Chapter 30
Hannah felt a familiar case of nerves as she got ready for her signing the next day. She’d been terrified at her first signing ever, and then mortified when she hadn’t sold a single book. That signing was at a tiny independent bookshop in Brooklyn and it had been pouring rain all afternoon, so there was no foot traffic and Lucy was away that weekend, so the one familiar face she could always count on couldn’t be there. She hadn’t told any of her other friends because she’d secretly worried that if they came, no one would be there. She’d dreaded it and it had lived up to her fears.
But it got much better after that. She’d taken a breath and put the word out on social media and figured no matter how bad it was, it couldn’t possibly be worse than that first signing. So her expectations were low on future signings and she was pleasantly surprised. With each signing, more people came and more people read her book and seemed to like it.
So, given that she knew people in Chatham and her sister even worked at the bookshop and promoted her constantly, Hannah was only a little worried. It was just nerves. She knew now that once it got underway, the signing would probably be fun.
And it was. Sara met her there at twelve thirty and they chatted with Brooklyn and Alison until the official start time of one. Alison had put out a pretty, cloth-covered table with an assortment of her famous gluten- and dairy-free black brownies, which were so good no one could tell the difference. There were also raspberry jam–filled shortbread cookies and chocolate-chip, as well as a platter of ripe strawberries and grapes.
Hannah settled at the designated author table, with Brooklyn on one side to ring up sales and Sara on the other with her phone to take pictures for the shop. She’d also use customers’ cameras if they wanted their own snapshots. Hannah had thought it was presumptuous to suggest that anyone would want a picture with her, but she’d learned from prior signings that most did and they loved to share on social media, which was a very good thing.
There was a small line right when they started at one, and while she didn’t draw anywhere near the size of the crowd that Niall had, there was a steady stream of people who wanted a signed book. A few of them had already bought the book earlier and brought it with them. Sara pointed out an older man with a younger woman. She introduced him when he reached Hannah and explained that he’d been in earlier that week.
“This is my sister, Hannah. And that must be your granddaughter? Happy birthday.”
“Thank you.”
“This is Jamie, my pride and joy. She’s already read your book, Hannah. I gave it to her yesterday and she stayed up till the wee hours.”
“It was so good! I couldn’t put it down,” Jamie said.
Hannah was touched. She still wasn’t used to comments like that about her books. It felt surreal.
“Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.” Hannah signed the book and then Sara took a picture of Jamie and her grandfather with Hannah in the middle.
The two hours flew by and Brooklyn told them that they’d almost sold out of her book. “It’s a good thing that we didn’t sell all of them, as we will probably have people coming by the rest of the weekend that couldn’t make it in today or got the date wrong. Happens every time.”
The crowd thinned a little before three and they started to pack up. But then Hannah heard a familiar voice. “Can you squeeze one more in?”
She looked up and saw Niall standing there, a cheeky grin on his face. “I tried to get down earlier but time got away from me.”
“I think we can fit one more in,” Hannah said.
“Definitely.” Brooklyn rang up the sale and Hannah signed the book. She didn’t know what to write and finally went with, Thanks so much for the support, you are an inspiration. It was a little formal, but it fit how she felt. She was inspired by his success and she loved his books.
Sara took a picture of the two of them together and he asked for one for his phone, too, and she obliged.
“Is there any chance we could grab a drink to celebrate a successful signing? I’m sure you have plans later.” Hannah did not have any plans later, but she wasn’t about to admit it.
“I could go for a quick drink.” She turned to Sara. “Would you like to join us?”
Sara shook her head. “I have to get home. I’ll see you tomorrow at Aunt Maddie’s though. The kids are looking forward to it.”
They all walked out together and said goodbye to Sara.
“How about the Beach House at Chatham Bars?” Niall suggested. “We can sit outside and look at the ocean.” Hannah loved that idea. It was right down the street from Aunt Maddie’s house, too.
“Perfect. I’ll see you there.”
