Chapter 1 #2
“Ms. Cartwright’s been gunning for you ever since her own father had a soft spot for you.”
I purse my lips. “I haven’t lived in Cornwall in six years. Why now?”
“It might have something to do with her father passing away in the winter.”
I grew up with a roof over my head and a half-full family that loved me.
But dad wasn’t around, and the local library was my sanctuary.
I still remember the first day I met Nicholas Cartwright for the first time.
He found me crying in between the bookshelves over my mother refusing to give money for the ice cream truck.
Since then, he’s been there for me. When he passed…
Let’s say I never knew how grief felt until it melted in my very hands.
“I went to his funeral,” I say solemnly. “He was a great man.”
Nadine squeezes my hand. “That greatness didn’t extend onto his daughter.”
While Nicholas owned the library, Ms. Cartwright, his now forty-eight-year-old daughter, took care of it. She smelled like sadness and overripe guavas.
When Ms. Cartwright rolled around with her cart full of books and colour coordinated them, I fixed them. It made more sense to organize books based on popularity. Except, I always put the least popular at the top.
She hated it. Complained to my mother multiple times—who threw the responsibility on Nadine—who didn’t know what to do. Instead of punishing me, she reorganized the books after every visit.
That’s how she’s always been.
If I make a mess, she cleans it up.
If I do something wrong, she makes it right.
“Has Cathy been treating you well?”
Nadine’s looking at me with those discerning eyes of hers. Brown eyes swallowed by the line of redness. Her sharp, yet soft features relax as she speaks. Her smile widening and the slightest dimple below her left eye appears.
I memorize her because I’m not sure when I’ll see her again after this. Probably when she gives birth.
“Cathy who?” I ask.
Her brows pinch together. “Cathy, the girl who helped you get the job as a book editor at Berkenlin Publishing?”
Oh, that Cathy. From the job I quit after four weeks two and a half years ago, and Nadine still doesn’t know. “She’s good.”
She gives me an odd look, but the knock at the window steals our attention.
Easton stands outside with a tray of Tim Hortons iced cappuccinos. He’s smiling, bending down to look in and waves. His brown waves are brushed neatly back and his thick beard scruffs against his smile.
For a lack of better words, Easton is a big teddy bear.
Nadine opens the door and smiles lovingly at her husband. “You didn’t have to.”
He presses a quick kiss to her lips. “I did. You’ve been avoiding me all morning and gave me the stink eye when I said cuddles later.”
Nadine gives him another kiss.
I clear my throat. “Not that I want to interrupt your sweet love fest thing here, but I’d rather not gauge my eyes out.”
They pull apart.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the criminal of the hour.” Easton hands me one of the iced capps .
“That’s not funny.”
He chuckles. “How are you holding up, kiddo?”
The nickname pierces a wide hole in my chest. I’ll be sixty and he’ll still call me kiddo.
Sticking the paper straw in the drink, I mix it around. “Been better but doing good enough.”
“At least you weren’t sentenced to prison.”
He looks at Nadine and whatever silent conversation they have makes his eyes widen. “Oh shit, you were?”
I forgo stopping when the brain freeze hits me. Instead, welcoming the pain and hoping I die from this. “Only if I don’t pay the fee within six months?—”
“—Which I will,” I add quickly.
Nadine turns to look at me. “If you need the money–”
“I don’t,” I reply. “I have it under control.” I might need to beg people to hire me and possibly sacrifice my health for a while, but I can have it in control.
“Nadine’s right, Nova. If you need our help…”
That’s why I’m not asking. “I know.”
Nadine silently watches me before taking a sip of her own drink. She bleghs at it. “What the heck is this?”
“Iced capp without caffeine,” Easton puffs his chest out like he’s happy to be the next name on her murder list.
“And why is it in my hand?”
“Because you’ve had enough caffeine today.”
“I hate you.”
“You’ll love me again when you find out I reserved a table at your favourite restaurant tonight.”
Nadine gasps. “You didn’t!”
“I did.” He looks at me, “And I reserved three seats.”
Nadine snaps around to plead with me. “You have to come.”
I glance between both of them, my palms turning sweaty. The more time I spend in their presence, the more I need to lie, and I actually, genuinely, horrifyingly am terrible at it. “I’d love to, but I have a meeting with an… author.”
Nadine visibly sinks in her seat and Easton nods in understanding while rubbing a hand on her shoulder. “That’s okay,” he smiles. “Some other time then.”
Biting the inside of my cheek, I stop twirling around the terrible excuse of a straw. “I should go. Thanks for today and for the iced capp, big bro.”
“Anytime, kiddo.”
“Can we drop you somewhere?” Nadine asks but I shake my head .
“Sunny’s waiting for me in her car, I’ll talk to you later.”
When I open the door, Nadine grabs my arm. “I love you, baby girl.”
My chest constricts. The Tagalog word for older sister sits on my tongue. “I love you too, Ate .”