Chapter 36 Greta
Greta
Toni insisted that she could take her own car, and she’d gathered Charlie into it with her.
That left Greta and Kaelee alone in the back seat of a black car headed to the book event.
Houston being its complicated self in weather had managed to offer up more humidity than Greta’s hair ever needed.
Her waves seemed to be functioning as a sponge, soaking up the humidity in the air and slowly growing.
Even though Kaelee had seen her in morning-afters and with middle-of-the-night after-sex hair, Greta kept trying to contain her hair.
“Are you braiding it again?” Kaelee stared at her in what looked a lot like fondness.
“I don’t want to reflect poorly on you and—”
Kaelee caught her hand. “You’re gorgeous. Always.” She kissed the palm of Greta’s hand. “Why are you freaking out here? I’m supposed to be the nervous author, remember?”
“I wanted everything to be perfect for you.” Greta kept her voice pitched low, although the driver undoubtedly heard them.
“You’re here. The lawyers stepped in because you had planned for crisis intervention. Toni is here, and whether she likes it or not, she’s a huge influence. I would’ve liked Emily and Ian here, but we’ll see them in New York tomorrow, right? Barnes and Noble?”
“Yes.”
“So, honestly, this week is a dream come true. Even if I don’t sign a single book, or get on any lists or any of those other things that Toni makes look easy, today is the culmination of a lifetime of dreams. Getting to tell my father to fuck off and getting to have a beautiful woman next to me is turning my dreams into the sort of perfection that makes me wonder if this is all just a coma dream.
My life doesn’t go this well, you know? Where’s the other shoe drop? The failure? The panic?”
“Are you so used to disappointment that it’s so hard to believe things can go right?” Greta stroked Kaelee’s wrist with her thumb absently when Kaelee didn’t answer. The urge to make her world run smoothly, to protect and shelter her, was almost overwhelming.
There are few things I wouldn’t do for her.
Greta marveled at the fact that the big difference in Kaelee was that she’d never ask anything of Greta.
Even when faced with the monster from her past, she had tried to handle it herself, to shield Greta.
“Things can and are going right. In your career, finances, and family baggage. I hope you think they’re going right in your dating life, too. ”
Kaelee squeezed her hand. “I’m terrified of trying to move forward and failing. I don’t want to hurt you. Ever.”
“I know,” Greta whispered back. “And if right now—what we are in this minute—is all there ever is, I want you to know that this is still worth it for me.”
A few minutes later they were stepping out of the car and going inside the bookstore.
Murder By The Book wasn’t a huge store, although Greta could have easily spent hours in it.
What made indie bookstores so remarkable was that the books on the shelves were curated.
They weren’t simply a collection of whatever publishers pushed that season.
The store made judicious choices, often based on the shop’s clientele, but sometimes also on what the booksellers or owners liked.
Inside, Kaelee was swept away to join Toni in stock signing.
The shop did a solid business in selling signed copies, and Greta was relieved to see how many Kaelee had to sign.
She considered introducing herself. She had edited both the books that Toni had written, as well as Kaelee’s book.
However, there was something nice about just being a reader tonight.
She wasn’t in Texas as an editor. She was here as the woman who loved Kaelee.
The business stuff was Charlie’s domain, and Greta knew Charlie had the two authors well in hand.
Unfortunately, that meant she was decidedly in the way of the process of signing, rebundling, and stacking the preorders for the event, so Greta went to browse the collections of books and the occasional snarky T-shirt that the store sold.
By the time the Q and A part of the evening started, Greta had tucked herself into the back row to enjoy the presentation.
John, the bookseller who was running the event and seemed to be everywhere at once handling all the details, had introduced them.
His husband, a history teacher or professor from the sounds of a few of his remarks to Toni earlier, had the charm to lure out the surly writer’s more charismatic side.
Charlie and Greta locked eyes and shared a sigh of relief.
Maybe we can start hiding history buffs in the audience at each of Toni’s events.…
The whole thing lasted maybe thirty minutes before the sizable crowd started lining up in orderly groups for signing.
“If all book events were this well organized, it would be easier to get Toni on the road,” Charlie muttered. “That went really well. I think it bodes well for the other stops.”
“Your lips to God’s ears.” Greta watched Kaelee charm readers in the line and periodically make remarks to Toni. “They play off each other really naturally.”
“They do.” Charlie glanced at her. “Are you two serious, Greta? You know that foul man will be out for vengeance. Let me get in front of it.”
“Only if Kaelee is okay with it. Her right to privacy supersedes—”
“He’ll expose both of you. It won’t be directly tied to him, but you know his type.” Charlie scowled. “He’ll make your relationship look like you took advantage of her or … ‘converted’”—she made air quotes—“her into a lesbian.”
“I should’ve stayed away today.” Greta looked up as Kaelee laughed at something a reader or Toni said. “She wanted me here at launch, though, and she sounded so sad that I wasn’t going to be here. But I should’ve talked to you and—”
“‘Should’ve’ isn’t a helpful word.” Charlie caught her gaze. “Either they control the narrative, or we do, and I know which spin would be better for you and for her book and for the overall image of the publisher.”
“If Kaelee okays it, I’m fine with whatever.”
“Then let me ride back with her, and you can meet up with her at the hotel.” Charlie gave her a tight smile.
“Let me plot with her. I know that nothing inappropriate happened because I know you. That doesn’t mean we can simply let the story land where it does without a bit of judicious intervention.
Strangers will have questions unless we take control of the narrative. ”
Greta nodded. Then she walked up to the signing line and behind the authors. “You both were fabulous. I need to head out while you finish up.”
Kaelee, ignoring any sort of etiquette and propriety, asked, “Are you okay?”
“Just a small headache, love. I am heading back to the hotel to grab an aspirin and some water. Too much humidity and perfume and not enough rest.” She squeezed Kaelee’s shoulder because she wasn’t going to kiss her in front of her readers. “I’ll see you after!”
The look on Kaelee’s face made clear she still had questions, but she let it go.
Then Greta slipped out of the store and into one of the two waiting cars.