Chapter 20
Present day
Gray glanced at the clock—closing time—then back to the screen that confirmed more bad news. He heaved a sigh and pushed back
from the computer.
Between customers today Shelby had ordered sideline products, including literary-themed clothing. In the afternoon she’d begun
going through the store’s shelves, eliminating books that weren’t selling and reducing inventory of less popular genres. The
office now housed boxes full of books to be returned. Slowly but surely, she was making space on the shelves.
His goal was not only to allow room for more profitable products but also to reduce the overall cluttered appearance of the
store. Walking into an overcrowded space could make customers feel overwhelmed. Still, he saw these changes were difficult
for her. He wished he could do something to soften the blow.
Dog approached, tail wagging, as if he sensed it was time to go. Gray opened the door and the dog bolted out and charged up
the back staircase. By the time Gray reached the top, Dog had found Shelby, who was tidying up the Children’s section.
He glanced around the shop on the way over. “You got a lot done today.”
“I had Janet come in to help with customers so I could focus on decluttering.”
“I wondered why there were three of you.” Though there were really only two as Haley seemed to just drift around the store
doing as little as possible.
Shelby squatted to give the dog the affection he practically begged for, then glanced up at Gray. “What’s wrong?”
“Why do you think something’s wrong?”
Shelby rose to her feet with a heavy sigh. “Just tell me.”
“I looked back in Viola’s records. Things had been fairly stable for years, though not very profitable. Then the roof failed
and business slacked off. The economy took a toll. You were right about that equity loan. Five years ago there was a forty-thousand-dollar
deposit into the account, and shortly thereafter, a check in the same amount was written to Home Guard Exteriors.”
Her expression fell. “Now on top of everything else, I owe my brother forty grand.”
“He might not see it that way.”
“We all assumed he inherited the house free and clear. Gram and Pop paid it off years ago.”
“And you thought you’d inherited a thriving bookshop. This isn’t your fault.”
She pressed her fingertips to her temples. “I hate this.”
Dog caught sight of Chaucer across the room and charged after the cat with a happy yap.
Chaucer screeched as he scrambled away, then leaped onto a high shelf out of Dog’s reach. He turned and perched on the edge,
head low, back arched, peering at the dog with a predatory gleam in his eyes.
Dog let out a bark, his entire back end wagging.
Chaucer hissed.
“Hey, be nice,” Shelby said. “He just wants to play with you.”
The dog was lonely for friends and the cat was wary of someone new and intimidating. “Kind of reminds me of us when we met.”
Her gaze darted to him.
Oops. He hadn’t meant to say that out loud—even if it was true.
“Am I the dog or the cat in this scenario?”
He smirked, remembering those early days. “As I recall, you didn’t exactly put out the welcome mat for me.”
“I was never mean to you.”
“No, maybe just a little... standoffish.”
“You were arrogant and irritating.”
He’d been insecure and hopelessly attracted to her. “Even so, we managed to become friends.”
She snorted. “Is that what you call it?” She shelved a board book someone had left out while his mind went back to all the
ways they’d been so much more than friends. Like the way her eyes used to soften just before he kissed her. The way she seemed
to melt under his touch. When she fell into his arms, he felt like the luckiest guy in the world.
“I don’t want to talk about the past. We have plenty of work right here in the present to keep us busy.”
He blinked away the sweet memories. This thing between them was like an invisible force field. He, too, wanted to put the
past where it belonged, but at the very least he needed to apologize. He’d tried to be patient because she’d been dealing
with so much, but they’d be working closely for weeks.
“We’ll need to be on the same team now more than ever. And I can tell you’re still angry about what I did.”
“Well, Gray, you up and left me after making certain promises.”
He absorbed that accusation. “I did. You deserved more from me. I should’ve told you what I was planning. I’m sorry I didn’t.”
“Should’ve told me? We should’ve had a discussion about it.”
“You’re right.” He swallowed hard. “I never meant to hurt you, Shelby.”
She spared him a glance. “Why do people always say that? Intention or no, it still had the same effect. Did you ever consider
my feelings even once?”
At the end of his senior year, frustration and helplessness had welled up inside like a toxic plume. “I honestly didn’t know
what else to do. I was just a stupid kid. I didn’t know I’d lose you. I didn’t know you’d hate me for it.”
She whirled on him. “I didn’t hate you. I loved you, you idiot. I thought you loved me too.”
He took a step toward her, then stopped when she stiffened. “I did . I did, Shelby. I thought— I don’t know, I thought you’d—”
“Just sit around Grandville waiting for you to return—or not return at all?”
