After the One, Cass Lester [top romance novels .txt] 📗

end of the evening, when only friends and family were left in the shop, Tara came over to Charley and draped an arm round her shoulders.

‘What a triumph!’

‘Never underestimate the power of Prosecco!’ grinned Charley. Then she and Nisha emptied the till. They added up the takings, deducted the costs, double-checked, and then double-checked again, because they couldn’t quite believe their own figures.

Finally, Charley said, ‘We’ve made £1,234 and 37p!’

‘Taken or made?’ Angie peered over their shoulders at the figures they’d jotted down.

‘Made,’ confirmed Charley.

‘Profit,’ clarified Nisha.

For once, Tara was speechless.

‘Where on earth did the odd thirty-seven pence come from?’ asked Pam.

‘Who knows?’ joked Angie.

‘Who cares!’ laughed Charley.

Nisha was the first to head home. ‘Sorry to leave you with the clearing up. I’ve got a mega-early start tomorrow.’

Angie and her gang left soon after because Lily needed a feed and it was past bedtime for the others. Charley gave Angie’s eldest the rest of the gummy bears to take home.

‘I was hoping to get them sobered up before bed,’ said Angie.

‘I read the label. They’re alcohol-free,’ Charley told her.

‘Doh!’ groaned Beth.

Then Baz told Monnie it was time for them to go, too, and Charley gave her a box of Prosecco Jelly Beans.

‘I want to stay with Mummy!’ cried Monnie, rushing over to Tara and wrapping her arms round her.

Much to Charley’s surprise, instead of giving in to her daughter, Tara peeled Monnie’s arms off her gently but firmly, and said, ‘I’ve got to stay and clear up, Monnie-Moo. Go home with Daddy.’ Baz put his hand out towards Monnie, who still hung back with Tara. ‘Go on,’ said Tara, gently pushing Monnie towards her dad.

‘Come on, Monnie,’ said Baz, and when his daughter moved over to him and slid her hand into his he gave it a squeeze and added conspiratorially, ‘Let’s get some chips on the way home!’ Monnie beamed up at him, and they went off together happily.

Ricky departed shortly afterwards. He offered to stay to help clear up, but Charley wouldn’t hear of it. He was initially reluctant to take no for an answer, but she gently ushered him to the door. ‘There’s three of us,’ she reminded him. ‘It’s not like I’ll be doing it all on my own.’

Moments later, Charley, Tara and Pam stood gazing round the shop, assessing the chaos. Prosecco flutes cluttered every surface, and cupcake cases littered the floor, and there didn’t seem to be a single item of stock left in its allocated space on the shelves.

‘Do we have a cleaner?’ asked Tara.

‘Yup,’ said Charley, as she handed her the broom.

Tara took it, sighed melodramatically and said, ‘I sodding hate my new job.’

An hour or so later, when they had finally cleared up, Tara said, ‘Well, I think it’s time for a well-earned glass of fizz.’

‘Is there any left?’ asked Pam looking round doubtfully.

Tara winked at her and pulled out a bottle she had stashed under the till table. She poured them each a glass. ‘Make a toast, Charley!’

Charley dutifully lifted her glass. ‘To—’ she started, but was suddenly lost for words.

‘To us?’ ventured Tara.

‘To the shop?’ suggested Pam.

‘No. To the future,’ said Charley.

Acknowledgements

I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to my agent, the wonderful Gaia Banks, without whose persistence and wisdom this book would never have made it to first draft. Gaia – my eternal thanks for not giving up on the book, or on me!

I am also hugely indebted to the terrific Emily Bedford, Commissioning Editor at Canelo, for picking up on the MS and so skilfully guiding it to publication. Emily – working with you has been both a delight and a masterclass.

My sincere thanks also go to Sarah Whittaker for the fabulous, pitch-perfect cover illustration, and to everyone at Canelo who contributed to the final version. The book is far better for your input.

Finally, as ever, my heartfelt thanks to my four offspring. I honestly don’t know how you put up with having a writer for a mother, but without you, your love and support, I wouldn’t be able to write at all.

About the Author

Cass Lester spent many years at CBBC having a fabulous time making award-winning programmes including Jackanory, Big Kids, Kerching! and The Story of Tracy Beaker. She has published a number of children’s books and is now having a fabulous time writing adult fiction.

First published in the United Kingdom in 2021 by Canelo

Canelo Digital Publishing Limited

31 Helen Road

Oxford OX2 0DF

United Kingdom

Copyright © Cass Lester, 2021

The moral right of Cass Lester to be identified as the creator of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Ebook ISBN 9781800323087

Print ISBN 9781800323094

Look for more great books at www.canelo.co