Chapter 59
The next few months passed in an absolute whirlwind.
Managing the shop had become a distant third to finalizing the book for publication and spending time with Oliver as her editor and boyfriend.
Aurelia had also made what she called a ‘tour of apology,’ which took her to Yorkshire to visit her father, Paris for a bank holiday weekend to see Antonia and her family, and many outings with Kali, David, and James.
Now that the book was out of her hands, Aurelia was determined to do a better job of balancing her life outside the shop and her life with the characters within it.
Mark, Sophie, and even Mrs. Smith were excited about the book’s upcoming publication and she’d promised to host a party in the shop to celebrate.
Her father and Antonia were coming to London for it, and of course her friends would be there too.
She’d promised the characters a party to celebrate the book’s release, too, though as the date grew closer, they all felt a mingled sense of excitement and sadness to know Vronsky might soon be leaving them.
As for Vronsky, Aurelia had made sure to involve him in every aspect of finalizing the book, from viewing final proofs to options for the cover.
He was almost euphoric as the publication date neared, thrilled to be the center of attention and anxiously awaiting the dawn when he might disappear into his new future.
Oliver appeared at the shop one afternoon, carrying a box in his arms as he pushed open the door, pausing to let Biscuit tumble in behind him.
After the obligatory few minutes of greeting Biscuit and watching the dance between him and Fezz play out (Biscuit wanting to say hello, Fezz feigning disinterest), Aurelia noticed that Oliver was still holding the box.
“What’s that?”
“Something very exciting,” he said, waggling his eyebrows before setting the box on her desk.
Aurelia reached out to open it, but he took her hand and kissed her palm instead.
“Can’t you guess?”
She finally caught on.
“It isn’t?”
He opened the box, revealing two rows of books with the same cover, the same title: her novel. Aurelia drew her hand over them, marveling at her name printed across each copy. Oliver, seeming to appreciate the gravity of the moment, stood quietly at her side.
Finally, Aurelia looked up at him.
“My book,” she said simply.
“Your book,” he agreed.
She put her arm around him as she continued gazing down at the project that meant so much more than she could ever tell him. Leaning into his side, she smiled, knowing that everyone would be thrilled to see the final product that night.
Before going back to his office, Oliver made her promise not to put the copies on display until the official launch the following week, but he let her keep them in the back room so that she could look at them whenever she liked.
That night, Aurelia played out a similar scene with the characters. She left the box on her desk with the top closed and waited for someone to ask what was inside. Marianne was the first to spot it.
“You have a box, Aurelia.”
“I do,” she said mysteriously.
“Is there something inside?”
“There is.”
Aurelia smiled as she realized she was channeling Sergeant Cuff.
“Will you make me guess or shall you tell us?” Marianne asked impatiently.
Aurelia opened the lid of the box, then tipped it forward so that everyone could see what was inside.
Cheers and whoops erupted as they realized it was Vronsky’s book, and she held a copy up as the characters pushed in to look.
Vronsky stood toward the back of the crowd, smiling and accepting their congratulations as he looked on in amusement.
A new burst of excitement sprang up when Laurie noticed a photograph of Aurelia on the back cover, and she had to hold up the book again so that everyone could see it.
Chatter broke out as they began to plan their celebration for the official book launch, but Vronsky left the others to join Aurelia at her desk.
“Your book,” he said, nodding to the copy in her hand.
“Our book,” she said, placing it on the desktop so he could inspect it. “Do you want to take a closer look?”
Aurelia fanned the pages, landing on one that described Vronsky’s first days in France. He peered at it, smiling.
“There is no need. I am quite satisfied.”
He looked at Aurelia and the weight of his gaze deflated her holiday mood. She opened her mouth to ask what was the matter, but in the same instant she knew.
“Now? Not yet.”
“But when?” he asked quietly. “Waiting will not make our goodbyes any easier.”
“I thought… after the party—”
“I would rather the party were a celebratory affair. If we wait, it will only dampen the spirit of the occasion.”
“You’re sure—quite sure? Even if it works, you might not be one of the people who comes into the shop from your new book.”
“I understand the risk. We will simply have to hope that I appear from the new book to reassure you of our success.”
Aurelia looked around the room.
“Shouldn’t we tell them? You might want to say goodbye, just in case you don’t see them again.”
Vronsky’s eyebrows drew together.
“Yes, I agree. I would hate to depart without taking the opportunity to thank everyone for their friendship and kindness.”
Astonishment spread throughout the shop as the others learned of Vronsky’s plan, but they soon put aside their disappointment to give him their well-wishes for a bright future.
In the hour before dawn, Aurelia and Vronsky retreated to the window seat, where they reminisced about the first time they’d met—when she’d woken up in the shop and learned its secret.
It seemed too big a moment, knowing that it might be their last conversation, to try and cover everything they’d like to say to each other.
But as the sky lightened, Vronsky turned serious.
“You remember your promise, Aurelia? You will not put my old book out again?”
“I do—I promise.”
Aurelia couldn’t stop her tears now that their time was running out. She was saying goodbye to a dear friend, possibly forever. Although it brought to mind her last goodbyes with her mother and aunt, her heart felt lighter knowing she might hear from him, or at least hear about him, very soon.
They joined the others downstairs, where there was much smiling, laughing, and brushing away tears as the minutes closed in on their final goodbyes.
Vronsky had been looking at Aurelia, one eyebrow up in a teasing gesture as she laughed through her tears, before the dawn swept him gently away, back into Anna Karenina for the last time.