Page 85 of The Wedding Forecast

‘I can’t wait to hear about it at dinner on Friday.’

‘Hayley and I are going to put the pictures into a slideshow presentation for you all, so prepare yourself.’

‘Jean and I love a good slideshow.’

‘There will be fade transitions and special effects and Christmas music.’

‘Even better.’

‘It’s so busy,’ I say, gesturing to the crowded shop.

‘I know. I can’t complain, but I will, because Sasha has just resigned.’

Sasha is Bobbi’s only permanent staff member, a devoted crime reader who was very supportive of my book.

‘Oh no, why?’

‘Her daughter is sick. It’s unexpected, and at first she thought she’d just go up to Queensland temporarily to help with the kids, but now she’s decided to stay permanently.’

‘Oh no, I hope her daughter is okay. What are you going to do?’

‘I don’t know, I don’t know! I’m too busy to think about it. Jean’s niece is working here this week, but she’s got other work lined up for after Christmas.’ Bobbi throws her hands in the air dramatically, and then turns to help a customer, and I walk back to the shelves and stare at K–M fiction. Here it is, my moment. My new direction. The fork in the road. The universe is saying, ‘I will give you one last thing, don’t screw this up, don’t turn your back on this.’ I stand there, pretending to browse, while I gather the courage to actually take the plunge and talk to Bobbi. There’s another lull, and I approach the counter.

‘I could do it,’ I say to Bobbi, trying to look calm and unbothered, rather than nervous.

‘Do what, Anna?’

‘Work here. To replace Sasha.’

‘Oh honey, thank you, but I don’t want you to work on your Christmas break.’

‘I mean, I could do it, now and next year and…ongoing. Work here permanently. I quit my job.’

Bobbi looks startled.

‘You quit your job?’ She presses a hand to her chest.

‘Yes.’

It feels liberating to say it out loud.

‘Does your mother know?’ Bobbi says, her eyes wide.

‘No, she doesn’t know, and yes, she’ll probably freak out.’

‘But why?’

‘I just…didn’t want to do it anymore.’

‘And you want to work here?’

‘Wait. I’ve gone about this the wrong way. Let me start again. I know I don’t have a retail background, but I’m good at wrangling people, and you know I’m well-read and I work hard and I’m reliable and a quick learner and I love talking about books and I love this place more than anything.’

I pause and I feel like I need to add more.

‘And I have solid gift-wrapping skills, you even said that last Christmas. Remember when I did those special bows? You said they had flair.’

Bobbi is the queen of gift wrapping so I have held on to this compliment. Last Christmas I was still struggling with the aftermath of the Joel breakup and watching ‘improve your gift-wrapping’ videos seemed like a positive step, almost a hobby, a way to better myself. I also learned how to fold napkins and write beautiful thank-you notes and do cross-stitch. I have used none of these skills since.