He held out the book. “First edition Rossetti. Love sonnets, mostly. Quite beautiful, if you appreciate that sort of thing.” His eyes twinkled. “Which I suspect you might.”
Eveline took the book. “Abe, this is too much. I couldn't possibly…”
“Nonsense,” he interrupted. “Books should be where they'll be cherished. And it seems to me that this particular collection belongs here.” He glanced between them. “With you two.”
Emery moved closer to Eveline, looking at the book in her hands. Their shoulders touched, sending a small thrill through her.
“It's beautiful,” Emery said.
“Yes,” Eveline said, but when Emery looked up, she found Eveline looking at her, not the book.
Abe chuckled. “I thought you might think so.” He settled back in his chair, looking immensely pleased with himself. “Now, if someone could bring an old man his morning tea, he'd be most grateful.”
Emery hurried to the kitchenette to get his tea, her cheeks burning with the knowledge that Abe had clearly figured them out. She wondered who else would notice. Maya, certainly, that woman missed nothing. Zara too, probably. Was she ready for everyone to know? To face the questions, the knowing smiles, the…
Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out to find Domi's name flashing on the screen.
“Hello?” she answered quietly, moving toward the back room for privacy.
“I thought we were meeting at my office?” Domi said without preamble.
Emery's stomach dropped. “We were?”
“Um, yes, unless you’ve forgotten about the publisher’s meeting that I emailed you about three times last week?” Domi said, exasperation evident in her voice. “The one where we're discussing the marketing strategy for your new book? The one you cannot miss if you want to maintain your career?”
“I, um, might have forgotten,” Emery said, panic rising in her chest. “I'm really sorry.”
“It’s fine. Just meet me there, you’ve got an hour,” Domi said. The call ended abruptly.
Emery froze for a second, her mind racing. She couldn't miss this meeting. But she couldn't just disappear without explanation, either. Not now, not after last night.
She returned to the main shop area to find Eveline shelving books, humming to herself. The sight made Emery's heart contract painfully. More lies.
“Eveline,” she said, approaching hesitantly. “I, um, I need to go.”
Eveline looked up, surprised. “Go? Where?”
“My aunt,” Emery said, the lie tasting bitter. “Tennis elbow? She's having… complications. She needs someone to help her with… things.”
Eveline frowned. “Of course,” she said after a second. “Family’s important. You should go.”
“I'll be back as soon as I can,” Emery said, not at all sure how long this was all going to take.
“Take all the time you need,” Eveline said, though something in her eyes had changed, a slight withdrawal that made Emery bite her lip in frustration.
“I'll make it up to you,” Emery said, already backing toward the door. “I promise.”
???
Eveline watched as Emery hurried out of the shop.
“Everything all right?” Abe asked from his chair, peering at Eveline over the rim of his teacup.
“Fine,” Eveline said automatically, though she wasn't entirely sure it was true.
She returned to shelving, feeling a little unsettled. Emery's sudden departure bothered her more than she wanted to admit. Not that she needed to know Emery's whereabouts at all times. It was just… there had been something off about the way Emery had explained herself. The tennis elbow story had seemed flimsy the first time, now it was beginning to tear at the seams.
“You're frowning,” Abe said. “Books shouldn't make you frown.”
