Chapter 60
Chapter Sixty
J anuary brought snow to Evers Hollow. Snowflakes fluttered against the windows of the bookstore like confetti. The children in attendance sat on their chairs, talking and waiting.
They quieted as Alec came up the few stairs to the stage to introduce her. Usually, they started a few minutes late. Tonight, though, her reading began on time.
Rose looked out on the crowd often as she read, smiling at the occasional child who met her gaze.
It was habit. The pair of eyes she most wished to see was absent, like every time before.
Finn was on shift. There had been no way for him to get out of it.
A doctor on leave, one out sick. There had been a list of reasons.
There would be other books, other readings. She’d waited this long. Another book wouldn’t matter.
She continued reading aloud.
“I can’t see the paw prints anymore,” said Jed.
Ruby studied the ground. “We’ve lost the trail. We should go back to our bicycles, to the path where we found the paw prints. Look for more clues.”
Jed folded his arms. “We need to eat.”
“Lunch is in my bicycle basket. We’ll eat and then look for clues.”
They ran back to their bicycles. Her basket was empty.
Jed said, “Oh no! Someone took our lunch.”
Rose closed the book. As soon as she did, the children clapped.
Alec came up the short stairs to stand beside her. “Ready for questions?”
Rose nodded as she looked over the seated children and those standing behind the chairs. Had the audience grown? More people than she remembered stood outside the rows of chairs.
She’d known all The Elders would be here. They were four rows back, speaking amongst themselves.
She squinted. Was that Mr. Hanover in the back corner? Beside the Evers Hollow librarian? A man sat in front of them. Maybe she needed glasses. The man looked a lot like Charlie Murphy. Impossible.
Alec’s voice pulled her back. “Great. We’ll get started then.”
He turned to the crowd. “Thank you again for attending Miss Briar’s book reading. We here at Brick Wall Books are very excited to welcome her back. She’s ready to take questions now before we head upstairs for refreshments.”
Hands went into the air before Alec moved from her side.
She called on a boy wearing a backward baseball cap.
“Why is there such an ugly dog on the cover?”
Youthful voices launched into an uproar. They debated back and forth.
“He’s not ugly.”
“Is too.”
“Is not.”
Rose raised her hand for silence, then cleared her throat. “Each of you has your own opinion about the dog. There’s nothing wrong with that. I happen to think he’s cute, but he sure could use a bath.”
The crowd laughed.
A childish voice, clearly someone who’d already read the book, said, “But Rusty hates baths.”
“Can I get another question?”
A girl with long dark hair stood toward the back. One she recognized too well, Aliya. Her own niece didn’t just raise her hand, she stood atop a chair while doing it. When had she arrived? Was that Simi sitting on the chair beside her? And Broome behind them, against a bookshelf?
She blinked. A dark-haired woman stood beside Broome with a baby in her arms. She looked an awful lot like her oldest sister. Aspen hadn’t attended a reading since her first book release.
Rose glanced over at Alec. He quirked an eyebrow as if questioning if she was all right.
She cleared her throat and called on her niece. “Aliya.”
Aliya looked so delicate and innocent, but even from the small stage, she recognized the saucy look the girl wore when she was up to something. With the slightest hint of a British accent, she asked, “Are Ruby and Jed going to get married someday?”
Rose’s jaw fell open a tad. Her own niece dared to ask the one question she hated answering at every reading. It felt like a betrayal. Even now she could see the red-haired girl who’d asked the same question at the last book reading. The teenager displayed a wickedly gleeful expression on her face.
All the children were staring at her. She had to answer. But didn’t get the chance to.
Sounds of commotion came from the front of the store. Those standing parted and shifted, as if stepping aside for someone. She spotted Finn alongside Broome, tossing off his coat, his hair unruly, melting snowflakes sparkling in its strands.
A breathy sound came through the speakers. She realized she’d been the one to make it. Finn had shown up after all.
With a teasing smile, he came forward, made his way up the stairs and whispered, “How about I take this one?”
What? She opened her mouth to speak, but he pressed one finger to her lips.
“Never mind. Don’t answer. I’ve got this.” Then he lowered his finger and winked.
What the hell was going on?
All she could do was stare at him. It was much the same for the audience. Heads turned this way and that as if they too wondered what was going on. Snowflakes continued to fall outside, but she still seemed to be the only one who noticed.
Aliya remained standing on her chair, Broome now behind her. She patiently waited for the answer to her question.
Had Finn just nudged her over, so he was centered at the podium? Nothing like this had ever happened before.
His voice trembled through the microphone. He sounded off a bit, gravelly even. “Can you repeat your question again?”
With her prominent, saucy grin, Aliya yelled. “Are Ruby and Jed getting married someday?”
He cleared his throat and glanced at her. Did she really have a choice? Maybe he would have a better answer. Rose gave him a slight nod.
Finn appeared to think about it for a moment before he spoke. “Ruby and Jed. They’re what—twelve years old in this book?”
Many in the audience nodded in agreement.
“A little young to think about marriage.”
Exactly! At least his answer was consistent with hers.
But he went on. “Who knows what will happen as they get older?”
What was he doing? She reached out and curled her fingers on his forearm in warning.
Finn kept talking. “This is the first time I’ve been to one of these. Do adults get to ask questions, too?”
More nods. What was he up to? She tried to nudge him, but he stayed put.
The red-headed teenager, Colette, stood and frowned. “Who are you?”
Finn didn’t miss a beat. “I’m a friend of Miss Briar’s. I have a question for her.”
Broome’s second oldest, Aliya, made her way to the stage, carrying a book. Mara followed close behind, hiding something behind her back.
Up the steps they came. Mara stumbled into her, holding up a bouquet of pink carnations to her. “For you. Pink.”
Aliya handed the book to Finn. Both her nieces stepped to the side of the stage.
Finn stepped back from the podium, faced her, and asked, “Will you sign this for me?”
She looked down at the book in his hand. It was a copy of her latest in hardback. Dust jacket pristine as if it had just come fresh from a box.
A murmur went through the crowd. She heard the comments.
“Not fair.”
“Who does he think he is?”
“He should have to stand in line.”
And these were from nine to fourteen-year-olds.
Finn said one word. “Please.” He held the book out.
She looked at him and found herself caught. There was something in those caramel brown eyes she hadn’t seen before. Along with the shadows below him. He’d worked multiple shifts this past week. Night ones. He should be sleeping. But he was here. For her.
She glanced at the podium—no pen. They were at her table upstairs in the loft.
She felt a nudge on her elbow. Alec. Holding out an ink pen.
With murmured thanks, she took it.
Then held her hand out for the book. He handed it to her. She opened the cover.
And froze.
In the middle of the page, a small square had been carved out. Inside, within folds of pink velvet sat a beautiful ring. Silver rose petals surrounded the diamond in the middle.
It stole her breath. She looked at him, unable to even open her mouth to speak.
Finn no longer stood beside her. He knelt on one knee in front of her.
He winked. “I have another question.”
“Criminy.”
The word carried through the microphone. Giggles and laughter came back from the crowd. Her nieces were laughing, too.
“Evie, will you marry me?”
“Yes.”
He rose quickly and lifted the ring out of the book. Her hands shook as he clasped them in his and slipped the ring on her finger.
Cheers and applause erupted in front of them.
Finn pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Then kissed her again.
Alec cleared his throat.
When they separated, her hand lifted to his face, resting against his jaw. “I love you, Finn Murphy.”
He kissed her again. “I love you back.”
Surrounded by cheers and congratulations, Rose couldn’t help but grin when she heard a familiar redhead yell, “I knew it!”