Chapter 26
Wednesdays were always busy at the bookshop. It was almost two and several people were in line to pay for their purchases. There was no sign yet of Brooklyn. She usually arrived at least ten minutes early. Sara didn’t think anything of it, though, and figured she was just running behind. She knew Brooklyn was coming straight from her last class at Cape Cod Community College in Hyannis. Maybe traffic was heavier than usual.
The office phone rang and Alison went out back to answer it. She returned a moment later looking concerned. Sara finished ringing up the last customer and turned to Alison.
“That was Brooklyn. She’s not going to be able to make her shift today. Someone rear-ended her car as she was leaving school. She’s not hurt, but she has to wait for the police to come file an accident report and get her car towed. Is there any possibility you can stay until six today? If not, I’ll just work by myself. I already called Andrea to see if she can come in earlier—her shift starts at six—but she can’t make it.”
Sara thought for a moment. Tom worked from home on Wednesdays, so unless he had meetings scheduled, he might be able to pick up the boys and watch them so she could stay. “Let me call home and see.” She went into the office where she kept her purse and cell phone and called Tom. He answered on the first ring.
“Hey there, what’s up?”
“Do you have any client meetings this afternoon?”
“No, it’s a light day. I’m just making follow-up calls and going through my inbox. Why?”
“Good. Do you mind picking up the boys after school today? We had someone call out and Alison needs me to stay and cover her shift. I’d like to help, if I can.”
Tom hesitated. “What time will you be home?”
“A little after six. There’s a lasagna I prepped this morning. All you have to do is pop it in the oven around five. It cooks for an hour. We can eat when I get home.”
“Okay. See you then.”
“Thanks, Tom.” Sara hung up and gave Alison the good news that she could stay.
“Thanks a million. I really appreciate it.” Alison handed her two colorful flyers with Hannah’s photo and details about the signing on Saturday. “Do you want to tape these up just outside the door and inside, too, so people will see it as they come in and on their way out?”
“Sure.” Sara put the flyers up and updated the Facebook page with a new post. There was already one up, but she knew that frequent posting helped spread the word.
An older gentleman walked up to the counter. “I’m looking for a book on lobsters. Can you help me?” He smiled as he looked around the store. “I tried to find it, but I don’t think I looked in the right place.”
“I’m happy to help. What kind of book are you looking for? A cookbook or more informational, about lobsters in general?”
“I’m looking to replace a book I had years ago. I lost it when I moved. It was a wonderful book, all about the history of the lobster. There might have been some information on how to cook it, but I wouldn’t say it was a cookbook.”
Sara thought for a moment, then led him over to the section where a book like that would be, if they had it. She looked through the shelves until she found something that seemed like what he described. She pulled the book out and handed it to him. He flipped it over and read the back cover. Then he nodded.
“It’s not the same book, but it looks close enough. This one looks pretty good, actually. I’ll take it.”
“Can I help you find anything else?” Sara offered.
“Well, there is one more thing. My granddaughter is coming to visit this weekend and it’s her birthday. She loves to read, but I don’t know what to get for her. She’s about your age.”
“Do you know what kinds of books she likes? Mysteries or romance or something else?”
“She’s always reading those romance books. And I know she likes a little humor.”
Sara smiled. “I know just the thing.” She led him to a stack of Hannah’s books at the front of the store. “This author is popular and she’s having a signing here this weekend, on Saturday. It’s a romantic comedy so it has romance and some humor. I’ve read it and it’s a fun book. I should probably also tell you that my sister is the author, so I may be a little biased.”
He laughed. “Well, at least you’re honest. I like that. I’ll take a copy.”
Sara rang up the books and when she handed him his bag and receipt, she added, “If your granddaughter is around on Saturday and you’re looking for something to do, pop by the signing and bring the book, and Hannah would be happy to sign it for her.”
“Oh! We just might do that. Thank you so much.”
The shop stayed busy right up until six when Andrea came on. Alison thanked Sara again for staying.
“It was no problem at all,” Sara assured her. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
It had been a good day. It was interesting to see what people were buying and what was popular in the newly released books. Sara was happy to see that Hannah’s book sold steadily and of course she recommended it often.
When she got home, Tom was in his office with his door shut and the boys were fighting over what to watch on TV. They looked up when she walked in.
“Where have you been?” Cody asked.
“What’s for dinner? I’m starving,” Dylan said.
Sara noticed that she didn’t smell anything delicious. Her mouth had been watering for the lasagna on the drive home. She opened the refrigerator. The uncooked lasagna sat there on the bottom shelf, waiting to go into the oven. She sighed and pulled a stack of cold cuts out of a drawer.
“Who wants turkey and who wants roast beef on their sandwiches?”
She took orders and made the sandwiches, including a turkey sandwich for herself. She set out a bag of chips for everyone to help themselves and then she knocked on Tom’s door.
“Come on in.”
She opened the door. Tom was typing out an email. He finished it, then looked up.
“You made it home,” he joked.
“Very funny. Did you forget to put the lasagna in the oven?”
“Oh, crap. Yes, I totally forgot. I’m sorry.” Tom sounded more frustrated and annoyed than sorry though.
Sara sighed. “I just made sandwiches for the boys. There’s turkey and roast beef; help yourself when you’re ready.”
He nodded. “Will do.” He immediately turned his attention back to his computer and Sara felt like she was bothering him.
She closed the door and ate her sandwich, then put the lasagna in the oven so all they had to do was reheat it the next day. It usually tasted better after it sat overnight anyway. It was just a little irritating that Tom couldn’t remember to put the lasagna in the oven. Was that so much to ask? She realized that it was likely because he never had to do it, so it was easy to forget.
Once everyone was settled watching a movie, Sara retreated to her bedroom and shut the door. She turned on her TV and put it on the music station and curled up on the cozy armchair by her bedroom’s bay window. Alison had given her an ARC to bring home and Sara was eager to dive into it. When she’d started at the bookshop, Brooklyn had told her that one of the perks of the job was that publishers sometimes sent them advance reader copies of upcoming books with the hope that they’d read it, love it, and recommend it to their customers.
This one was a psychological thriller, and the premise, a woman who suspects her husband is not the same man she married, was intriguing. Sara started reading and was halfway through the book by the time Tom opened the door to come to bed. She was startled to see that it was almost eleven. She’d lost all track of time, and she had a feeling this book was going to be very popular. The story had her on the edge of her seat, with each chapter propelling her to the next and one unexpected twist after another.
“Are the boys in bed?” she asked. She’d taken a break an hour or so ago to tuck the two youngest ones in.
He nodded. “They’re all set. Are you ready to call it a night? I’m beat.”
Sara yawned. “I am.” It had been a long day and a good one for the most part. Except for Tom forgetting to put the lasagna in the oven. It was annoying that he couldn’t be bothered to remember to do that. But she reminded herself that he also hadn’t been expecting her to work until six, either. She sighed and wished he’d make a little more of an effort. Even though he had the higher paying job, Sara did so much more around the house, and now that she was working, too, the balance really felt off to her. Hopefully that would change at some point.