Chapter 20
Elias
It’s amazing how much two people can accomplish with light and air conditioning.
The past three days since the power came back on, me and Nora have fully thrown ourselves into getting Goldie’s cottage in order.
Now that we’re making incredible progress, and the grief has been gently moved behind us, I know we’re both eager to get this house in shape.
But, the sooner that happens, the sooner she leaves.
I don’t like that reminder. It keeps popping up, especially after we cross things off Nora’s ta-da list and things off my to-do list. Anxiety is my friend now and stays coiled in my gut ready to strike.
“She needs a new spice rack,” Nora says, finger tapping her chin as she inspects the kitchen space.
“Does Dad need to build one when he comes?”
“No,” Nora says slowly. “I think we could find a used one or something antique. I saw a shop that first day I came here. The Attic on Whirr. You think they’d have something like that?”
I nod slowly. “It’s likely.”
“Do you have beef with them, too?” she teases. “I’m still bummed I can’t go to the bookstore.”
A chuckle bubbles out of me. “You can go to Preening Pages. I just don’t like the Harkers. You might like them just fine. My brother has no problem with them.”
She rushes over to me and grabs my hand. “I have an idea.”
“Should I be worried?”
“Yes.” She beams at me. “We can take a break from this hard work. Sightsee a little bit.”
I groan, knowing what’s coming. “You’re going to make me go in there, huh?”
“For me?” She bats her eyelashes at me. “Please?”
My stomach twists. I’m not immune to her sweet begging. Quite frankly, everything she does lately has an impact on me. I’m still trying to decide if I like it or not. It’s unfamiliar, that’s for dang sure.
You’re getting attached man. Not cool.
Do I put some distance between us?
Nope.
“Get ready. We can grab lunch at The Icehouse first.”
Her squeal of excitement undoes me.
I’m in trouble.
“How are Silas’s onion rings not a worldwide wonder?” Nora asks as we walk close enough our arms brush against each other. “Foodie magazines have missed a hidden gem.”
“I think he prefers it that way,” I say with a laugh. “It’s bad enough the BudgieFest people know about it. Each year they keep multiplying.”
If BudgieFest didn’t bring in so much revenue each year for the local businesses, we’d have all probably voted to stop it decades ago. But I think that’s how the locals feel about tourist season no matter where you live.
“Yo,” Huck says as he pops out of The Maple Millet Table, a crooked grin on his face. “What’s up, Cove Man? Mom said you had a new woman.”
I shoot him a withering look. He just sniggers and runs across Wing Whirr Way back to Baked & Brewed.
“Just like his momma,” I grumble under my breath.
Nora smirks at me. “There’s something charming about this meddling town.”
Let it be noted that neither of us denied Nora being my new woman. I don’t know what to make of that.
“He’s always running out of this place,” Nora says as we continue walking. “He must really love eating there.”
“Nah,” I say with a shake of my head. “Since his mother doesn’t like the guy who runs BirdBrought, she refuses to add her business to it.
They offer their own delivery service at Baked & Brewed.
Basically, it’s just Hattie barking out addresses for Huck to take coffee too.
He messes up a lot, but he’s just a teenager, so he gets away with it. ”
She stops at Wild Petal to smell some flowers in one of the buckets. “You know everything about everyone.”
“Kind of hard not to around here. The town chirps all the time like an enormous flock of budgies in the wild. I hear things whether I want to or not.”
As she walks away, I shove a five-dollar bill into the mail slot at Wild Petal and pluck the flower Nora was smelling out of the bucket. We’re almost to The Attic on Whirr when I hand it to her.
“Did you steal that?” She asks as she absently breaks off most of the stem. “Bad boy.”
I smirk. “Got it the honest way. My best friend is the sheriff. No stealing on my watch.”
She tucks the flower in her hair behind her ear. Now, when I get close, I can smell the floral scent mixed with her shampoo. It’s nice. Really nice.
“Oh, wow,” Nora says as the bell jingles over her head. “Has this place always been here because, if so, Grandma never took me here.”
“It’s been here for about eight years,” I say as I follow her inside. “They used to be out near the winery before they jumped on this coveted location. Trust in the Cove Realty took over their old place.”
It was certainly better suited for my mom’s business than a growing antique story.
The Attic on Whirr’s current location is two stories high and bigger than most of the other building around here.
The sisters who own it have managed to stuff every single crevice in the place full of treasures they’ve accumulated over the years.
It’s a little musty smelling and the dust can be intense at times, but it’s fun sifting through treasures of the past.
Which is exactly what we do.
We spend at least two hours combing every part of that store.
The spice rack remains elusive, but Nora was able to find a shelving unit that can be repurposed.
She found a nice quilt for her grandma’s bed and a few other items for decorating.
By the time I fetch the truck and we load it up, we’re both in need of a rest.
“Bookstore time?” she asks, bouncing on her toes outside of the truck.
“I guess,” I grumble. “Can we get a coffee first? My reward for being a good sport?”
“Absolutely.”
When she grabs my hand, I stiffen. It’s warm and so small and soft. She does it so easily as if it’s the most natural thing to do. Me on the other hand? I am not used to this. The last girl’s hand I held was probably in high school. To say I don’t get out much and date is an understatement.
