Chapter 9
DORIAN
On Friday morning, I arrived at work a little before ten.
During summer months, I hired extra staff to compensate for all the tourists who invaded Willet Cove, but the high school student I’d hired didn’t show.
Instead, he sent a text saying he needed some time to sort through some issues.
I had to chuckle, although annoyed. Some of these kids had no idea what the world was really like.
So I put the help wanted sign back up in the front window and then opened for business.
Poe came out from one of his favorite spots in the kids’ section, stretching, yawning, and acting irritated that his breakfast wasn’t out yet.
He used the litter box in my office while I opened a can of wet food for him.
He ate it without a note of gratitude in his sassy little face.
No one had come into the store by quarter past, leaving me too much time to think.
Last night’s meeting was on my mind. Everett and June talking about dating again had me thinking about it for myself.
When I first returned to Willet Cove I went out on a few dates, but nothing came of them.
Then Nate died and dating was the last thing on my mind.
But now that cloud was starting to lift, I’d started thinking about meeting someone.
I wanted to get married, maybe even have a family.
Delphine Delacroix drifted into my thoughts, but I pushed them aside. She was extraordinary, but didn’t seem to think the same about me. However, maybe there was someone out there for me.
The kids had put their mothers’ profiles up on Second Chance and now they were all happily married. Not necessarily because of the app but because it had prompted them to be open to possibilities.
Over the years, I’d thought about putting myself on the apps, as the young people called them, but I never had. Why not do it? Even if I put it up there didn’t mean I had to act on anything.
I went to the front desk and opened the computer. A customer came in, but said he was just browsing. Another arrived and went straight to the romance section. I decided to take that as a sign.
Soon enough, I had the dating app, Second Chance, open and started creating a profile.
It didn’t take me long. I kept it short.
Then dug through my phone to see if I had any photographs I could put up there.
I found one someone had taken last summer at a party at Alex and Gillian’s house.
I was standing on their patio, with the sun setting behind me.
It was decent and looked like me, so I put the one up and hit “go live.”
@BookGuy
Age: 43
About Me
I’m a retired Navy officer who came home to run my mother’s bookstore after she passed away. The shop’s been in my family for over forty years, and I can’t imagine doing anything else now. However, it’s been an adjustment after a career in the Navy.
I’ve never been married. No kids. Although I have a cat who doesn’t like me much.
He just arrived at the book store one day and my mother let him stay.
Now he lurks around the shop, looking for trouble and ways to annoy me.
Still, I love him. I pride myself on being logical, but I’m in love with a fat orange cat name Poe who thinks he’s the actual owner of the store, so what does that say about me?
I’m more reticent than the life of the party type, but I like to think I’m fun anyway.
I have a good sense of humor, albeit somewhat dry.
I love chatting about nothing or everything, especially one on one.
I enjoy art, movies, the outdoors, running on the beach.
I’m a morning person who loves to go to bed early.
Actually, I LOVE sleeping. Maybe from all the time on ships with very small bunks made me appreciate a big, fluffy bed.
The only thing that keeps me up late is a good book.
Some of my favorite things … cherry pie with ice cream, black coffee first thing in the morning, movies with happy endings, twisty thrillers, the feel of sand between my toes, sad songs, good poetry, and a bold red wine.
Prompts
My real-life superpower is knowing that stillness and quiet is not something to avoid.
After work, you’ll find me at home with a good book, out with friends for dinner and drinks, or watching a sappy movie.
I promise I won’t judge you if you get your books at the library. I understand about book budgets. I just love that you read.
Favorite song: “The Book of Love” - the Gavin James version makes my heart feel like it might burst from the beauty of it.
What’s your comfort movie—and will you share the popcorn?
The Remains of the Day. I have no idea why, because it’s so sad, which is contrary to what I said earlier about happy endings. Apparently I’m a man of contradictions! I’ll share the popcorn but prefer separate bowls. And please, no talking during the film. Not cool.
My customer came up with a stack of romance novels. We chatted about the weather as I rang her up. Poe appeared, jumping on the counter and staring at the poor woman.
“Isn’t he cute.” She reached out to pet him, but one of his famous hisses discouraged her. “Oh dear. I guess he doesn’t like me.”
Poe regarded her with complete disdain, stood up slowly, and walked away, tail vertical.
“He’s a jerk,” I said. “Don’t take it personally.”
