Chapter Forty
Andrew
The day after the fire at The Rainy Day Bookshop, Andrew sat in a beach chair next to Rosie on Crescent Beach, watching the
three children giggle as they raced back and forth trying to avoid the waves licking at the sand.
It was a beautiful summer afternoon on the Oregon coast, pleasant and sunny, with high clouds that rolled across the sky.
He leaned back in the chair, breathing in the scent of sea and sand. “I’m glad you decided to stick with our plan to come
to the beach, Rosie. I thought for sure you would want to cancel, with everything you have going on,” he said.
“I needed this,” she said, lifting her face to the sun. “My brain has been caught in an endless loop of worry and stress.
A distraction is exactly the thing to take my mind off it all. Olive needed it, too. She was so upset to find out about the
bookstore. She loved that place. We called it our magical land of books.”
“That describes every bookstore, doesn’t it?” Andrew commented.
Rosie smiled, though her eyes remained sad. Andrew wanted to take all the pain away from this woman—this strong, courageous
woman who had endured so very much in her life.
“Have you figured out what you’re going to do yet? Is the bookstore beyond rebuilding?”
“No, actually. Surprisingly, for all the flames and fuss last night, it sustained little actual structural damage. Most of the brick is still intact and the actual fire was mostly contained to the office and the new section Bryce was renovating.”
“That’s a relief, I imagine.”
“Because of the smoke and water damage, the books are all a loss, unfortunately. If we do rebuild, we’re going to have to
start over with all new inventory.”
“That’s too bad.”
“That’s the part I hate the most. It feels like a tragedy. I know it’s not. They’re only books, not people, but it still hurts.”
“Books are priceless to those who love them. I get it, maybe more than most people would. I lost years’ worth of books in the
wildfire. Research books, my own early backlist titles, some signed first editions from friends and fellow writers. It’s an
incalculable loss that all the insurance in the world could never cover.”
“I feel silly being so depressed about a business loss when you and your children lost your home and your memories.”
“We still have the memories. Just not the tangible ones. And you’re not silly. The bookshop was beloved, not only by you but
by the whole community. I’m sure everyone in Wood Briar is hoping you decide to rebuild.”
She sighed. “It won’t be that hard to rebuild. I just don’t know if it’s worth the effort.”
“What is your gut telling you?”
She gave a rueful smile, looking soft and lovely in the afternoon sunshine. “The same thing my gut told me when I wanted to
buy the bookstore a decade ago, despite it never really making a profit. Towns like Wood Briar need a bookstore. It’s more
than pages and shelves. It’s a sanctuary, a bridge to other worlds, a beacon of knowledge that lights up the whole town.”
“There’s your answer.”
She released a breath, smiling as she watched her granddaughter kneel in the sand to point out something to Finn and Zara.
“Emma suggested last night that I should step away from the construction company and handle the renovation of the bookstore
myself. She said that way I can truly fulfill my vision for what I wanted it to become when I bought it.”
“What do you think about that?”
Her laugh sounded ragged around the edges. “It sounds wonderful. That’s one of the things chasing around and around in my
thoughts. When Lucas Construction began to falter a few years after Gary died, I buried my dreams for the bookshop. I didn’t
feel like I had any other choice. I felt I had an obligation to our employees as well as our community. We had signed contracts
we weren’t going to be able to fulfill if I didn’t step up.”
“Makes sense.”
“And at the time, I was so lost in my grief and so busy worrying about Emma, it didn’t really matter what I did. The construction
company or the bookstore. I didn’t really care about any of it.”
“What about now?”
She gave a rough laugh. “I think I would like to run the bookstore. Is that crazy?”
“Not at all. If it was always your dream, you should go for it. What about the construction company?”
“That’s the funny thing. Emma pointed out last night that Bryce would be more than capable of running it. She’s absolutely
right. He’s young but he’s sharp, honest, hardworking. And older than Gary and I were when we started the company.”
“Didn’t you say Emma wanted in at the construction company, too?”
“Yes. Who would have ever thought she would be interested? But she said it’s been her dream since she was a girl, when her dad used to take her to jobsites.