He winced. Yeah, he’d been a dumb kid. Because basically, yes, he’d expected her to just get on board with his plans. And
he’d given little thought to the actual danger he might be facing. “You’re right. I didn’t consider your feelings at all.
I was thoughtless and you didn’t deserve that. I soon regretted my selfish decision when you wouldn’t take my calls.”
“Can you blame me?”
Yep, he’d been an idiot all right. There was really nothing more he could say for himself. It would only sound like excuses
anyway. “I’m sorry. I wish I could do things over. I’d do them differently.”
She gathered a stack of books and faced him, a deep breath making her shoulders rise and fall. “I appreciate your saying so.
But I don’t want to talk about this anymore. It’s in the past and I’ve moved on. I’m grateful you’re staying to help. That
means a lot. But can we please put this away for good? Please. ”
He didn’t feel much better about it than he had a few minutes ago. In fact, he felt even worse. But pushing her wouldn’t be fair. And it sure wouldn’t do any good. He’d apologized. There was nothing more he could do. “If that’s what you want.”
“Great. I’ll put these in the office with the other returns, then we’re done for the day.”
Shelby was shaking as she turned the Closed sign. She watched Gray walk down the sidewalk toward his SUV. Why did that stupid
breakup haunt her so many years later?
So she’d had her tender little heart broken. So what? It happened to just about everyone. She’d finally gotten that apology
she’d been waiting for all these years, but instead of feeling better, she felt as if he’d just ripped off a fresh scab.
“You know why, Sweet Girl.”
Shelby gave a deep sigh. All that therapy hadn’t been for nothing. So, yes, Gray’s sudden exit had reawakened all those feelings
of abandonment from her mother’s departure. But she was over all that now. She’d worked through the feelings and come out
the other side.
Gray was sorry. She was ready to move on. She was moving on—with Logan. Maybe he wasn’t as exciting as Gray, maybe his touch didn’t exactly set her on fire. But it was nice.
Comfortable. Worthwhile. Shelby would not be like her mom, blowing off something good for the hope of something better.
She and Logan could have a wonderful future together.
“Shelby Shackleford?” Gram’s voice again.
Can’t win ’em all, Gram.
She checked her watch. Maybe she could catch Caleb and Liddy at home. Shelby had to come clean with them about that equity
loan.
Twenty minutes later she made herself comfortable in Dad’s living room. Her dad was out with friends and Liddy was at the grocery store. Ollie was sound asleep in the Pack ’n Play and ESPN blared from the TV.
Caleb used the remote to turn it down, then settled in the chair across from her. “What’s up?”
“A lot has happened in the past few days. I’m not sure how much Liddy has told you.”
“I know the store’s not doing as well as you thought—and that Gray’s sticking around to ‘help.’”
She’d ignore the tone he used on that last part. “‘Not doing well’ doesn’t quite cover it. I’m in arrears with the rent and
there’s practically nothing in the account. The situation’s fairly dire.”
“How do you even know that’s true? Just because Gray said so?”
“He’s a competent accountant. He showed me the books, went over the numbers.”
Caleb shoved his glasses into place. “I don’t trust him.”
“Well, I do—at least with this.” Her heart was an entirely different matter.
“If I were you, I’d hire someone else to do an audit.”
“With what money? And anyway, I don’t need another audit. He wouldn’t lie to me about this. He wants Gram’s store to succeed.”
Caleb leaned back in his seat, seeming to shrug it off. “It’s your store. You’re going to do what you want.”
“I wish you could let go of the past.”
“I wish you could see he’s still into you.”
She rolled her eyes. “This is about Gram’s business and nothing more. But I’m not here to discuss all that. I found out where
that equity loan went. The store had a roof leak back then. Gram used that money for repairs.”
“ Forty grand ? For a leaky roof?”
“Believe it or not. It was pretty far gone by the time we discovered it. I have the receipt.”
“Okay, well, at least that explains the mystery.”
He didn’t seem to understand. “Caleb, you were supposed to get the house and I was supposed to get the bookshop. And now the
bookshop owes you forty thousand dollars. I can’t pay it back right now, but—”
“ Whoa. Hold up. You don’t owe me anything, Shel.”
“I actually do. You should talk it over with Liddy.”
“Please. As if she’d disagree. This house is worth a ton of money, and if it’s true that the bookstore’s in the red, you’re the one who got the short stick here, not me.”
“Still...”
“No way. I’m not taking any money from you.” He shook his head. “In fact, if the store’s truly in jeopardy, we could take
out another equity loan to help you get things—”
“Absolutely not. This house belongs to you and Liddy. That’s what Gram wanted.”
“I wish you’d reconsider.” He gave her a wry look. “The accountant and the equity loan.”
“I’m comfortable with both decisions. So I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree.”