After weeks of chilly fog, the day of the Hallowe’en party dawned bright and clear. Forecasters declared a late and unseasonal mini heatwave was on its way for Devon.
Amy wasn’t sure how she felt about it. On the one hand, should everyone come who had been invited, the shop would be far too crowded and the good weather would mean guests could overspill onto the terrace. On the other, she’d get far too hot and sticky with all the last-minute rushing about. She didn’t even want to think about how hot her fancy dress costume might be. She still hadn’t got it. Leaving it too late, the fancy dress costume shop in Sidmouth had run out so she’d got in touch with the Regent Theatre, Berecombe’s little theatre by the sea. Having haltingly given her measurements she’d been assured they had something suitable in their costume department and would drop it by later. Worrying she wouldn’t get everything done on time as well as serve in the shop, she confessed all to Katrina over one of their now regular coffees.
‘Oh darling, why didn’t you say? Marti and I will come along and man the shop for you. Marti has tons of retail experience from volunteering in the charity shop and I can read well enough to point customers to the right shelf. You never, know,’ she trilled, ‘I might even catch the reading bug!’
With half term and the good weather bringing in the crowds, it was just as well she had Marti and Katrina manning the till. Amy was freed up to concentrate on preparation for the party. It was going to be a big affair. Far bigger than the launch party she and Millie had cobbled together back in August. Now she had a comprehensive customer guest list as well as friends and dignitaries from the town. Her first job that morning had been to liaise with Millie and Petra about the catering. That sorted, next she had to make sure the shop was looking at its ghoulish best. The Hallowe’en decorations were, after three weeks on display, looking tired so Amy set about revamping them. It was companionable having her mother and Marti in the shop. Despite her fears that they’d wallow in the shallows of life together, they seemed to have formed a close bond and were bringing out the fun side of each other. Their banter added to the songs she’d compiled with tracks vaguely Hallowe’en-themed. She was cutting out paper bats to replace some of the ones looking decidedly tatty when Timewarp came on.
‘Ooh, Marti! Remember this one?’ Katrina cried, bouncing out from behind the counter and turning it up. ‘Come on, wiggle to the left and a jive to the right,’ she misquoted and began gyrating her hips.
Amy put down her scissors and laughed as Marti joined in, standing behind Katrina and doing a valiant attempt, her face contorted with concentration.
Biddy chose that exact moment to walk through the door. ‘Ooh Rocky Horror, my favourite!’ she cried. Abandoning her shopping bags and dropping Elvis’s lead, she took her place behind Marti. ‘Come on, Amy child,’ she yelled. ‘Join in.’
Elvis danced around, yapping madly and turning in circles in a delirium of excitement. It was just as well there was a lull in customers.
Amy stood up, cramped from bending over paper and scissors. Her mother beckoned to her to stand at the front. As she joined in, she felt Katrina put her hands on her waist, swaying her into the right movements. ‘Let’s do the Timewarp again!’ they yelled.
When it had been replaced by R. Dean Taylor’s ‘There’s a Ghost in my House’, they stopped, hands on hips, catching their breath and giggling.
‘Now isn’t that a grand wee sight!’
Amy looked up. She’d know that Irish voice anywhere. ‘Patrick,’ she croaked. ‘You’re back.’
He stood, leaning on the door, arms crossed and grinning hugely. ‘I am and too late to join in with the dancing. You looked mighty fine, ladies.’
‘Thank you Patrick,’ Katrina called.
‘You missed book group,’ Biddy boomed. ‘You missed the best one we’ve had. And you’re going to read my new book, aren’t you?’
‘Wouldn’t miss it for the world, so I wouldn’t.’ He came and stood with them as they crowded around him.
‘I’ve decided one of your books is going to break my reading virginity, Patrick,’ Katrina said coquettishly.
‘Is it now? Isn’t that great. I’m honoured.’
Amy held back. She’d longed for his return. Yearned for it. Now he was here, she was assailed by a fit of shyness so acute it strangled her. Running a hand through her hair and fishing out fake cobwebs she realized she must look a sight. She’d forgotten to use a brush that morning and her jeans were grubby with dust from scrabbling around on shelves and ladders. At least she’d ditched the dreaded grey cardigan.
Katrina detached herself from the group. Amy could feel her eagle-eyed gaze pinning her to the spot. Had she guessed how she felt about him? ‘Patrick,’ her mother called. ‘My poor daughter has been slaving away since before dawn. I think she’s well overdue a lunch break. Do you think you could take the child away and feed her?’