She arrived at the Chatham Bars Inn fifteen minutes later. The traffic was heavy because of the holiday weekend. Niall pulled in right after her and they walked in together and were seated right away. The hotel was busy but it was a beautiful day and at almost three thirty, it was late for lunch and early for dinner, so there were plenty of open tables.
“I feel like a vacation drink,” Niall said when the server, a young girl who Hannah guessed was probably on break from college, came to take their order.
“What are you having?” he asked Hannah.
She had been thinking wine until he mentioned wanting a vacation drink and she thought of her favorite frozen fruity cocktail. “I’ll have a frozen strawberry daiquiri made with Myers’s dark rum.”
“Nice! I’ll go with a rum runner.”
Because it wasn’t busy, it didn’t take long for their drinks to arrive. Hannah took a sip of hers and sighed. “This tastes like summer.”
Niall laughed. They chatted for a bit about the boat trip the day before and how much fun they’d had.
“I got some great pictures and a video of the whale jumping. My nephews will be so impressed when I show them tomorrow at the cookout.”
“Your sister mentioned you’re all going to your aunt’s?”
She nodded. “My aunt throws one every year, usually on Memorial Day weekend, sometimes the Fourth of July. It’s nice to get the whole family together.”
“My family isn’t exactly the cookout type.” Hannah noticed a slightly bitter tone to his voice.
“What are they doing this weekend?”
“They have company visiting. My mother’s sister and her new husband.” Hannah thought it was curious that he didn’t refer to her as his aunt. “They’ll spend most of the weekend at the club, of course. Dad will golf and Mother will play tennis, and they’ll all meet up for drinks and dinner after. And everything will be done for them. I don’t think my father has ever grilled. We have one, of course, but their cook handles that.”
“That sounds fun though. Do you golf, too?” Hannah asked.
Niall laughed. “Poorly. It is fun though. I don’t do it often enough to improve. But I do enjoy the after-golf festivities.”
“So that’s what you’ll be up to tomorrow?”
“No doubt. I’ll have to make an appearance. It’s usually a good time though. A little stuffier than a cookout. I may be a bit jealous.”
Hannah smiled. She agreed with him. There was nothing like cooking outdoors on a holiday weekend and watching the kids swim in the ocean.
Niall changed the subject and launched into the usual question that came up these days. Hannah hated it, as it always felt like an interview question that she was doomed to fail.
“So, how is it that you’re still single? Have you had any long-term relationships?” Niall asked.
Hannah knew this was code for “What kind of baggage are you carrying?” She smiled and answered honestly. “Maybe I’m too picky. I just ended an almost two-year relationship because I didn’t want to take it to the next step, and he did. What about you?”
Niall flashed her the cheeky grin that she suspected came out when he was trying to distract from something uncomfortable.
“I’ve actually never had a long-term relationship. Nothing longer than six months, usually it’s less than that, though. I just haven’t found the right person yet. But I’m having a lot of fun looking.” His words sent up a red flag of sorts. With his looks and family wealth, Niall would have no shortage of women attracted to him. She could see how it might be hard to resist the temptation. She wasn’t sure if she would be able to hold his attention longer than that. Or if she wanted to deal with worrying if her time was due to expire.
She thought of Joy’s words and stopping assessing Niall’s potential for permanence and decided to just enjoy the moment and go with the flow.
She changed the subject and brought it back to books that they both admired, and they spent another hour comparing notes and laughing. He was good company. He insisted on buying their drinks and regretted that he had to leave. “I wish I could stay longer. I’m actually playing golf with a few friends. One of my rare outings on the course,” he said.
“Thanks for the drink and for stopping by the signing.”
“Of course.”
They walked to their cars and once again, he gave her a quick hug, but this time he kissed her on the lips. Just for a moment, but it was nice and she liked the feel of his lips on hers. He might not be her long-term person, but she liked him.
“Maybe we can do something next week, if you’re up for it?” he suggested.
“I’d like that.”