She gives him an unimpressed look. “And yet, I am.” Theo thanks her as she turns to me. “Now, Fable. What makes you want to open a bookstore? Other than the fact that your name is perfect for it.”
I bite my lip, suddenly nervous and put on the spot. Idon’t have a reply prepared for this. But... something feels soothing about Barb, like she isn’t going to judge a single thing that comes out of my mouth.
Elliot offers my cup over the counter, and I take it, letting it warm my palms. “It was my grandfather’s dream. Growing up, he was always talking about the bookstore we would open together one day. But he passed away a couple of years ago, without that dream coming true.”
Her eyes are full of sympathy. “I’m so sorry.”
“That’s okay. It’s just always lived in the back of my mind—but I’ve never felt like I could do it on my own.”
“Ah, but then this guy came along,” she says, patting Theo’s arm.
I tip my head, smiling up at him. “He did. Ialso found some pictures of my grandpa’s. Every trip we took, he would photograph places he thought would make a great bookshop. And this building was one of them. We have a picture right out front, from maybe twenty years ago?”
She gasps, a hand to her chest. “Here?”
I nod. “It’s the only location we could find that actually became a bookshop. I wish he’d been able to come see this place. He would’ve loved it.”
Surprise jolts through me when Theo pulls the photo out of his back pocket and offers it to her.
Barb inhales a sharp breath and slips her glasses on, gawking at the image. “Oh, my goodness. This is wild.” Flipping it over, she takes in the words on the back, then looks at me, eyes glittering. “So you’re opening a bookshop?”
I shuffle on my feet. “I’m still not one hundred percent. I’m thinking on it.” Barb and Theo exchange a knowing look. Doubt wraps its grubby hand around my lungs. “I don’t know. What if I can’t do it?”
“Oh, honey, you won’t know until you try.” She waves around the store. “Things could go belly-up at any moment, but the important thing is: Did I have fun while I did it? Was my heart happy? And if the answer’s yes, then I have no regrets.”
Damn, Gramps would’ve loved her.
“Can I give you a hug?” Barb asks, spreading her arms wide.
I don’t even need a second to consider. Ibarely know this woman yet hugging her seems like the most natural thing in the world. She squeezes me just shy of too tight—the kind of embrace you can feel all the way down to your bones. My eyes fall shut, and I hug her back with the same strength.
And it’s inside the arms of a stranger that I miss Gramps more than I ever have. He used to hug me like this, wholeheartedly—like he might be able to fix all my worries with that hug.
Tears spring to my eyes and I shudder a breath.
“Oh, honey. It’s okay,” Barb murmurs, holding me for a few more moments.
When I pull away, I shake out my shoulders and try to smile. “Thank you. Ineeded that.”
Barb squeezes my arm. “Anytime. Hugs are my love language.” She grabs her drink from Theo, then waves us toward the shop. “Shall we?”
There’s a pep in her step as she guides us through the store, first to the seating area tucked in the back corner, then to the community room where they host story time, author signings, and other events. We thread our way through the children’s area, where there’s a giant forest animal mural on the wall, along with a few toys and tables with coloring supplies. Then Barb leads us through the shelves, where she explains why she laid them out the way she did and what she’d do differently.
The books are amazing, the collection enviable. But what makes this place really come to life is the atmosphere. It’s the people and the community space and the inclusive warmth. What makes it shine is everythingbesidesthe books.
Once our tour is over and we’ve said goodbye to Barb—with the promise of being back soon—Theo and I step outside. The warm, spring air caresses my cheeks as I turn to look back at the shop. Ican easily see Gramps falling in love with this place. It’s exactly what he described to me every time, and Barb has turned it into a reality without even knowing him.
There are so many things to figure out, probably an endless to-do list and a roller coaster of emotions ahead of me, but for the first time, the possibility seems within reach. And I wonder if I really might be able to do this.
Chapter 28
Fable
“Ithink you forgot we have a No Sleepovers rule,” I remind Theo as he opens the hotel room door.
“I did, in fact, remember that.” He waves for me to walk in first. “Which is why I requested two beds.”
Well, look at that. He did. Yet, for some annoying reason, a sharp pang of disappointment burns through me. I’m the one who set the rule, yet I’m the one annoyed about it? Make it make sense.
