Chapter 14
Seventh Week of Faire
“You’re so beautiful,” Lilian whispered, unable to take her eyes away. Who knew such a small, simple piece of paper could be so magical?
Her fingers flipped the business card over, back to front, watching the light catch the glossy cover, giving it an impeccable shine. “Where have you been all my life?” she said, taking in the design Margo had made for her.
Ten Cents Books, the card read in big, bold letters, along with her phone number, a newly established business email, and an illustration of stacked books resting inside a dime.
It was a cute design with a professional sheen.
Finally, she had something to give people when they asked about the bookstore.
Her visit to The Pretty Pages and the success of last week had injected her with a productivity bug she couldn’t shake.
The last four days had been a fever dream.
Like a business demon had possessed her, keeping her up at all hours, day and night, getting things in order around the shop.
She’d set up a website, gotten the sales system running, ordered business cards and inventory.
She’d even given the carpet a much-needed cleaning.
The lingering smell of cigarettes no longer haunted the space.
Now the air carried a faint hint of pumpkin spice lattes, courtesy of two industrial-sized fragrance plugs.
When she’d walked in that morning with her mom, she almost hadn’t recognized the place. It looked… almost like a real bookstore.
“I can't get over it,” her mother said for the hundredth time. “It feels brand new.”
Brand new was probably an exaggeration. A wizard shop wouldn’t look new and neither did Ten Cents. But Lilian had taken down the movie posters and replaced them with some floral paintings she got at an antique shop. And the number of discarded book piles had dwindled significantly.
She put the small stack of business cards on top of the container with the inventory for the shop. Most of the day had been spent raiding the romance and fantasy section for new titles. After the success of Romance Weekend, she was in desperate need.
Her fingers lingered on the lid where she could see the cover of a paperback on full display.
A woman in a ripped dress swooning into the arms of a pirate rogue, the perfect thing for the upcoming Pirate Weekend.
She’d also thrown in some history books on pirates and the Tudors, to fit the theme of the faire.
Thoughtfully curating the shop’s inventory made her feel like a real bookseller. Last week had been good, and she didn’t want to lose that momentum. That meant having a place people wanted to visit.
Please, let things turn around. Please, please, please.
“You’ve really done a great job here, honey.
” Her mother couldn’t stop looking at the space.
She took a seat in her usual chair behind the counter, wrapped in a shawl and clinging to an old mystery novel.
Today was a good day for her, and Lilian had been excited to show off all the new changes to the store.
Most of the upgrades received her mother’s approval. But the new iPad that served as their sales system kept getting suspicious looks. “I don't know if I'll ever understand this machine, though.”
Lilian laughed. “I know, Mom, but don’t worry, I’ll teach you. It’s really not hard.”
“Hmm.” She wrapped her blanket tighter around her shoulders, as if it were armor against the evil new machinery. “Do we really need it, though? We were doing just fine before.”
It wasn't the first time her mother had questioned their new approach of actually making money. Accounting for their sales and making sure there was a profit was not Beatrice Brody’s top concern.
But they weren’t doing fine before. Hawk could attest to that.
Beatrice looked at the shelves of Harlequins on full display. “The store is mostly romance and fantasy now.”
“Those genres sell better, Mom. When I was organizing everything, it sort of happened that way.”
“Don’t worry, hon, I’m not mad.” Her mother flashed a small but encouraging smile. “In fact, I’m very proud. You’ve really turned this place into your own while I was away.”
“I mean, it’s still yours.” She’d never meant to take it away from her mother. It was a project, something she needed to care for and maybe improve on while her mother recovered. “I organized it a little. And aligned it with a business plan.”
“Business plan?” Her mother laughed as if it were a theoretical term rather than the first thing every business owner should have. “You think we need a business plan?”
Hawk would have a heart attack if he ever met her.
She barely kept the exasperation out of her voice, but it was difficult. After putting so many hours into the shop, getting things set right, it stung that her mother didn’t trust her on this. If her mother decided she didn’t like the way things were going, she could stop it all. And then what?
The thought threatened to open a whole new bag of problems that she didn’t have the energy for. “Mom, trust me on this.”
