“No, Lou, that’s not for me to say at all. But I can tell you that I was not always the person you see sitting in front of you today. I was once consumed by a different but equally destructive kind of rancor, because I felt I had been so wronged. But step by step, because of my practice, I was able to see things differently. It’s not because some things are inexcusable that they can’t be forgiven. Because by not forgiving someone, you’re often harming yourself much more than the person needing to be forgiven.”

“I would just really like to know what Mia has said to Micky.” Lou knew there was no point in pressing Amber to tell her. If Micky had asked her to keep it from her, Amber would never violate that trust.

“Ask her.” If Amber was imploring her to talk to Micky in such a way, Lou could only conclude that whatever Micky had found out was something compelling enough to make Amber change her mind about Mia as a bully.

“I will,” Lou said, putting it at the very top of her priority list.

Chapter Sixteen

Sheryl and Kristin had visited Annie’s Bookshop, had crunched their own set of numbers, done all the talking they needed and, quite possibly because of the time restraints Pages put on them, had given Mia the go-ahead to have an exploratory conversation with Annie. Mia had known Annie for a long time and was a loyal customer. Hopefully Annie would realize that Mia only had Annie’s best interests at heart.

Unable to keep the news to herself, Mia had told Jo as soon as Kristin had okay’ed the operation. They’d never had that Save Annie’s Bookshop Committee meeting they’d joked about. So far, it hadn’t been necessary. If Mia could get Annie on board, it might not be. But before she went to see Annie, she wanted to get Lou’s take on it. Lou had known Annie for much longer and, perhaps, had a different point of view to offer. She was a less business-minded person and would, Mia guessed, focus more on the direct consequences on Annie’s life and wellbeing of what she was about to propose.

Mia waited impatiently for Lou to turn up at the Pink Bean, which was an odd sensation. Usually, the thought of Lou walking in made her jumpy, made her retreat behind the hissing sounds of the milk steamer and the bulk of the coffee machine.