Page 98 of The Cornish Cream Tea Holiday
‘Nish is here,’ she said, the announcement coming out in a Darth Vaderesque scratch.
‘Shit,’ Esme said, twisting around on the bench. ‘Good luck, then.’
‘Thanks.’
Thea got up and, leaving her half empty coffee cup behind, went to greet Anisha.
‘Hello,’ the other woman said with a bright smile. ‘Sorry about the grey day.’
Thea returned her smile. ‘If you’re controlling the weather too, then you’re the most advanced council in the country.’
Anisha laughed. ‘I wish! Do you want to hear how our meeting went?’
Her eyes were gleaming, and Thea thought it could only be good news. ‘Yes please.’
‘There was overwhelming approval for your proposal,’ Anisha said. ‘Everyone thought your business plan was excellent, and that if you were that thorough, thoughtful and passionate about your bookshop, then you’d be the right kind of tenant for the Old Post House. Not to mention that a new independent bookshop is exactly the kind of business we’d like to see here. The area needs some new life, and I’m hoping we can do that – fill the gaps in the town and on Main Street – without bringing in the chain stores.’
Thea nodded along, trying to absorb what Anisha was telling her. ‘I looked at a property on Main Street,’ she admitted. ‘The landlord and I didn’t see eye to eye.’
‘Well, his loss.’ Anisha folded her arms. ‘There are some great private landlords in this area, and some who, in my opinion, need to take a long, hard look at the way they do business. But it’s worked in our favour, because the Old Post House is yours, if you’re happy with the amount we’re proposing?’ She told her, and Thea nodded. It was less than she’d anticipated. Anisha left a pause, and she knew she was supposed to fill it.
‘Yes,’ she said eventually. ‘Yes please. Oh my God, really?’
‘Truly,’ Anisha said. ‘There are things to work out: we’ll have to sit down, plan out the refurbishments and the timescale. The council will fund the structural work, but it’s likely you’ll need to arrange the grant for the bat removal, and pay for the interior work once any core damage has been fixed. It’s not entirely straightforward, but we would like to offer it to you on a long-term lease, if we can agree on the conditions.’
‘That sounds wonderful,’ Thea said, the words coming out as a garbled rush. ‘It all sounds ideal, and I’d – I can sort out the bats, of course. I can do whatever you need me to.’
Anisha shook her head. ‘It’s not all on you. We’ll be your landlord, after all. I’m taking responsibility for it, since I’ve been working on the town’s regeneration.’
‘We’ll be working closely together?’ Thea asked.
‘Absolutely.’
‘Excellent!’ Thea resisted the urge to hug her. ‘That isexcellent.’
‘Good.’ Anisha’s smile was wide, but Thea could see she was keeping her professional hat on, too. ‘You’re heading back to Bristol on Saturday?’
‘I have to be at work on Monday,’ Thea explained. ‘But I can get the ball rolling, hand in my resignation, plan the move.’ She exhaled, realising there would be so many things to do in the coming weeks and months, but she couldn’t summon an ounce of reluctance or trepidation, even though she knew it would be the biggest challenge of her life. She was getting her bookshop, in the town she’d fallen in love with.
‘I’ll schedule a Zoom meeting for us some time next week,’ Anisha said. ‘You don’t have to motor back and forth for our discussions, unless you’re planning on being down here anyway.’
‘That sounds perfect.’ Thea wondered if she could find a flat or house in town to rent on a short term basis. ‘Thank you so much, Anisha. This has changed my life.’
‘Well, we’re incredibly pleased, too. To be honest, Sylvia’s place was in danger of becoming the Port Karadow white elephant, but with your proposal and the kick up the backside Andy and I gave the planning team, the future is looking rosier. It’s serendipity.’
‘One of my favourite films,’ Thea said.
They shook hands, Anisha promised to be in touch, and then Thea was alone, standing near the harbour wall. The sun was still failing to break through the cloud, but she had enough sunniness inside her to power a whole town’s worth of solar lights. She took a deep, calming breath, then raced over to her friends.
‘Good news, I’m guessing?’ Esme said.
Thea nodded, still struggling to take it all in. ‘The Old Post House is mine. I’m getting my bookshop. Here, in Port Karadow.’
Esme jumped up and down, and Alex grinned at her. ‘We knew you could do it.’
‘Thank you,’ she said breathlessly. ‘Thank you both, so much. For believing in me, for helping me. For not being mad at me.’ She looked at Esme, and Esme smiled back.
‘If you get a place without a spare room for me to stay in, then Iwillbe mad. I’m going to miss you so much, but this is – it’s the best news, Thea. It’s everything.’
Thea could hear the emotion in her friend’s voice, and it almost set her off. Instead of crying, she pulled Esme into a hug, then felt Alex’s arms come around them both. They stayed like that until Alex cleared his throat and stepped back, and Thea looked up, following his gaze.
She watched Stan’s boat,Endeavour, come to a stop against the harbour wall, Ben standing on deck and staring at the three of them, a frown clouding his handsome features.
