“We’re not going to miss it, are we?” Meg asks worriedly.
“Definitely not,” I reassure her.
“This is some kind of a parade?” Taylor asks.
“It’s the March of the Furry Angels,” Meg tells her. “Apetparade.”
“Wow,” Taylor says, looking pleased.
“Foghorn can’t be in it though,” Meg says sadly. “He’s too excitable.”
“He’s happier at the farm, right?” I remind her. “Where he can run around the mountain and scare the deer away?”
“Yeah,” Meg says, smiling. “That’s his favorite thing to do.”
“What kinds of pets are in the parade then?” Taylor asks.
“Mostly dogs,” Meg says. “But last year there was acat.”
“Mr. Snuggle-up-a-gus,” Taylor says softly. “That’s right. I remember Aunt Jessie telling me about how he got out of the shop.”
“He got a prize,” Meg giggles. “But he was really mad when your aunt carried him back.”
I wonder for a moment what happened to the cat. Taylor’s aunt couldn’t have taken him on her world adventure, could she?
“It’s a shame not to have a bookshop cat now,” Taylor says. “But Aunt Jessie gave Mr. Snuggle-up-a-gus to a friend when she decided she wanted to travel.”
“Maybe you can get a new one,” Meg suggests.
“Maybe,” Taylor says. “For now, I just want to get the place opened up.”
“It will be open next week,” Meg says firmly.
Opening before Christmas has always been Taylor’s goal. I know there are a few more things on her list that won’t be done by then, but she’s at peace with moving forward anyway.
That’s honestly impressive for someone as careful and smart as Taylor. When we first met, I assumed she would be a perfectionist about every little thing, but she’s more laid-back than I gave her credit for.
We reach the heart of town a few minutes later, and it’s as crowded as always.
Meg suddenly grabs my hand, just like when she was really little.
“Meg, hey,” a girl wandering with a pack of kids calls to her.
Meg nods and mumbles something, like she wishes the girl hadn’t noticed her.
“Is that a friend from school?” I ask her. The kid, like all kids here, is familiar. I probably know her parents from my own school days.
Meg nods and starts walking a little fast, her way of telling me she doesn’t want to talk about it.
Her shyness around anyone other than family has always worried me. My mom says she’ll grow out of it, but she’s already ten.
I glance over at Taylor, but her eyes are on Meg and there’s a little furrow in her brow.
She doesn’t like it either.
“Hey there, strangers,” Buck calls out as he strolls over to join us on the sidewalk.
I can’t help noticing a few women checking him out, and of course my gaze goes right to Taylor, who is smiling up at him and saying hello.
