Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Ella
“It’s easy to overlook Great Expectations for other works by Dickens, but I guarantee it is worth the read. An expansive novel rich with commentary on social hierarchies, power, and ambition, it’s not to be forgotten.”
—David’s Staff Pick
I was trying very, very hard to not fall in love with Henry. But I was convinced it was impossible.
I tried to ignore my feelings, but they only intensified. Every day, I watched his patience with customers and booksellers, even when they were being objectively annoying. The way he’d focus intently whenever I spoke, then remembered my words for later.
It was nauseating almost, having to deny myself. Part of me knew, and I’m sure he did too, that we could give this whole gimmick up when we wanted to. If circumstances were different, we could lay our cards flat on the table and show each other that we both had winning hands.
Instead, we got lunch together. We sat in his office.
We explored the city. Now that it was warm out, we’d walk to the pier when our shifts ended.
We’d sit on a bench, let the wind move our hair all around, and people-watch.
He’d tell me what book he was reading from the list I gave him and I’d rant about the idiot customers we’d encountered.
If there weren’t so much at stake, I knew we’d let ourselves just fall into it, not even thinking about what would happen when the end of summer rolled around. But I had tunnel vision on saving the store.
Except for the times the vision skewed and included Henry.
On Sixth and West 11th, there was a mom-and-pop hardware shop that Leo loved.
When the pipes had burst, they had given us a nice discount, and in turn we had given them a discount on books.
The store owner, Adam, told us to come back whenever we needed something.
I often saw him and his little girl at storytimes.
There were some places in New York that had central AC that made you shiver just a few minutes after you stepped inside. However, in this hardware store, there was only one fan whirring at the very front of the store.
I was wearing a floral dress paired with a black bow in my hair. Sweat was rolling down my back and I felt disgusting. But poor Henry had it worse than me. He was wearing light khaki pants with a black shirt. The shirt strained against his arms, his biceps lewdly on display. I averted my gaze.
“Ella,” Adam said, delighted. He was standing at the single cash register at the front counter. “It’s good to see you!”
“You, too, Adam,” I said, stepping up to the counter with a smile. “I saw Lily and your husband at storytime the other day. She’s gotten so big!”
“Oh my God, I know. I swear, just yesterday she was in diapers,” he said.
I laughed. “Well, let me know when she starts reading middle-grade books and I’ll give you a list.”
“She’d love that.” Adam leaned in close and lowered his voice. “Ella, I just wanted to say how sorry I am about Leo. We haven’t gotten to speak since—”
“Thank you,” I said, cutting him off. I didn’t want to get wrapped up in my emotions today. “I really appreciate that. This is his grandson Henry, by the way.”
The men shook hands and Henry said, “It’s nice to meet you.”
Adam’s eyes brightened. “Are you from the South?”
“Tennessee,” Henry replied.
“Me too!” Adam said, delighted. “I moved here nearly twenty years ago, but I’d recognize another Southerner anywhere. Whereabouts in Tennessee?”
“I live in Knoxville,” Henry said eagerly. “What about you?”
“Morristown, so not too far from you,” Adam said. “How long have you lived here?”
“Just a few months,” Henry said. “I’m new.”
“Well it’s a different world up here. It took me a lot of getting used to, but I love it.”
“Really?” Henry asked genuinely. “You don’t miss home?”
Adam laughed. “Home sweet home has never rung truer for me since I moved up here. We go down to Tennessee for Christmas every year, but still. There’s something special about New York City that I just can’t shake.”
“Thank you,” Henry said sincerely. “That’s good to know.”
I tried to pretend that I hadn’t heard all of that. That my heart hadn’t skipped a beat at the idea that he’d want to stay.
“Need more shelves, Ella?” Adam asked. “We have the dimensions from last time.”
I smiled and shook my head. “That’s sweet of you to keep it, Adam, but no, we’re shopping around for some different things. We’re doing an event at the bookstore, so we’re getting some supplies.”
Adam nodded in understanding. “Y’all let me know if you need help finding anything.”
The store wasn’t too big. Metal shelves filled the store, all of them brimming with different hardware things that were lost on me. I pulled out my list.
“Okay, we need wood,” I said and looked up at Henry. “Does it matter what kind?”
“Yes.”
“Well, all Ren wrote is ‘wood,’ ” I said. “Isn’t ply a type of wood? Like toilet paper? Does it come in one ply or two ply?”
Henry snatched the paper from me, rolling his eyes teasingly. He read through it and nodded a few times. He looked up at me. “You’re sure none of the tools at the store work?”
“I think the hammer works,” I said helpfully.
Henry shot me a look. “Alright, let’s shop.”
We walked through the store and a trail of drool followed my every footstep.
Henry would reach up and pull down different tools and packages of screws, his shirt riding up and exposing a sliver of skin with a smattering of hair.
Or he’d grunt with effort as he pulled down planks of wood, causing a shiver to break out as images flashed in my mind of him underneath me, on top of me, behind me.
I cleared my throat and walked to the other aisle, pretending bolts were the most interesting thing in the entire world.
Henry went through the list meticulously, frowning every so often, then pulling out his phone.
“Who are you texting?” I asked eventually, standing on my tiptoes to peer over the edge of his phone.
