Chapter Text
There is a saying that one should let the coins fall where they may. This is the aphorism Luke Newton had slowly, but then fairly adamantly begun to embrace since his last relationship ended two years ago. His thoughts no longer lingered on the heartbreak of his past relationship or that from the death of his father, which had led him to step up and take over the running of his late father's travel book store in Notting Hill. Luke had always considered himself favorable to West London and found managing the bookshop, with the stress it may cause him, was a welcome distraction from his stagnant love life.
Although he did feel the pinch of grief every time he stepped foot into the store, even if it was just for a short moment.
The tapping of the calculator as Luke sat in the tiny office nooked under the staircase of the bookstore was the only sound heard before opening that Tuesday morning. Luke let out a sigh of frustration as he looked back and forth between the calculator and his handwritten ledger, the same one his father once kept. He hadn’t had the heart to transfer the system onto the computer as yet, as his father was adamantly against it when he was alive. He always had been stubborn in that way to change. Luke had entertained his father's stubbornness and in this way honoured it willingly.
Well, that is, despite the one day of the month he would curse his decision.
Luke made his way to the front of the store to unlock the front door and flip the sign to open. He took a moment to watch the autumn leaves sweep down the main street of Portobello Road.
Luke watched as people strolled to the daily street market as he was reminded that while everyone was going on with their lives he felt stagnant in his. For the past two years, Luke had felt this way, trying to take life day by day, feeling as though he had stepped into his dad's previous life and abandoned his own. The pensive moment was cut short.
“I’m on time! I’m here!” Luke stepped back quickly to narrowly avoid ending up with a concussion from the force of the door being flung open. George stood before him slightly dishevelled, wearing a look of determination on his face.
“I see that, and only for the first time this month. Well done”. Luke jested, moving aside to let George pass by in the small walkway surrounded by stacks of books, patting him on the back as he passed.
“Oh don't be like that, you know I’m the best worker you have”. Luke smiled and shook his head but he knew he was right. Being late had been George’s only downfall. George had been loyal to his father even after his passing staying to work full-time at the bookshop and had been a major support to Luke when he had taken over management. Their friendship had formed naturally over the years as one would when you spend eight hours every weekday with someone. Despite their age difference, George had become somewhat of a father figure to him in his father's absence. So Luke was willing to turn a blind eye to his tardiness.
“How did you get on setting up the CCTV yesterday?” George queried examining the new small screen that sat on the desk in the office nook behind the main shop counter.
“Other than that it has taken a large hit to our profits for the month. It does seem to be working fine.” Luke tapped on the top of the small screen, which showed 4 different camera angles of the shop.
“Well, I do hope it will bloody help with our little thievery issue.”
“I’m hoping it will, we can't afford to lose any more stock, not with the increasing rent rates.” Luke ran a hand through his messy curls that he had mindlessly let grow out and let his stress show in his expression. Noticing, George gave Luke a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
“I am sure it will.” Giving Luke a reassuring smile. His gaze then lowered to look at Luke from top to toe to find that he was not the only one who had acquired the dishevelled look this morning. “You look terrible by the way. How about I get us some coffee?” Looking down at himself Luke had to agree, his light blue shirt was wrinkled and untucked and his trouser leg was half tucked into his sock.
“Coffee would be great.” Luke nodded in agreement. A flat white from his favourite coffee shop was not something he was giving up anytime soon. His appearance however was no doubt the result of a chaotic rush to get ready this morning, in the dark.
No thanks to his new roommate Lance who somehow managed to blow the fuse box by trying to self-wire the cable TV last night. Lance was an enigma, Luke wasn't even sure if Lance was his real name. But he had become desperate to keep up with the cost of living in the popular area and did not want to give up being a two-minute walk from work.
“Oh George! Can you stop by the bank and get some coins for the till? We’re running low.” He called out as George was halfway out the door. George replied with a quick nod and thumbs up as he exited the store.
While making a mental note to call the electrician to fix Lance's antics of the night, Luke tucked and smoothed his shirt and straightened his pants. The bell above the door chimed bringing with it the first customer of the day. A young man looking for the section on Europe, no doubt wanting to prepare for his gap year adventures once school was finished. Luke directed him to the section in the back and left him to browse.
A father and his daughter entered the bookshop next, a reminder for Luke that it was the school holidays so he would need to put up a new display with travel-related stories for children in the window.
The girl, no older than ten, ran straight to the display books with covers featuring the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. Luke overheard the dad remind the daughter that they were just browsing today, which the daughter didn’t seem to hear as she gushed over the beautiful Parisian covers.
The young man brought up a travel guide on Greece. “Just this one, thanks.” Handing the book over to Luke. Memories of his own Grecian travels crossed his mind. Luke was always grateful he got to travel in his twenties before the more challenging times of his thirties began.
“Ah Greece great choice.” The young man smiled and nodded seemingly not wanting to engage in conversation. Luke wrapped up the book and placed it in a paper bag wishing the young man a good day. He turned to put the receipt onto the office desk when the shop door chimed again
With a quick glance at the new monitor, Luke looked back for a second time as something on the CCTV caught his eye.
A woman with blonde hair that he just might have seen on a screen sometime other than today.