Chapter 18
Two weeks later, Scarlet arrived back in the small town of Bourbon Bay. She had her things shipped in a container not much bigger than the half-ton pickup she’d bought. Quietly, with the lights off, she prepped the bookshop for its grand re-opening.
She didn’t message Everest or anyone in town. Scarlet wanted it to be a surprise. When the place was organized to her liking, the new coffee bar in the front corner and the picture of her aunt hanging on the wall above the front door, Scarlet switched on the lights. She put the sidewalk sign out front and propped the door open. She strung up some colorful banners, and hung the schedule of classes available in the windows, the ones she could handle alone without a recipe for stomach ulcers.
She set out a plate of cookies from the grocery store and got her first customers.
“You’re open!” Lalia rushed inside, circled the counter, and hugged Scarlet. “Oh, my gosh. I’m so excited! I saw the quilting classes on the schedule, something I’ve always wanted to learn how to do!”
Scarlet smiled. “Fabrics are my expertise. Please don’t ask me about carpet fibers or leatherworking.”
Lalia laughed and drew her phone out of her pocket. “I’m telling all my friends. They’re going to love your new Pilates classes, for sure!”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
“Where’s Everest?” Lalia asked as several more customers walked in.
“He might not know I’m in town.” Scarlet shrugged. “Wanted it to be a surprise.”
Myrtle followed a family into the store with Athos in tow. “Scarlet! I’m so happy to see you’re back. I bet you’re anxious to hold this little bundle of love again.”
Scarlet collected the puppy. “Hello, my mobile paper shredder. I’ve got a bin of books just for you.”
She pulled a tub out from under the counter filled with plastic and tough fabric squeaky toys shaped like books and bones. Athos strained to pull out a chewy book, then trotted out among the aisles, laying down in the middle of the floor to chew on his new toy.
“I’m going to need a Beware of Book Eaters sign,” Scarlet laughed.
Myrtle selected a book from a nearby shelf of new titles and set it on the counter. “Well, he is just about potty trained. But you might need a Watch for Puddles sign, too.”
Scarlet took Myrtle’s payment and sighed. “So much for cleaning the carpet. But I’ll invest in a pet vacuum when I close up tonight.”
“Good idea.” Myrtle picked up her book and her receipt, saw the coffee bar, and pointed to it. “Can I?”
“It’s for everyone.” Scarlet motioned her to it.
A shadow filled the doorway. It wasn’t who Scarlet expected. It was Ed. He stepped inside and looked around at the place. “Nice job.”
“Thanks.” Scarlet pointed to her aunt’s picture over his head.
When Ed turned around, he cleared his throat. “She’d like that. I’m glad to see you’ve returned to stay. This place is the go-to hangout for most people in this town. I do have to say that backroom, though—”
Scarlet cut him off. “Has been massively cleaned up. Go take a look. I want to be sure it has your approval, sir.”
Ed gave her a terse nod and wandered into the back.
Melinda entered with her daughters and sniffed the air. “Oh, my stars, you have coffee! Girls, go pick out a book. Momma will be there in a minute.” Melinda turned to Scarlet. “Where is it?”
Scarlet motioned to the coffee bar.
“Thank you!” Melinda eagerly pranced through the aisles to where Myrtle stirred cream and sugar into her cup. They shared a conversation with both of them laughing, making Scarlet feel good.
I wonder if this is what made Aunt Ann never want to leave this place.
“Scarlet? Whoa— I am so late to the party.”
Everest walked in the doorway and surveyed the place with an open-mouth smile. “You’re really back— and not just to visit. You’ve re-opened. “
She leaned her elbows on the counter and pointed to the coffee bar. “Made a few upgrades.”
Athos picked up his squeaky toy and waddled over to Everest.
“Hey, buddy.” Everest picked him up and tucked him in an arm. “You’re getting big. Guess Myrtle fed you well.”
“She feeds everyone well,” Ed said in passing. “Backroom looks good, Scarlet. I’m going to have a cup of joe, too. Want one, Everest?”
“Sure. Thanks, boss.” Everest rounded the counter and drew Scarlet into a hug. “I thought you were gone forever. Most who visit from out of state never come back.”
“I knew I wanted to before you kissed me. But that kind of sealed the deal,” Scarlet admitted. “You showed me a slower pace could still be important, and that love can be a part of everything we do and feed one another and help communities stay strong.”
Everest’s smile grew. “What’s that book you got on the shelf behind you?”
“Another dog-eared love story.” Scarlet picked the book up. As I was deciphering the note in this one, I found myself reading a few paragraphs here and there until I needed more context to understand what was happening. I finally just decided to start at the beginning. I just passed the part where he told her he loves her, and she left him hanging. Now, she’s a rising star, but she’s missing him.”
Everest pinched her chin. “You are a rising star. And I think there’s only one thing missing from this place.”
“What’s that?” she asked.
He kissed her gently. “Your picture on the wall of hesitant readers who found their passion.”
Scarlet’s shoulders slumped, then she walked over to the wall and revealed the reader of the month. “Already thought of that. And it’s all your fault.”
“Mine?” Everest played coy. “All I did was show you the secret room.”
“There’s a secret room?” a boy asked as he headed for the reading area. “Where?”
Everest looked down at him. “Wouldn’t be a secret if I told you, now would it, Timothy?”
The boy nodded and hurried off to where other kids gathered under the fairy lights with their books of choice.
Scarlet leaned against Everest. “Thanks for not giving up on me even when I was short with you in the beginning.”
“Please don’t take this the wrong way, Scarlet. But from the moment I saw you, I was enamored with your beauty, but I also saw the pain you were in. You had guilt in your eyes, and I felt it. I also knew it was misplaced. All you needed was a chance, someone to stick by you. Yes, that’s part of who I am and why I’m a paramedic. But it was different with you.
“You’ve lost a lot of people close to you in your life. I have, too. And I can laugh off a lot. But sometimes, I need to know it’s okay to miss someone. I needed someone else who could understand how it feels to wonder if you could’ve done more to save a life or at least make it more comfortable near the end.”
“At least you tried. I didn’t,” Scarlet said solemnly.
“But you are now. And you’re right where your aunt wanted you to be.”
“Running her shop?”
“Happier, less stressed, and surrounded by a supportive community. She is finally sharing what she had with you. That was the way she showed her love.”
Scarlet closed her eyes and memorized the sensation of his affection. “I am, and I’m going to do everything I can to keep things this way: to keep the shop open, customers happy, and spend more time with you. As much as I loved my aunt’s ability to run all those extra activities, I’m putting a limit on it so I can enjoy life and spend time with the ones I love.”
Everest kissed her forehead. “I’m so glad you came back.”
“This place feels like home,” she admitted. “I have never felt so happy in my whole life. And the plans I have for this place aren’t just because of my aunt. They’re also inspired by you.”
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