I don’t expect I will step away completely but I would love to hand over the day-to-day operations to her and Bryce.
Their hearts are in it. Mine has never really been. ”
“Your heart has always wanted to run a bookstore.”
She laughed. “Yes. I guess that’s it.”
“Well, when the bookstore is done, I know a local author you might be able to talk into doing a few events there.”
Her face lit up. “Would you, even though you hate book signings?”
“I don’t hate book signings. Even if I did, though, I would still do them at The Rainy Day Bookshop for you.”
Of course, he might require a few concessions from the bookstore owner in his rider, like more of her intoxicating kisses,
but he decided this might not be the best time to let her know his conditions.
“That would be fantastic,” she exclaimed. “I’m going to hold you to it.”
They watched the sunlight on the water and Andrew found himself more at peace than he could remember being in a long time.
When he had packed up his children and his life and moved here to Wood Briar, he wanted to leave behind the sadness and pain
of losing Tracy, losing their house.
He had found so much more than he ever would have imagined.
“Speaking of Emma and Bryce, I haven’t had a chance to tell you the biggest news of the day,” she said.
“Bigger than your bookstore catching on fire?”
“A million times bigger! Emma stayed overnight at his place after the fire. This morning Olive and I went to pick her up and
guess what? They were kissing on the porch to say goodbye.”
“Does that mean Emma is more likely to stay in town?”
“I think so. It’s better than I ever dreamed. I always thought they would be perfect together, but I never thought they would
see that, too. She was glowing this morning. I wish you could have seen her.”
Andrew found her enthusiasm for her daughter’s happiness utterly charming. It was one more thing that drew him to Rosie—her
capacity for joy, even in the face of adversity.
“That’s wonderful news,” he said. “I’m happy for Emma and Bryce. And for you, too. I can see how much it means to you.”
Rosie’s eyes sparkled. “It does. After everything that’s happened, seeing Emma so happy? It’s like a rainbow after a storm.”
She was a remarkable woman. Despite losing her husband and putting her own dreams on hold for years, Rosie still found so
much joy in the happiness of others. It was one of the things he admired most about her.
“Dad, can we fly the kite now?” Finn called out.
He looked over to see the three children struggling with the colorful kite shaped like a jellyfish that he had picked up before
they came down to the beach.
“You got it, kiddo,” Andrew replied, standing up. He turned to Rosie. “Care to join us? I have to admit, I’m not much of an
expert at kite flying.”
Rosie laughed, her green eyes dancing. “Well, you’re in luck. I happen to be a kite-flying champion. Come on. I’ll show you
all my tricks.”
“Not all of them, I hope. Save a few for later, when the kids aren’t with us,” he murmured.
She laughed outright at that, exactly as he hoped. “You are incorrigible, Andrew Morgan.”
No one had ever called him that before. He decided he liked it.
They walked over to the children and Rosie took charge, showing them all how to hold the kite and when to release it, letting
out more string from the spool. Andrew watched in admiration as she patiently guided them, her natural warmth and kindness
shining through.
When it was Andrew’s turn, Rosie stood close beside him, her hand gently guiding his on the kite string. “Like this,” she
said softly, and together they sent the kite soaring into the sky.
As they stood side by side, watching the kite dance on the wind, Andrew couldn’t help thinking what a good team they made.
The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in brilliant oranges and pinks. The children cheered as the kite swooped and
soared above them, their laughter carried on the sea breeze.
Andrew glanced at Rosie, her face aglow in the fading sunlight, and felt a surge of hope for the future. He didn’t know exactly
where this journey with Rosie would lead, but he knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, he wanted to face them with her.
As if sensing his gaze, Rosie turned to him with a soft smile. “Thank you for today, Andrew. For everything.”
He reached out and squeezed her hand gently. “Anytime,” he replied, his voice filled with warmth and promise.
They stood hand in hand, watching the kite and the children, basking in the simple joy. And as the sun dipped below the horizon,
Andrew was certain this was the beginning of something beautiful.