The Vintage Bookshop of Memories

by Elizabeth Holland

  ‘I don’t think I want to call the police.’

  Elliot looked at her in shock. She knew he must be thinking she was crazy, there was a part of her that was thinking the same. She had to weigh everything up though and she couldn’t risk anything else happening to the manor. Or the bookshop. With a sudden jolt Prue realised that the shop could have been targeted too. What if they had got into the shop and stripped it of all the books? All those handwritten notes that her mother had left there. That shop was a treasure trove of memories for Prue and she couldn’t bear the thought of anything happening to them.

  ‘I’m not going to push you into calling the police Prue but think about it. Whoever has done this to you is trying to scare you, going to the police is a natural reaction.’

  Prue knew that Elliot was making a valid argument but still, she didn’t want to make things worse. She was stuck and the villagers knew that. Retaliate and she wound wind them up even more. She would be forced to play the long game. Prue would attend the meeting that afternoon and be as charming and lovely to the villagers as she possibly could. This was her home too and she was going to show them that. If they didn’t like it then they could leave. With her mind made up Prue made her way over towards the brick, careful not to tread on any of the broken glass. She picked up the weapon with trembling hands and undid the elastic band which was holding the note to it.

  Elliot made his way over towards her as she unwrapped the note. It was brief and to the point, only stating ‘You’re not welcome here.’

  ‘I already knew that, they didn’t need to throw a brick through my window.’ Prue tried to lighten the mood but Elliot’s face was ashen.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ She asked, watching as a mixture of unknown emotions flickered across his face.

  ‘Prue I’m so sorry. I recognise that handwriting, it’s my father’s.’

  They were both silent as it sank in. Nothing was ever smooth in life but having your boyfriend’s dad try to run you out of town was a whole new experience for Prue.

  ‘Is your dad usually this overprotective of you?’ Prue asked, breaking the awkward silence that hung in the room.

  ‘Prue this is all my fault. My father must have found out that we’ve been dating.’ The torment on Elliot’s face almost broke Prue’s heart in two. He looked so guilty, as if he was solely responsible for his father’s vile actions.

  ‘Elliot, please listen to me. What your father does is up to him, please don’t for one second feel guilty about his actions. I’m a grown adult and I’m choosing to stay in this village, despite the resistance from the villagers. I will therefore also choose who I go on dates with.’ Prue’s fiery nature was beginning to fight its way to the surface. She wasn’t going to go to the police but she would show the village that she wasn’t scared. This village was hers, after all she owned most of it. Nobody would scare her away, nor would they tell her who she could or couldn’t date.

  The day passed quickly as Elliot stayed with Prue and helped her tidy up. Thankfully there was no more damage either to the manor or to the gardens. Prue was fearful of spending the night there on her own again but she was pushing that to the back of her mind, for now she had to concentrate on the meeting that she had that afternoon. Time was getting on and Prue was ready. She had decided that she would go and check on the bookshop before the meeting and so both her and Elliot left at the same time. He went home to get ready whilst she drove herself into the village.

  With fear in her heart Prue made her way along the cobbled path to the door of the bookshop. She paused for a moment, building up the courage to go in. She had only just discovered the shop and its connection to her mother. There were so many more memories encased within these walls and Prue was only just starting to discover them. Please don’t let anyone have been inside the shop, Prue silently begged as she turned the key in the door.

  Thankfully the shop was intact and everything was how Prue had left it on Friday afternoon. The place was spotless as the spine of each book reflected the sun. There was nothing left to do inside the shop, it was ready to open. However, Prue was reluctant to allow her enemies into such a private space. The connection she felt to her mother inside that little shop was something she wanted to cherish forever and so it would be a difficult decision to open the place up.

  Prue’s phone buzzed with a message from Elliot telling her that he had just arrived at the cafe and everyone was there waiting for her, even his father. With one final look around the shop Prue soaked up the essence of her mother’s sprit. It was time she fought for herself, for her family and for a better future for the village.

  Chapter Sixteen

  As Prue walked into the cafe every pair of eyes fell on her. The atmosphere was tangible and it was clear that everyone, besides Elliot, loathed being in her company. This was business though, not pleasure. Whether they liked it or not Prue was their landlady and they had to hear what she was about to say. For once Prue felt as though she had the upper hand and she took a moment to relish in that feeling. Slowly she walked up to the table of refreshments and poured herself a coffee, opting to treat herself by pouring cream in rather than milk. She knew that she was still being watched by everyone and so she slowed her actions down even more. After everything they had put her through she would make them suffer by waiting that bit longer to hear what she had to say.

  After taking the first sip of her coffee Prue took a deep breath and turned around to face the crowded room. Everyone was scowling at her. Prue wanted to run and hide away at the manor but she knew that wouldn’t help the situation. She had to be nice. In fact she had to be really nice. Thank god for those drama classes she had taken at school. With a huge smile on her face Prue moved towards the front of the room, taking each step slowly. By now she had the whole room hanging on her every move and she was enjoying it. The villagers knew that whatever she had to say would either make or break them and Prue was enjoying every second of them not knowing. With a final glance over at Elliot, who shot her a reassuring smile, Prue stood in front of the room of people and turned to address them.