She tugs me across Wing Whirr Way over to Baked & Brewed. They’re pretty busy, so there’s no time for Hattie gossip. Once we’ve grabbed our coffees to go, we exit the chaos of the coffee shop and make our way next door to Preening Pages.
“If you don’t want to go in,” she says softly, eyes growing serious, “we don’t have to. I was teasing about your beef with the Harkers but based on what my grandma had to say about them, it was warranted. I just really love bookstores. It’s how I met Kayla.”
As much as I don’t enjoy mingling with Harkers, I do like seeing Nora smile. If books make her happy, I’ll swallow my pride and discomfort.
“I’ll be fine,” I assure her. “Come on. Let’s go.”
I climb up the steps to the front door and then pull it open for Nora. Her cheeks turn a cute shade of pink as she passes, mumbling her thanks. I’m not sure why holding a door open for her makes her act all weird, but I hope to find out one day.
It’s quiet in the bookstore which is nice considering it was straight insanity next door at the coffee shop.
There are people shopping, but they’re mostly locals I know or recognize.
The people who come here for BudgieFest are mostly interested in the budgies and any sort of merch they can remember this place by.
“What do you like to read?” I ask as we both stop to look at a table up front covered with thrillers.
“Not these,” she says and then squints as she looks around. “I like romance.”
When I arch an eyebrow at her, her cheeks blaze pink again. She rolls her eyes at me which has me grinning.
“At least I read.” She makes a sour face at me.
“I read,” I argue. “Cereal boxes in the kitchen. Shampoo bottles when I’m in the bathroom. Road signs when I’m driving.”
She shakes her head at me as if I’m too corny for her. It makes me chuckle.
All laughter dies down, though, when I see Clementine Harker pop up from behind a bookshelf. Our eyes meet and she regards me coldly. It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell Nora I’m going to sit in the truck, but she doesn’t let me get there.
“Hi,” Nora says, offering her a wave. “I’m new around here. Do you have any romance novels?”
Clementine, sensing a paying customer in her midst, turns up the charm and grins at her. “Extensive selection,” she says, motioning for Nora to follow her. “What do you like? I’m sure we have something for everyone.”
“I really like grumpy/sunshine books and enemies-to-lovers. You have any of those?”
I perk up because even though I don’t know what that exactly entails, I feel like it gives me hope for us.
For us?
Have you lost your mind, Elias?
She. Is. Leaving.
What part of “don’t get attached” are you not understanding?
“Yes,” Clementine all but shrieks. “In fact, I know just the author who kills it every time.”
Nora eagerly trails after her. I prowl behind them, hoping to keep my dislike for Clementine at bay long enough for Nora to get some recommendations.
When we reach another round table filled with books, Clementine picks up one and thrusts it at Nora. “You have to read this author. She is so good.”
Nora bursts out laughing. Clementine shoots me a confused look and all I can do is shrug. I’m not exactly skilled at understanding Nora Everhart. She’s still a mystery to me.
“Sorry,” Nora says, still chuckling. “This is Kayla Washington. She’s my best friend.”
Clementine frowns. “Funny.”
“No, seriously.” Nora hands me her coffee and the book back to Clementine. Then she fishes out her phone. Seconds later, she has a photo pulled up to show us. “See?”
Clementine shakes her head in disbelief. “That’s photoshopped.”
I snort out a laugh that earns me a scowl from Clementine.
Nora, though, won’t be deterred. She mashes a button on her phone and then she’s FaceTiming someone. Kayla answers on the second ring.
“Just the girl I needed to talk to. This book is killing me—OH MY SWEET LORD IN HEAVEN LOOK AT THAT BOOKSTORE!”
Clementine freezes, mouth hanging open like a fish gasping for air.
“Kayla,” Nora says with a cheesy grin, “meet Clementine. She works here at Preening Pages.”
“Hi,” Clementine croaks out. “Uh, I’m a huge fan.”
“Prove it,” Kayla rushes out. “Do you have any of my book quotes tattooed on you?”
“Kayla,” Nora says with a groan. “Leave her alone.”
I bite back a chuckle. Kayla is intense.
“Actually,” Clementine says, twisting her arm to show us the underside of it. “This was from your third book. The dedication.”
Kayla preens—which is fitting since we’re at Preening Pages—as Clementine gushes over her books. Nora is still frozen in shock that Clementine has her best friend’s words tattooed on her body. Not going to lie…it shocked me too.
“As soon as I finish this deadline,” Kayla tells Clementine, “I’m coming out to see my boo thang right there. Miss her face. Maybe the three of us could have coffee.”
“I’d love that,” Clementine murmurs. “Thank you for talking to me.”
They end the call and Clementine smiles, though somewhat dazed.
“Sorry I didn’t believe you,” she tells Nora. “That’s a cool flex.”
“When she comes to visit, she’ll do a signing event here, too if you want. I know my girl. She loves to talk about her stories.”
I’m pretty sure Clementine stops breathing at that point.
While Clementine gushes over how cool that would be, and that it’s basically like a “bucket list” thing for her, I turn my attention on Nora.
She’s pretty.
It’s her smile. The way it lights up her eyes and colors her cheeks. It’s infectious.
I have a sinking realization.
I don’t want her to leave.