Chapter Three #2
I busied myself turning on the coffee machine and firing up the cash register. I still hadn't honed my customer service skills. Being an introvert hadn't helped, but I was determined to push past my fears.
“This is beautiful,” the lady called, grinning when I poked my head out from behind the food counter, “Did you design it yourself?”
Humming an affirmative, I came out into the store and forced myself to keep my hands by my side, instead of wringing them in front of me.
“I did! I've been a reader my whole life and after I lost my brother, who was a writer, I vowed to make my dream come true. Oh gosh…” Holding my hand over my mouth, I gulped.
“I'm so sorry, that's too much information.”
Laughing softly, the woman shook her head and put a hand on my arm. “Oh no, not at all. I'm sorry for your loss.”
Swallowing the lump that came to my throat, I nodded to distract myself. “Thank you.”
“And do you have a contemporary romance section?” She looked around, her eyes searching the labels above the shelves.
Oh shit. I always got nervous when someone asked me this question, even though it was my favorite genre.
“Yes!” I replied, gesturing towards the stairs. “Well, almost. Upstairs, I'm working on a contemporary room. Would you…? I mean, if you're a contemporary fan, I could use an opinion?”
Her eyes widened, lighting up as she nodded enthusiastically.
“Yes please! I've been reading contemporary since I was fourteen years old.
When I saw this place open, I looked through the windows, but I couldn't see a section, so I didn't come in.
When I saw how enthusiastic that young girl was just now, I thought I'd give it a chance.”
Indicating that she follow me, I started up the stairs on the left, between the fantasy section and the food counter.
As we trod up the steps, I chewed on my bottom lip. I'd hidden this side of me from most people, so to show it to a stranger was nerve-wracking.
“I'm honored to be allowed up here!” The woman, I hadn't even asked her name, said behind me.
“This is the contemporary room,” I said, leading her through the left door.
Inside the room, the walls were decorated with ivory-colored paneling at the bottom and cutesy white wallpaper, covered in teapots, at the top.
Bookshelves were attached to the walls intermittently, showing every possible contemporary book I could get hold of.
Each bookshelf was labelled with the sub-genre at the top, painted on a white panel in gorgeous script.
White-washed sideboards held cutlery and sauces while sofas with coffee tables were in each corner. Several round tables dotted between them with cushioned chairs tucked under them. Perfect for eating a light lunch with friends.
“Oh, I love it.” The kind woman went straight over to the shelves, scanning the books until she was all the way to the other side. “But I can't find dark romance. Do you not stock it?”
The corner of my lip quirked. A girl after my own heart. “Come this way.”
Going through the archway, I led her through the opposite door, straight into my favorite part of the store.
“Welcome to the darkness.” I opened my arms as she followed me inside.
This room was bigger than the other one?stretching away to where a stage lined the other end.
A small semi-circular bar was being built to the left corner side of the stage, the parts of it spread over the floor.
On the walls on either side of the door, there were shelves full of dark romance, gothic and horror books.
Tables, couches and chairs dotted around, filling the room.
The whole space was painted black and there were colored lights in the ceiling, highlighting different parts of the room and the gothic features that would be finalized before opening.
“How exciting!” The woman went straight for the dark romance. “This would make a great event space. Are you allowed to serve alcohol? It would be incredible to have somewhere to come where no one is going to judge me for my taste in books.”
Grinning, I nodded. “Exactly. During the day, people can come and read in privacy and we'll serve coffee from downstairs. In the evenings, we're allowed a short alcohol license, so we'll have a few events like music and readings, local authors and that type of thing.”
The woman's eyes widened and she shivered. “Congratulations on making such an incredible space. I can read with indiscreet covers and talk dirty like I've never been able to before.”
“No offence,” I said, “but I never would've guessed.”
Laughing, she waved a hand in dismissal. “Never judge a book by its cover, girl, you know that.”
“I do.” I put my hands on my hips. “And I'm sorry.”
Walking towards the stage, she looked over her shoulder. “No need to apologize. My husband always says I'm a dirty bitch with the face of an angel.”
My insides warmed as she got up on the stage and turned to face me, opening her mouth wide. “Wake me up inside,” she sang, “wake me up inside, call my name and save me from the dark.”
I stared, my own mouth dropped open as she hopped off the stage. “You're a singer?”
Shrugging, she smoothed her ponytail. “In my spare time. I'd love to do a gig here, if you'd have me... no fee, of course, I'm not famous enough for that.”
She came to me, her cheeks pink and her energy high.
“Yes please! I'm not ready to open upstairs yet, but when I do, I'd love you to be the first to perform. As long as you don't mind no fee, I've not been open long...”
“Bitch, please,” she replied, crossing her arms over her waist, “it won't be long until this place is heaving. Plus, I'm a starving artist outside of my job, so I don't mind. Anyway, I'm Kat.” Offering her hand, she smiled. “And I'm happy to do anything I can to help.”
And just like that, I had a new friend.