  ‘Thank you for all agreeing to meet me here today. As I’m sure you already know refreshments are complimentary so please help yourself.’

  Prue was cut off by some angry grunts towards the back of the room.

  ‘Can I help you?’ She called with a sickly grin on her face. No matter how angry they made her she would not let it show. Prue would be the best landlady that they could ever wish for.

  ‘Complimentary? Our rent is paying for this spread!’ The anger in the man’s voice resounded throughout the small space. If the villagers hadn’t run her father out of town and ruined her mother’s chances at happiness then Prue might have found herself feeling sorry for them.

  ‘That’s what we’re here to discuss.’ Everyone quietened down and many people took their seats as they all waited to hear what Prue had to say.

  Feeling brave Prue explained to the room her plans to give each village member a new contract, a fairer contract. They could either sign it and work in harmony with her or they were free to walk away. As she spoke Prue could feel the atmosphere in the room change, the hostility was ebbing away and she could see private conversations breaking out amongst the crowds. Prue’s face may have looked steely but her insiders were churning, if this didn’t work she wasn’t sure how she would resolve the community’s anger so that they could live in harmony. Right now, this was her only option and it had to work.

  There was a moment of silence as Prue finished her speech and the crowd digested what she had to say. Prue used that time to steady her breathing and took a sip of her coffee, wishing it was something much stronger.

  ‘Does anyone have any questions?’ Prue asked, she couldn’t bear the silence for much longer, she just wanted to know how her plans had been received.

  ‘Will we have to pay to exit the contract?’ Prue glanced towards the man, he was sat in the corner with his hat pulled down to cover most of his face. It took
Prue a minute to recall who he was but eventually she recognised him as the village mechanic. Prue was going to be busy replacing those who left to ensure there was still a basic infrastructure for those who chose to stay in the village.

  ‘No, there will be no fee but I’d appreciate it if you could give me a month’s notice. For those of you that choose to stay I will do my best to ensure every business remains operating with a new proprietor. I understand that every business is needed and I want to prevent as much disruption as I can.’ There were lots of nods from amongst the crowd, Prue felt as though she had finally made some progress with the villagers.

  ‘Can the contracts include a clause that we can purchase the property from you?’ This question was from the lady who owned the cafe.

  ‘That’s not something I had considered but if that’s something everyone would like then I can talk to my solicitor about including the clause?’ Prue was taken back, she hadn’t expected them to ask if they could buy the property. It made sense though, it would allow the village to thrive and grow, it would also reduce Prue’s responsibility.

  ‘What do you want in exchange for this?’ Prue’s head snapped up as she recognised the voice and the venomous tone. It was Elliot’s father, stood at the back of the room surrounded by a group of fellow farmers.

  ‘All I want is a quiet life. I would also appreciate it if people would stop throwing bricks through my window.’ Prue tried to keep her tone light so nobody suspected that the dig was aimed at Arnold Harrington. He knew she was addressing him and his eyes narrowed as he realised she wasn’t going to stand down and accept defeat. Prue was here to fight for herself.

  There were no more questions and so Prue decided to leave rather than staying to mingle with the crowd. It had gone better than she had expected and so she had to quit while she was ahead. She also didn’t want to come into contact with Elliot’s father, there was still anger bubbling away under her happy facade and the last thing she needed was to let her true feelings show. With a quick smile at Elliot, Prue slipped out of the cafe as everyone was talking and helping themselves to the refreshments. The atmosphere had changed completely and almost everyone seemed content with what Prue had said. Prue only hoped that she had done enough. Only time would tell.

  Prue breathed a sigh of relief as the cool air hit her and she left behind the noise of the crowd. It was over and now all she had to do was wait and see how the village would adjust to the new way of life. The new contracts would be with them within the next week and then Prue would have to see who decided to sign and who decided to walk away. She was eager for the next few weeks to whiz by as she wanted to pour all of her focus into the bookshop. For now though she would continue to keep visiting it and reading the little slips of paper that her mother had left within the cover of each book. A small but precious insight into her mother’s mind. One day she would be able to give the shop the grand re-opening that it deserved but that day would have to wait.

  Chapter Seventeen

  After the meeting Prue drove her car to Elliot’s cottage and let herself in with the spare key he had given her. They had agreed that it would be safer for her to stay the night with him so they could see how the village would react. Prue hated the thought of the manor laying empty with nobody there to protect it but for now she had to look after herself. The last thing she needed was a confrontation with an angry mob just as she was making some progress. As Prue walked into Elliot’s cottage the silence was comforting, having gone from such a busy room to solitude was bliss. Growing up an only child Prue had learnt to appreciate her own company from a young age.

