Page 45 of Always Be My Pumpkin

‘And that kiss was fantastic by the way.’ I smile softly to myself as I picture it. ‘Now close your eyes, go to sleep, and stay over on your side. Please.’

Flynn’s sound asleep when I leave for work and I’m grateful. I’m not a morning grump but I need a shot of caffeine before I can think straight, and I barely have time to grab that before I dash out the door.

There’s a lot to talk about, so I’d rather wait until we’re chilled on the couch with a bottle of wine at the ready before I broach the subject of my shag Flynn asap plan that I blindsided him with last night. Besides, I’ve a jam-packed day ahead, and a meeting after work with Finbarr and Gertrude about the festival, and Finbarr’s just sent a text to say Pat will be joining us too.

I’m not late but Gertrude’s in ahead of me, and I stroll through the automatic doors to find her admiring the colourful garlands adorning the pillars on either side of the desk. The knit and crochet group have put their all into this project and now that everything’s in place it’s like they’ve crocheted an autumn forest in here.

‘Looks good, doesn’t it?’ I say, and she smiles.

‘It certainly does. And I went through the monthly stats yesterday and they look good too. Our book issues are well up. And that revamp you did of the craft section has paid off. Loans have doubled.’

The day passes in a whirlwind with three class visits before lunch, and Ella and I spend most of the afternoon putting the place back together while Gertrude talks Dracula with her book club in the meeting room upstairs.

I wave the last of our customers out at half past five, and two minutes later the doors whoosh open and Finbarr and Pat stroll in, looking chilled out and pleased with themselves. Well, Pat looks chilled and Finbarr looks pleased, and I have high hopes for getting this meeting wrapped up fast so I can head home.

‘You look well, Pat,’ I say as I lock the doors behind them. ‘Did you and Tim have a good holiday?’

They’re officially a couple now. Flynn told me that Pat moved into Tim’s before they went on their trip, and Pat plans to buy them an apartment in Spain for the winter so they can share more sunny holidays like the one they’ve just been on. He looks happy, and I’m happy for them.

‘The best, girl.’ He beams at me and I grin back. Pat’s been calling me girl for as long as I’ve known him and I’d never take offence. It’s all in the tone, warm and affectionate, and protective too, since Dad died. Not at all the same girl that Moll and Barty practically spit at me whenever they storm in with their latest gripe.

‘Pat has good news.’ Finbarr puffs out his chest, in full peacock mode.

‘Why don’t we let Gracie sit down first.’ Pat rolls his eyes.

I could seriously do with sitting down. I feel like I’ve run a marathon today and weightlifted hundreds of books. I make a mental note to put at least one new library assistant at the top of my agenda for my meeting with Gemma next week.

‘Gertrude’s upstairs in the meeting room,’ I tell them. ‘And I’m sure she has the kettle on. Do ye want to come on up?’

‘Now will you tell them,’ Finbarr huffs as soon as I’ve taken my first sip of hot milky tea.

Pat leans back in his chair and rolls his cigarette paper lazily with his fingertips. And it amazes me again how these two are still friends. How you can disagree with someone on so much minor stuff, ignore so many sharp corners and cracks in the pavement, if you’ve both shared the same ground since the year you were born, and you both want only the best for the place.

‘You’ll be getting your new library extension.’ Pat leans forward, elbows on the table, holding out his perfectly formed rollie. ‘At least, I hope so. I’ve done my bit, signed all the papers. It’s up to Gemma and the council now to do the rest.’

‘You’re selling to the council.’ Gertrude leaps from her chair and bounces on the balls of her feet. ‘You’re not selling to a plastics factory. Oh my, oh my.’ She pats her cheeks and sways back and forth, and I think she might be about to dash over and embrace Pat, but Finbarr wraps an arm around her shoulder and eases her back into her chair.

‘In fairness, we never did really believe that one.’ He drops a kiss onto the top of her head, the first public display of affection I’ve seen from Finbarr ever, but I guess he knows how much this means to her, and how special it must be to hear the news while she’s still at the helm. Although, it must sting that she won’t be the one seeing it through.

Gertrude turns to me and smiles. ‘And you’ll do a wonderful job making the most of it, dear. You’ll get your promotion, I’m sure of it, and you can finally have the library I know you’ve always dreamed of.’

I nod and do my best to look as pleased as I should be at the news.

‘Are you okay, Gracie? You look a bit pale.’ Pat gives my arm a gentle squeeze. ‘I know it’s a lot to take in but this is what you’ve been hoping for. Isn’t it?’

‘Of course, of course.’ I lean over and return the arm squeeze. ‘Thank you so much.’ I breathe deep and try to arrange my face to read grateful and excited and all the things I should be feeling at hearing the news I’ve been dreaming about for so long. But something cold dropped in my stomach when Pat made his announcement, and now it’s sitting there like a stone. Not the small, smooth stones that Flynn and I skim across the water. More like a heavy grey boulder that’s threatening to drag me to the depths of a deep, murky lake.

Pat’s selling. Flynn’s going home. Pat’s selling. Flynn’s going home, the same thoughts dragging me under again and again. I didn’t even realise I was still holding onto hope.

But if Pat’s selling his shop rather than signing it over to Flynn, that must mean Flynn doesn’t see a future here in Oakwood. He must have persuaded Pat to sell after all.

‘Don’t thank me,’ Pat says. ‘Thank Flynn. He was the one who persuaded me that my mother wouldn’t turn in her grave at the idea of me selling the property to the council. I forgot how much she loved her books, and she was always a great supporter of the library.’

He taps the table decisively. ‘Flynn’s right. This is the best possible option. And now Tim and I will have somewhere warm to go in the winter.’ He sighs. ‘My poor mother was crippled with arthritis before she died, so I think she’d understand me selling a part of my inheritance to get a bit of heat into these old bones.’

We nod, and Gertrude hold outs her plate of chocolate chip cookies as a thank you.

‘Sorry, but I have to go.’ Pat pushes back his chair. ‘I need to check in on that nephew of mine. He’s been all week in the shop, scrubbing and painting and getting the place clean. He’ll have himself worn out if I don’t call in and remind him to take a break.’