Her mother put the mystery novel to the side in favor of casually flipping through the paperwork she and Hawk had compiled, her face soft in awe. “This must have taken months.”
“Only a few weeks, and we’re still doing work on it.”
Really, Hawk was. She’d asked him when they went to Manhattan how it was going, and he’d said he still needed time.
She wasn’t entirely sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
But it meant he was still talking to her.
Still stopping by the store to see the progress and pick up any stray files he might need.
“We? You mean you and that handsome young man?” Beatrice gave her a sidelong look that wasn’t sly.
Since Hawk had delivered soup to her house, her parents had been hounding her for information. She’d admitted he was a friend who was helping her with the shop. Immediately, her father assumed Hawk was some hired help, but her mother had loftier imaginings.
“Yeah,” she said, before realizing she’d agreed that Hawk was handsome.
No. Don’t go down that road.
It wasn’t that he was ugly. But he didn’t have the same traditionally good looks someone like David was gifted with. Hawk had a strong Roman nose, but it fit his face well. His ears stuck out a little, but when Lilian conjured his face up in her mind, she could only think of them as cute.
The thought of him brought up a mix of emotions. There was something between them. It didn’t have a name yet. It was still on the verge of taking form. Before, she might have called it loathing, but that wasn’t the case anymore.
Then she’d sent the text about the ball, and he didn’t respond.
It was a stupid question. Why had she even asked? In all the years she’d attended, she’d never once seen Hawk at the ball. It wasn’t his scene, and she knew that.
“How is the faire going?”
“The faire has been a great help,” she explained. “It’s clearing the shelves for more inventory. By the way, what did you think of the inventory list I sent to you?”
“I didn’t know everything on it, but I like the new direction we’re going. If your handsome young advisor thinks this is the way to do things, I trust the two of you.” Her mom nodded. “I want to make sure you’re not overdoing it, honey.”
Overdoing it?
She was proud of the work she’d accomplished. It hadn’t been easy, and she was exhausted, but she'd done it.
She was running two bookshops at once.
Okay, so Ten Cents Books was just now getting back on its feet. And even though Bodice and Brawn wouldn't be a permanent venture, she was still damn proud of it.
Her phone chirped to life, letting her know of a new text. Her heart made a funny flip all the way into her throat, still hopeful to see Hawk’s nickname on her screen. Instead, it was the girl chat lighting up.
Pirate Queen Alex
Girls! I’m having a party at my house tonight. COME NOW!
Margo
Alex, I’m an educator. And a responsible adult. I need more notification than the night of.
Pirate Queen Alex
I have free booze.
Pirate Queen Alex
Like the good kind! Not the cheap shit undergrads drink.
Pirate Queen Alex
See? I’m a responsible adult as well. :)
Margo
Aleeex! I wish I could but it’s seven o’clock. I’m about to get in my pjs and watch Man vs. Woman.
Lilian’s eyes widened. Sure enough, it was seven. The fall weather meant it was getting darker earlier, throwing off her sense of time. These days, she was used to working late in the store. But her mom wasn’t. They probably needed to get home soon.
I’m going to have to pass, too. I’m closing up the bookstore now.
Margo
What!
Pirate Queen Alex
…or a parrrrtyyyy?!?
I’m good.
Pirate Queen Alex
Guys, come on! It’s going to be all faire folk. We hit the halfway mark! It’s our annual celebration!
Margo
Wait, annual? Why is this the first time we’re hearing about it?
Pirate Queen Alex
:X
Pirate Queen Alex
Look, you both have reason to celebrate. The show did well. The shop had a good weekend. You’ve put lots of time into your craft. Now get DRUNK!
Lilian bit her lip. It did sound like fun.
And Alex raised a good point. Plus, others from the faire would be there.
It had been a long time since she’d been to a house party.
Or any party really. Since finding out her mother’s diagnosis, it had been difficult to get out to have fun. The faire season was the first time.
Her mom was eyeing her, a knowing smile tilting her lips. “Is that him?”
“No, it’s the girls.” She’d almost forgotten they’d been talking about Hawk. But she still felt as if she’d been caught red-handed thinking about the man. “They’re getting together with some people from the faire.”
“Are you going to join them?”
“I don’t know. It’s late, and we should get home.”