  Elliot had told her to make herself comfortable and so she took her bag of clothes upstairs and changed into a fresh set of pyjamas. They were a gorgeous emerald green silk set that her friend Katie had got her for Christmas last year. Putting them on made her think of her friend and Prue found herself yearning for the life she had left behind in Brighton. She had been free, no responsibilities and she could walk down the street without anyone glaring at her. Brighton had been a form of solace for her soul. A place to grow into herself without the judgment and expectations of an entire village on her. That safe haven would always hold a special place in her heart but it wasn’t home. Home was here, in this village with the memories of her mother and her grandmother.

  Resisting the urge to have a look around the cottage whilst she was on her own Prue decided to go and make a start on dinner. Elliot had warned her he might be a while as he wanted to stay and talk to his father. Prue didn’t want to even consider how that conversation might be going and so she turned up the music on her phone and began to rifle through Elliot’s fridge looking for items that she could use to throw together something that resembled dinner. A glass of wine and a few ABBA tunes later Prue was feeling much more positive.

  ‘Honey, I’m home!’ Elliot called as the front door swung open. It was good timing as the alarm on Prue’s phone had just gone off to alert her that the pasta bake was cooked. The contents of Elliot’s kitchen had been a sorry state and so Prue had made the best of what was there.

  ‘You’re just in time, dinner’s ready.’ Prue smiled and ran over to give him a quick peck on the lips. As his arms wrapped around her waist and he pulled her in for a deeper kiss she squealed and pulled herself out of his grip.

  ‘Stop it, dinner will get ruined.’ Before he could grab her again she ran off towards the kitchen. There was a genuine smile on her face and she felt as though a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders. If only for this evening she could completely relax in Elliot’s company and enjoy herself.

  ‘How did the chat with your dad go?’ Prue asked as she put her fork down, dinner had been a success. Elliot’s face changed as she mentioned his father, the carefree look vanished and his brow knitted with stress. Perhaps she shouldn’t have asked that question. Prue tried to put it to the back of her mind, it wouldn’t do either of them any good to dwell on it.

  ‘I think it’s best we forget about my father Prue. I’ve told him not to go near you or the manor again and I hope he’ll listen to me.’ Elliot’s voice sounded detached and far away. Whatever had been said it obviously hadn’t been a loving reunion between the two men.

  ‘How do you think the meeting went?’ Prue asked, trying to lead the conversation away from Elliot and his father.

  ‘It went really well Prue, I’m so proud of you.’ He leant across the table and took her hand in his. ‘Once you left everyone stayed to talk about the new contracts and the majority seemed to be happy. I think you might find a few people choose to leave but perhaps that’s for the best. We could do with some new faces around here.’

  Prue felt her heart soar as she heard Elliot’s feedback. Perhaps things were about to change and she would find herself able to walk down the street without worrying someone might throw rotten eggs at her. She hoped so, she wasn’t exactly asking for much.

  That evening Prue felt like she was in a little bubble with Elliot by her side. She was relaxed and happy, it felt like nothing would ever be able to wipe that smile off of her face. As they curled up on the sofa together, with a well deserved glass of wine, Prue kept sneaking glances at Elliot. How had she been so lucky to come across this man when she hadn’t even been looking for love? A jolt went through Prue as she realised the word love had just flitted across her brain. Did she really love him? Prue took a large sip of wine to busy herself whilst she tried to get her thoughts under control. Elliot turned to look at her and shot her a heart stopping smile. In that moment she knew it was true, she did love him.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Waking up the following morning in Elliot’s arms only sent Prue’s mood flying even higher. She needed some help at the bookshop today, as she couldn’t lift the big round table on her own. Elliot had offered to help her and so they were going to spend the day giving the shop a final once over. After the positive response from the village last night Prue had decided to open the bookshop earlier than planned. Next Sat
urday would be the opening day and she was already buzzing with excitement at the prospect of her little bookshop being filled with people looking for their next read.

  ‘Good morning sleeping beauty.’ Elliot whispered in her ear as he hugged her closer to him.

  ‘Morning.’ She smiled back at him. It would be nice to wake up like this every day.

  After a slow morning and a delicious brunch, left on the doorstep by Elliot’s mother, they got ready for the day. Prue was apprehensive, yet excited at the prospect of going into the village and to see how everyone reacted to her. Would anything have changed or would the hostility continue? She knew she would have to face it at some point and it was better to get it over with when she had Elliot by her side.

  They set off towards the village, hand in hand. It was a lovely day out and so they had opted to walk in. As they made their way to the bookshop Prue noticed they received a number of looks. However, the looks had lost their hostile edge, instead they seemed to be curious. It was a nice change but Prue still didn’t enjoy being scrutinised by everyone, she longed for the anonymity of the bigger cities.

  ‘This place is amazing.’ Elliot’s reaction to the bookshop never failed to make Prue smile. He was as enthralled with the little shop as she was.

  ‘I know. Whenever I’m in here I can imagine my mother standing behind the counter or sitting in that chair reading her favourite book. There’s just something so magical about all the memories that this little place holds.’