EMBER #2
My heart drops. I don’t know if it's relief or fear that I should be feeling, but it’s definitely a mix of the two emotions. Maybe it is all just too much and he’s finally taken off, leaving me alone. It’s wishful thinking, honestly. I don’t like thinking about the alternative.
“What can we do from here?” I ask, because this is unknown territory.
“Well,” Officer Ulrich says with a disheartening tone this time, “our options are limited at this point.” I understand it. I really do. “We can continue visiting his home, attempt to serve him with the protection order,” he says. “But we are limited beyond that.”
“And if I see him near me or my home before you serve him?” I ask, not sure what my own options are for my protection.
“If you see him, call the cops, and try not to raise his awareness that you have spotted him,” he tells me. “Just because we haven’t served him, doesn’t mean he’s not still a threat to your safety.”
I let him know that I’ll call the cops if I see him around, be aware of my surroundings, and all that good stuff before hanging up the call.
I make the rest of the short drive to the bookshop and pull into the employee spot.
I sit there for just a moment, wondering what’s next for me.
I hate that my days seem to be spent with me looking over my shoulder, in a constant state of fear and worry.
I get to the front door of the shop, unlock the door, and push inside. The smell that welcomes me is my own personal brand of comfort and home. Old book pages, leather, and oil. I flip on the lights, and turn the lock over since it’s not time to open up yet.
I walk to the back of the store and put my stuff on the back desk, depositing my snacks into the mini-fridge.
I have about thirty minutes before my book delivery is set to be here.
Once that arrives, I'll have SKUs to do, and inventory to submit into our POS system. I’ll be able to get some done before the store opens, but the rest is easy enough that I can do it throughout the day.
It’s Thursday, so it won’t be too busy, which is why I usually schedule my book deliveries for today. I am typically able to get inventory logged, and make a few sales, and can often close up early.
I hear my phone buzz on the counter, and I see Harley’s name on the screen.
HARLEY
Be by with the copy of the key around noon, beautiful.
I smile to myself. I’ve never loved anyone enough to even consider moving in with them.
I always thought that was something big in a relationship, and all of my relationships after Dean were menial.
I was too scared to love. I feel like I should feel more scared or nervous now, but no part of me feels afraid of this next step in life together.
I continue my opening ritual of the store, and get some books moved around to make room for the new releases coming in. I don’t even realize how much time has passed when I hear a knock on the front door. I look over and see my delivery man, Matt, at the door. He has a dolly loaded with boxes.
“Sorry, Matt.” I rush over to unlock and push the door open. “ I thought I had more time before you’d be here.”
“We have a pretty slow day,” Matt says as he pushes the dolly through the doorway.
“Figured I could get things done early and head home to the ole’ lady.
” He unloads the boxes near the front counter before heading back towards the door.
“I’ve got about three more trips and I’ll be out of your hair, ma’am. ”
“Matt, it’s been months,” I tell him. “Please, call me Ember.” Matt’s cheeks redden.
“Yes, ma’..., Ember,” he says as he ducks out of the doorway.
I bend over and slice the box open with my box cutter, sorting through the contents. Matt makes quick work of getting all the boxes into the bookshop.
After all the boxes are unloaded into the store, I sign the delivery slip and I’m left alone.
I spend the next couple of hours getting books into their new homes.
Once everything is in its designated spot, I put on my “Get Ready With Me” playlist and jam out while I break down boxes and put the packing paper up to recycle later.
After a solid hour passes with no customers, I call Mrs. Philch to see if she wants to call it an early day.
“Hi, Mrs. Philch!” I start in a friendly tone. “I’ve got all the new releases and restocks on the shelves.”
“Oh, lovely, Ember!” Mrs. Philch greets me. “How is traffic today?” she asks me softly.
“Well, that’s why I was calling,” I say gently, trying not to be discouraging. “Today, we’ve had three customers and two sales.” I hear Mrs. Philch let out an exasperated sigh.
“Go ahead and call it a day, hon,” she says.
“I do think I will need to begin looking at my options with the shop if things keep going at this rate.” My heart aches for her.
Her and her family have owned this shop for close to twenty-three years, and the economy is making it impossible for her to make a profit.
“I do have a couple of ideas, if you’re open to hearing them,” I tell her. I’ve been thinking about the different ways I could help keep the bookstore open.
“Let’s plan to meet for coffee sometime this week, yeah?” Mrs. Philch asks, sounding just a little bit more cheerful than she did before.
“That sounds great!” I say.
We schedule a meeting at the local coffee shop for the end of the week, and I begin shutting down the store. I spend the next few minutes turning lights off and shutting down the POS system.
Tomorrow is trash day, and I remember that I cleaned out the mini-fridge earlier, and I don’t need the shop smelling up for the next week.
I get all of my stuff gathered up on the counter and slip my phone into my pocket. I grab the trash from earlier and head to the dumpster out back. I swing the bag into the bin and slam the door shut.
Just as I turn back, I hear a tiny “meow” coming from behind the large dumpster. I walk around the back and crouch down, seeing a tiny black kitten in a transfer cage.
What the hell?
Before I get the chance to stand, I hear gravel crunching behind me, and as I turn to see the cause, a large cloth covers my nose and mouth. I raise my hands to scratch my assailant, to try and pull whatever it is away from my face. I feel myself starting to fall into a panic attack.
Before I can accomplish an escape, my vision begins to blur, and dizziness sets in. And then, everything goes black.