They’re not going away, Frank. Better to face it on your terms before they find you.
Frank deleted the message, but the words lingered. He thought of Tommy’s hopeful face asking about pancakes with Isabel. About how she’d laughed and smiled as they talked about their lives in Sapphire Bay.
For two years, Frank had done everything he could to create a safe haven for Tommy, protecting them both from a past that refused to stay buried.
As he watched the sun stream across the lake, he realized something important. Sometimes, the hardest part of protecting the people you loved was knowing when to stop running and start fighting back.
CHAPTER 10
Isabel nestled deeper into the cushioned window seat, her favorite spot in the bookstore. The afternoon sun fell across the screen of her laptop, highlighting the lists she’d made and the pictures she’d saved.
From this vantage point, she could see the entire main floor of Henderson’s Books. She studied the sales counter, contemplating the changes she hoped to make someday.
Since Mrs. Henderson had agreed to sell the bookstore to her, she’d created an entire folder of things she needed to do. There were documents dedicated to event ideas, another for layout adjustments, and a growing list of repairs that would need to be done.
Her gaze lifted to the ceiling. Dark spots the size of dinner plates showed where the rain had damaged the drywall. If that wasn’t enough to keep her busy, the walls could also use a fresh coat of paint.
The bell above the door jingled. Frank stepped inside, holding the door open for his grandson. Isabel closed the document she was working on and waved.
Tommy bounded over to the window seat, his backpack bouncing with each step. “Hi, Isabel! Did you see the fire truck?”
She nodded. “It’s the first time I’ve seen a fire truck in Sapphire Bay since I’ve been here.”
Tommy leaned against the table. “My friend’s dad is a firefighter. What are you doing?”
Frank placed his hand on Tommy’s shoulder.
Before Frank could say anything, Isabel looked up at him and smiled. “It’s okay. I don’t mind answering Tommy’s question. I’m making lists of all the things I have to do after I own the bookstore.
“What sort of things would you do?” Tommy peered at her laptop with undisguised curiosity. “Would you add a secret trapdoor? Or maybe a reading tower?”
Isabel opened a folder on her laptop and turned the screen around so Tommy could see the photos. “Trapdoors aren’t in my budget, but I have some other ideas. If it were up to me, I’d repaint the walls—maybe a warm cream color with navy blue accents, like this.” She pointed to a picture of a bookstore in Denmark, then enlarged another photo. “And I’ve been thinking the children’s section could use an update. I’d love to add some comfortable floor cushions and maybe a small stage for story time.”
Frank studied the photos. “You should talk to Daniella at The Fairy Forest. She knows people who work on movie sets. They might have some props they don’t need anymore.”
Tommy looked excited when he saw the photo of a pirate cave at a bookstore in Washington, D.C. “Would you paint a mural with adventure scenes on the walls? It could have dragons and hidden treasure.”
Isabel hadn’t considered that, but it was a great idea. “That sounds wonderful, Tommy. A mural would transform the children’s space.” She typed a few lines of text into her spreadsheet. “I’ll need to find an artist, though. The only thing I can draw is stick figures.”
Frank leaned forward, watching the next images appear on her laptop. “A friend’s daughter is an art student at Montana State University. She’s always looking for projects to build her portfolio. If you ever need someone like that, I could put you in touch with my friend.”
“That’s good to know, Frank. Thank you.” Isabel made another note, feeling happier at how everything seemed within reach.
“Grandpa’s good at fixing things,” Tommy offered helpfully. “He fixed our kitchen ceiling after the upstairs toilet leaked. He said lots of bad words, but he did a good job.”
Frank shuffled on his feet. “YouTube is great. I wouldn’t have known what to do if it hadn’t been for all the videos I watched.”
Isabel grinned. “It’s good to know there’s somewhere I can go to learn how to do things. Mrs. Henderson mentioned the contractors she’s used in the past are booked months out.”
“Finding a contractor is always a challenge in Sapphire Bay,” Frank told her. “Most companies have to come from Polson.”
Tommy was watching the slideshow of images on her laptop. When her favorite photo appeared, she pressed the pause button. “I thought a reading fort would be perfect for children who want to escape into a good book for a while,” Isabel said. “It could be a special place where stories feel even more magical.”
Tommy sighed. “Sometimes books help me feel better when I’m sad.”
Frank placed a gentle hand on his grandson’s shoulder. Isabel sensed there was more to Tommy’s words than a child’s typical love of hideaways. She assumed he’d be sad because his parents weren’t here, but she could be wrong.
“Books have always been there for me, too,” Isabel said softly.