The woman laughed, probably uncertain whether I was joking. I wasn’t.
She’d just walked out when Annie Delacroix walked in and headed straight toward me.
“Annie, what brings you by?” Hopefully it was not to purchase another book her mother would disapprove of. But it wasn’t that at all. She’d seen the help wanted sign and wondered if she could apply.
“Do you have time?” I asked. “Soccer keeps you busy, right?”
“I only have practice three days a week plus one game. Practices are moving to mornings now that school’s out, and my games are always in the evenings. So that leaves plenty of time for work.”
“What makes you want to work here?”
“It’s perfect for me. I love books and people. Not to mention that you have a reputation for being a great boss.”
“Is that right?”
She gave me a shy smile. “Yeah.”
“Okay, let’s give it a shot. When can you start?”
“Today? I’m dressed for work, if you wanted me to stay?”
She did look sweet in a modest sundress and sandals, with her hair down. I’d not thought she looked like her mother but, as she got older, I could see Delphine in her face more and more.
Poe strolled out of the office, stretching and yawning and looking generally grumpy, as if he’d wakened from a nap.
“Oh, it’s Poe,” Annie said, sounding delighted. “He hasn’t been in the window the last few times I’ve walked by, so I was worried.”
“I’m surprised to hear that. He was sitting on a stack of hardcovers in the display just yesterday.”
Annie knelt to say hello, holding out her hand. “I’ve wondered where you’ve been.”
Poe looked at her for a moment, blinked as if she were boring him, then turned around so his back end was facing her.
“He just pointed his butt at me,” Annie said, laughing.
“He doesn’t have the best taste in people. Or any respect for anyone.”
She got to her feet.
“It’s because you’re a dog,” I said.
“I am?” Annie asked.
“Yes. There are two kinds of people. Those who have the attitude of a cat and those who have the attitude of a dog. You are a dog.”
“Friendly. Easy to please,” Annie said. “I can see that. You’re a dog too.”
“Yep. Which is why Poe has nothing but disdain for me.”
As if he wanted to illustrate that point, he sauntered off, tail in the air, and went to sit in the window.
“See what I mean?” I asked. “He’s doing it just because you said he hadn’t been there for a while.”
“I guess he wants to make sure I know I’m not the boss; he is,” Annie said.
“Anyway, yes, you can start today if you really want to. I had an employee resign via text this morning, so you have good timing.”
“I was coming back from breakfast with Gillian and Grace and baby Leo when I saw the sign in your window. I figured it was meant to be. I could really use the money. I’m saving up for a car.”
“As long as your mom’s okay with you working here, you’re hired.”
“I don’t know why she would object. She likes it when I work hard,” Annie said.
“Great. Come up to the desk and I’ll have you fill out some paperwork, then show you around.”
The two of us headed over to the desk, where my computer was still open to the Second Chance app. She noticed it before I could close the tab. “Are you on the app?” Annie clapped her hands together.
“I just put my profile up,” I said. “Which is kind of embarrassing.”
“No, it’s not. Not at all. That’s how a lot of people meet these days, you know.”
I had to smile. She sounded like a wise old woman instead a girl of fifteen. “It seems to have worked for Lila and Vance.”
“They’re our biggest success story,” Annie said, brightening. “The others kind of happened organically, so to speak.”
“You guys must have gotten in so much trouble when they found out what you’d done.”
“Yeah, they were mad. My mom, especially, was not happy.”
“Why’s that, do you think?”
She looked at me, head tilted, as if trying to assess my intention. “She refuses to even consider dating.”
“That’s too bad. She could make someone really happy.”
“Do you think so? Like, do you think her personality’s okay? She can be kind of prickly.”
“I don’t mind a few prickles. I’m good at pruning.”
She laughed, shaking her head. “I don’t think pruning shears work on thorns.”
“Oh, that’s too bad.” I made a face, which made her laugh some more.
“Have you gotten any matches yet?” Annie asked.
“I just put it up, so probably not. Should we look?”
She rubbed her hands together. “This is turning out to be a great day.”
I opened the tab and got into my profile. No matches yet. “I don’t see any. It’s possible I’m unmatchable.”
“Not possible.”
“Is your mom still on here?” I asked, forcing myself to sound simply casually curious.
“No, she made me take it off. But I know her password. Do you want to look at hers?”