty business plan, the purple folder smart but not dour, and pressed her palms on top of it.
She could do this. Shehadto do this. She just needed to stop the insidious thoughts that had started to creep in, whispering that everyone was judging her, that when Andy and Anisha arrived they would focus on the things she didn’t get right, on every time she stumbled over her words, rather than the positives.
On a logical level she knew they wouldn’t be meeting her if they weren’t interested in her idea, but those thoughts were so hard to ignore. She imagined Ben sitting beside her,remembered his calm confidence in her plan, his quiet belief in her, and straightened her spine.
Meredith sat beside her and said Max would bring their drinks over, and that was when Anisha walked through the door, looking elegant in a dusky pink business suit and cream blouse. She was followed by a pleasant-looking man with short brown hair, dressed in a white shirt and dark trousers. He greeted Meredith warmly, then turned his attention to Thea.
‘Hi, I’m Andy Sparks,’ he said. ‘I work with Anisha in the planning team at Cornwall Council.’
‘Lovely to meet you,’ Thea said, standing up and shaking his hand. ‘I’m Thea Rushwood. I’ve got a proposition – or, it’s more of a discussion about … I’d like to talk about the Old Post House, if I could?’
‘That’s what we’re here for,’ Andy said kindly. ‘Let’s sort out drinks, then we can make a start.’ He headed to the counter, and Anisha took the window seat opposite Thea.
‘Lovely to see you again,’ she said. ‘When Meredith told me about your idea, I was delighted. A bookshop seems ideal for that location, and it would be a huge benefit to the town. Now, just be confident with Andy, make out like you’ve got everything sorted even if you haven’t – we can work on the details later – and convince him that hisonlychoice is to turn that building into Port Karadow’s new independent bookshop. He’s always wooed by a firm plan, because he wants an easy life, minimum confrontation and a happy ever after for this town. Show him that’s what he’s getting, and he’ll bite your hand off.’
‘Right,’ Thea murmured, the word hard to get out past the lump in her throat.
‘It’s all good.’ Anisha gave her a warm smile. ‘I know you’ve got this. Ready?’ she asked, as Andy came back to their table and sat down, clasping his hands in front of him.
‘Right then Thea,’ he said. ‘What’s this grand proposal of yours?’
Thea pulled her spine straight once again and tapped her business plan, got another reassuring smile from Anisha, and explained her lifelong dream to a bunch of near strangers.
‘So that’s it,’ she said, the words coming out in a rush as she reached the end of her speech. She had veered off course, from the facts and statistics in her plan – the way having a bookshop in the Old Post House would be in keeping with the building’s origins, and how she’d protect and cherish it – and into whyhervision specifically would be such a great addition to the town, and the almost limitless ideas she had for it. ‘Oh,’ she said, remembering something quite crucial. ‘Aside from all of that, the building has bats.’
‘We know about the bats,’ Andy said. He was rubbing his cheek, looking slightly deer-in-the-headlights. ‘You can apply for grants to help with their humane removal, and any refurbishments that might be needed because of their … tenancy.’
‘Really?’
‘Yup. It wouldn’t cover all the work that’s needed, but if this goes ahead, then the council would be your landlord, and therefore responsible for upkeep. And it’s a listed building, of course. There’s a lot to consider.’
‘There is,’ Anisha said, giving Thea a quick smile. ‘But we do want the Old Post House to have a purpose again,to be an integral part of the town, and what Thea’s proposing certainly has merit.’
Andy chuckled, and his gaze, when it found Thea’s again, was warmer. ‘Yes, indeed. Merit and depth. This isn’t a fly-by-night plan from an enchanted holidaymaker.’
‘No,’ Thea said, feeling a rush of pride at the compliments. ‘I mean, Iaman enchanted holidaymaker, but one who’s been planning this for years. I came here when I was little, and I always thought Port Karadow could be the perfect location, for me and my bookshop. Now I’ve spent some time in the town, I know it is. I don’t want to look anywhere else.’
‘And this is your business plan?’ Andy tapped the purple folder. ‘A written version of everything you’ve said today?’
‘That’s right.’ She offered it to him.
‘Could you email it to me?’ He looked at Anisha. ‘We can take it to our team meeting tomorrow, Nish. What do you think?’
‘That’s an excellent idea,’ Anisha said. ‘It makes sense to make a quick decision. The sooner we have a direction, the sooner we can start work on the restoration.’
Andy tipped his mug back, swallowing the dregs of his coffee. ‘Wonderful,’ he said. ‘What an unexpectedly productive morning. Thea, it has been a pleasure. We’ll be in touch in the next couple of days, and if you could email your plan to me by lunchtime, that would be a great help.’
‘Of course.’ She stood as the others did, shaking hands and saying goodbye. As Anisha followed Andy out, she gave Thea a quick wink.
When they were gone, Thea turned to Meredith and said, ‘Holy shit.’
‘Holy shit indeed. You weregreat,Thea – you knocked it out of the park! There’s no way they’ll say no.’
