The Bookshop
The place that held her precious childhood memories was now gone – but dreams do sometimes come true
Sophie blinked as tiny snowflakes landed on her lashes. In the distance, almost hidden by wintry night shadows was Hillcrest Alley.
It still held an air of mystery about it, like the tales shelved beyond its dark passageway which had so enchanted her as a child.
But now the twinkling fairy lights were missing from its walls, eddies of litter echoed from its tunnel, and the wooden sign over its stone arch which once read The Hidden Bookshop had disappeared.
It was as if the last few pages of its story had been torn out before Sophie had got the chance to read them.
“I’m afraid you’re a few years too late, if you’re looking for gifts.”
Sophie spun round. A man wearing a thick coat and stripy scarf smiled back.
The courtyard beyond the alley was illuminated by an old Victorian lantern, snow falling through its glow like gold leaf. The other small shop fronts had long been abandoned.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”
He stepped into the glow. “I was just on my way to take some photos of the inside of the bookshop. Joan, my godmother, was the owner. I’m Matthew.”
“Was?” Sophie remembered the kind lady she had visited as a child with her mum. She’d let Sophie sit in the big armchair, hidden behind a book lost with animals and people in faraway lands, as Joan chatted away to Sophie’s mum.
“She became very frail in later years. I visited her at home every week, but sadly, we lost Joan a few months ago.
“She left the shop to me -” he glanced towards the doors – “though I wouldn’t be able to fill Joan’s shoes. And besides, I already have a job I love.”
“I’m so sorry…” She paused. “I loved coming here as a child. Going through the dark alleyway, the twinkling lights, pictures of book characters on walls, fantails of printed text hanging overhead – it felt as if I was entering a magical land.”
Sophie blushed, aware she was rambling at this handsome stranger.
Life had been strained over the last year. Sophie had been made redundant, and her boyfriend had ended their relationship. Sitting in her flat, sad and lonely, her memories had fallen open on a page from her childhood.
The trips to The Hidden Bookshop; a place she’d always felt deliciously happy and content.
She’d suddenly wanted to be back there. Madly, she’d grabbed her coat and bag and hopped on a train, snow falling like a fairytale as Sophie walked from the station to the shop.
“Now you’re making me feel bad,” joked Matthew.
Sophie laughed. “Sorry, it’s just, this place…” she gazed at the peeling paint and frost-pearled cobwebs edging the windows.
“It could be so special again.”
Matthew nodded, and they were silent for a moment.
He looked at Sophie, his forehead creasing with an idea.
“This might sound crazy, but I mean, Joan would have loved the thought of the shop continuing with someone who remembered it the way she did. Would you be interested in running it?”
Sophie’s jaw dropped. “What?”
“It would need a lot of work. Bit of paint and a good clean up. Order some new books. But I could help with that, and then you could bring back Joan’s magic?”
Sophie had jumped at the chance, of course. Matthew helped decorate the flat above the shop too as they brought the sparkle back to the bookshop.
“We’ll need a miracle if we want to open before Christmas. What if we don’t get any customers?” she said, wearily.
They were slouched on stepladders drinking coffee, covered in paint.
“I’ve advertised online,” enthused Matthew. “It’ll be fine, you’ll see.”
Sophie crunched through the snow in her wellies, leading a trail of polar bear-like prints to Hillcrest Alley.
Through the passage, her breath misted the night air and fairy lights twinkled like tiny stars.
Her hands traced the chalk pictures which patterned the walls like cavemen drawings, her eyes flickering between those and the bookmarks strung from its ceiling by Christmas ribbons.
A tingle ran through her veins, exactly as it had as a child.
The place felt alive with mystery and wonder, ready to excite and inspire the imaginations of The Hidden Bookshop’s customers.
Sophie padded across the courtyard as Matthew pushed through the bookshop’s berry red door, setting the bell jingling.
Behind her, a trail of chattering voices echoed out from Hillcrest Alley.
Matthew smiled, warmly.
“See,” he said, glancing towards the festive shoppers heading towards the bookshop. “Miracles can happen at Christmas.”
Standing beneath the mistletoe, Sophie smiled back, their gazes resting on one another’s.
“Yes,” she replied, her heart melting like snowflakes by a fire. “I think you might just be right.”