“Charlie does a little woodwork. His dad worked in construction, too. Just getting his opinion on a few things.”
Charlie must’ve been another reason Henry was so eager to move back. Henry had painted himself as a little lonely, but I don’t think he realized how much love was in his life. Or how much love would be in his life if he stayed.
“We’re friends,” I said quietly, almost nervously. “Just so you know.”
“I know.” Henry looked up from his phone, studying me, his gaze soft. He nodded once and said, “I’m glad to be your friend, Carmella.”
I cleared my throat, trying not to show how pleased I was.
“Well, what does Charlie say? Everything on this list look okay?”
Henry slipped his phone in his pocket. “He thinks so. Maybe a few extra things.” He shot me a glance. “Nothing to worry about. I’ll tell you when we’re in the red.”
“Well, technically, we’re already in the red, right?”
Henry thought about this. “Fine, I’ll tell you when we’re in the danger zone. We’re okay right now.”
Henry said he ordered us a corporate card to charge everything to for the store. I didn’t really know how it worked, so I trusted every time he laid it down and assured me not to worry about it.
Henry moved through the aisles, plucking things off the shelf.
He’d study the item for a few minutes, turn it over in his hand, then place it in the cart.
He was thoughtful, intentional with everything he did.
I admired that about Henry. He wasn’t one to burst in to something.
He waded in, testing the waters, considering his options.
“When did you know you were going to come up here for a bit?” I asked Henry as he studied two different paint samples, holding up the papers to the light.
“As soon as I got the email,” he said casually, squinting at the different shades.
“You didn’t think about it first?” I pressed.
“It’s Leo.” He glanced down at me. “I wanted to, but I was terrified. Charlie and my mom really had to convince me, but I think I always knew I would.”
Once Henry was done, we unloaded all our items at the cash register for Adam.
His eyes widened at the sheer number of items we had.
Wood, screws, tools, paint, and more were strewn across the counter.
Adam said we could leave some of this here if we needed to make a few trips, but Henry waved him off.
“We’ll take a cab and bring it all back to the store,” he said.
“The Last Page?” Adam asked, looking between us. “That’s what all this is for?”
Adam’s eyes lit up when I explained the concept of the book fair.
“That’ll be amazing!” Adam said. “Lily freaks out every time it’s book fair time at school. She’ll be so excited to hear about this. You can count three more ticket sales for y’all.”
I beamed at him. “I’m so glad to hear that. It’ll be a really fun time.”
“What sparked this idea? I can’t remember if y’all have done something like this before.”
I shared a glance with Henry, who nodded as if to say, Tell him. “With Leo gone, The Last Page isn’t doing so well. We’re hoping we can raise some money to help us stay afloat.”
Adam paused at this, his brows furrowing. “Oh God, I’m sorry to hear that. Well, The Last Page is an institution in New York. I know this can’t be cheap on y’all and from small business to small business, let me give you a discount on all this.”
My eyes widened. “Oh, that’s so kind of you, Adam, but I can’t accept it. I know—”
He held his hand up. “Leo gave us a discount on books when we were starting this business. He knew what it took to keep an independent place open and showed us some kindness. Lily got plenty of books for cheap or nearly free for years. I always wanted to pay it back and now this is my opportunity.”
I watched as the number on the till slashed in nearly half. My eyes watered and I tried to blink back the tears, knowing this was going to not only save us so much money but let us spend more in other places.
“Adam, I can’t thank you enough.”
“You two carry on Leo’s legacy,” he said, his eyes shifting between the two of us. “That’s thanks enough.”
Henry called a cab and Adam helped us load it all in. There were wood planks sitting between Henry and me in the back seat, and bags in our laps, too.
“I can’t believe he did that,” I said to Henry, still a little in awe. I assumed Henry wasn’t being entirely truthful about the budget for my peace of mind, but there was no way this didn’t help us out.
“Me either,” Henry admitted. He hesitated for a moment before he said, “I don’t think we ever mentioned in those emails that the store was in danger. Maybe we would get more sponsors if people knew.”
“I’d hate to sound like we’re begging,” I said quietly.
Henry’s head tilted. “And I don’t think we’re begging for money if we do. We’re asking for support in return for all the support Leo has given so many local businesses. This is a fun event you’re hosting, Carmella. They’ll get something out of it too, just as much as we will.”
“We’re hosting,” I corrected.
He softened at this. “We,” he conceded. “I think it’d help with local business sponsorships and even ticket sales.”
“I don’t know …” I trailed off. As the eldest daughter, I’d kept the whiteboard schedule in our kitchen up to date since I was ten.
I made sure my siblings didn’t forget their lunch boxes and their school field trip slips were signed.
And I liked it that way. I’d never complain about the independence I had and loved.
It was a foreign idea to give someone else control.
I didn’t like to rely on other people, knowing if I was the one that did something, it’d be done well and on time.
“It’s not a bad thing to ask for help,” Henry whispered, cutting through my thoughts. “Especially when the people around you want to help you because they love you.”
I tried not to linger on that word. But maybe Henry was right. Maybe there was strength in knowing your weaknesses and being part of a community.
“Alright,” I said, finally. “What do you have in mind?”