"Well, that's good," she said with a chuckle.
"Now that we are done with this, I'm going to get a few things done in the office."
"Do I need to do anything if someone comes in?"
"You could say hi. But I have a display in the back that shows me people coming in and out the door. And there's the bell above the door but I very seldom hear it because I'm here every day, and it just kind of blends in with the rest of the noises that go on in a bookstore."
Holly stopped rearranging the bookmarks on the sales counter and looked at me.
"What kind of noises?" she said.
"Like, you know, odd noises. Like last week I was putting away books when I heard the bell ring, and when I looked over there, there was nobody in the store."
"Nobody?"
"No, but there was a man standing outside looking in the window."
"Well, that's creepy," she said.
"Yeah, tell me about it."
"Did you know who it was?"
"Not really. I thought he looked familiar, but I wasn't one hundred percent sure."
"Well, hopefully that doesn't happen today."
"No kidding. Well, go ahead and look around and tell me if there's anything you see that interests you. I'll be out in about thirty minutes."
"Sounds good."
I left her with a small project of putting away books that had come in that I had already put into the inventory. Before I headed to the back, I showed her how the stacks were organized and how to find where they went by looking in the computer.
Within a few minutes of sitting down at my desk, a message came through on Facebook.
Help needed,I saw in the preview window. I was intrigued.
Dear vigilante, I need your help, and I have heard that you're just the person for me. I am fairly certain that my husband is seeing another woman. He says he's going to the gym, but he's looked exactly the same for months, and while he does occasionally come home needing a shower, I doubt it's from lifting weights. From what I hear, you've helped quite a few women in my situation, and I'm hoping you can help me. Please message me back when you get this.
I set my phone face down on the desk. I didn't want to get distracted when I had so much work to do.
I went through my emails from local authors and began planning some events at the store, listing out some possible events. I put an order in for some new books that were coming out on the next few publication days, and within thirty minutes, I was back out in the store. And even though I knew that I needed to think about what Drew and the other ladies had said, I still was considering the message I'd read.
24
HOLLY
Istood at the edge of Paige's ridiculously perfect pool, toes curled over the smooth stone coping, debating whether to jump in or ease myself down the steps like a normal person. The water sparkled turquoise in the afternoon sun, and the sound of laughter rose above the soft reggae music playing from hidden speakers around the patio.
Aunt Elyse was already in the water, floating on a pink flamingo raft and talking animatedly with Sarah. Jenna and Paige were arranging a spread of food on the outdoor kitchen counter, while Grace lounged elegantly under an umbrella, large sunglasses hiding half her face as she sipped something bright red from a stemmed plastic glass.
It was weird seeing them all in swimsuits. Like seeing your teachers at the grocery store: a reminder that they existed outside their usual contexts.
"Are you going to stand there all day, or are you joining us?"
I turned to see Allison approaching, little Noah clinging to her hand. She wore a modest navy one-piece with a floral wrap skirt tied at her waist. Noah was already in bright green swimtrunks with dinosaurs on them, floaties secured around his arms.
"I'm strategizing," I said solemnly. "Cannonball versus graceful dive. Life's big decisions."
