Thesnowhadlightened.
The wind however had picked up.
Felicity kept her head down.There wasn’t a chance she was falling again.And she certainly wasn’t going to fall in front of her ex.The memory of staring up at Justin as she was stretched out on the icy road sent a wave of heat rushing to her cheeks.Could she have made a worse impression on him?A sigh escaped her lips.
She checked the time.If she hurried, she could make it to her old haunt before going to the café.Watching for any icy spots, she picked up her pace.A few minutes later, she neared Jingle Bell Books.
A smile pulled at her lips.From the outside, it looked exactly the same.Maybe there was something in her life that was the way she remembered it.
As she drew closer to the bookshop, the breath hitched in her lungs.She’d started working there when she was sixteen.She’d worked part-time during the school year, but when summer rolled around, she worked full-time.And she’d saved every penny—okay, maybe not every penny, but most of the money—for college.Even back then she knew she wanted out of this small town.
She peered in the window and saw the bookshelves were still overflowing with books.There were books on tables and books displayed in the window.The pent-up breath whooshed from her lungs.
A Help Wanted sign in the window drew her attention.Before she had a chance to give it a closer look, the owner, Connie Carmichael, saw her through the window.Her face lit up with a big smile, and then she started to frantically motion for Felicity to come inside.
There was no way she could walk away now.Connie had been like a second mother to her when she was growing up.Of course, Felicity had never said that to her mother, because she didn’t want to hurt her.It wasn’t that she loved her mother any less.It was that Connie understood her as a young adult instead of the child that her mother envisioned.Connie cared about her and was always supporting her in whatever ways Felicity would let her.
Felicity grasped the brass door handle and opened the door.The first thing that struck her was the scent.It was a unique blend of vanilla, earthiness, and a little bit of mustiness from all of the old books that Connie insisted on keeping, even though people only ever glanced at them from a distance and rarely ever bought one.
She breathed in deeper.It was a scent that made her feel like she was home.At last, there was something that hadn’t changed in any discernable way.Her heart swelled with love and nostalgia.Being within the walls of Jingle Bell Books was exactly what she needed.
Tears rushed to her eyes.She attempted to blink them away just before Connie rushed up to her and enveloped her into a great big warm hug.That was all it took for the dam to break and the tears to splash onto her cheeks.
Felicity’s arms wrapped around her as she released a ragged breath and sank into the hug.At last, she was home.
When they parted, Connie said, “I’m so glad you’re home.I’ve really missed you.”
She swiped away the tears.“I’m sorry.I should have been back before now.There was just so much work.”
Connie nodded in understanding.“I’m surprised I didn’t hear you were coming home.”
“Well, actually I didn’t tell anyone.”
“Not even your mother?”
Felicity shook her head.“It was spur of the moment.”When she saw the confusion in Connie’s eyes, she knew she had to say more, but she wasn’t ready to admit that she had lost her job.Not yet.Not on her first day back in town.“I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to make the trip.”
It was the truth.If she’d have gotten some interviews lined up, she would have stayed in the city.But that hadn’t happened.Everyone appeared to be taking an early holiday or something.But she wasn’t giving up hope.
“Well, I’m glad you could make it.But I understand about it being hard to take time off from work.I practically live in this place.”Connie waved her arms around.“And you have such a glamorous job as a New York City editor.”
“Assistant editor.”A frown pulled at her lips as she thought about the promotion that had been yanked out of her reach by Tanner and his sexy smiles.
“Oh, yes.But I’m sure you’ll be an editor in no time.”Connie smiled proudly.“I always knew you’d do great things.”
Felicity knew her friend meant well, but it heaped a bunch of guilt onto the sense of failure and disappointment that were already pressing down on her shoulders.After all of that, how was she supposed to tell Connie that she was let go from her job?
She shook her head.“I don’t do anything great.”And then she realized what she’d said.“I mean, my job is not a big deal.”
The smile was still on Connie’s face.“Tell that to all of the aspiring authors who sent you their books in hopes they would be the next Nora Roberts or Stephen King.”
“But I don’t buy their manuscripts.”She really didn’t.She just wrote up summaries and recommendations for prospective manuscripts, in addition to her other duties that include proofreading, editing, and other administrative tasks.
Connie continued to smile.“I love that you still have modesty.You’re still the same wonderful person who used to work here.If only I could find another you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh.It’s just been hard to keep help.The young people start here, but then they are either off to college or they find a better paying job.”
