“I think you should marry her,” Meg says firmly.
That escalated quickly.
“I don’t think she moved to the mountains to get married,” I say, trying to swallow down my surprise and figure out how to tell Meg that normal people don’t just marry each other out of the blue. “She’s trying to get the bookshop open.”
“Well, just because it’s not what she came here fordoesn’t mean she can’t do it,” Meg says reasonably. “Plenty of people have a job and are also married.”
“Okay,” I say. “Well, I’m glad you don’t mind me dating her.”
“Would it matter?” Meg’s voice is smaller now and softer, and she’s not looking me in the eye anymore.
“Hey, what are you talking about?” I say, striding over to crouch in front of her chair so I can see her face. “Of course it would matter.”
“Ryan P.’s dad got married again,” she mutters. “And his stepmom thinks he’s in the way.”
“She said that?” I ask, horrified.
“Well, probably not, I guess,” Meg says, stealing a glance up at me. “But Ryan P. says that he knows she thinks it.”
“I’m really sorry to hear that,” I tell her. “I would never marry someone who felt that way about you, or even just made you think they did.”
“Taylor likes me,” Meg says, her voice a little more confident now.
“Probably more than she likes me,” I admit.
That buys me a smirk from Meg, which instantly makes me feel better.
“I’m glad you like her too,” I tell her. “And we’ll see where things go.”
“Okay,” Meg says. “Just don’t let any other guys get to her first. She’s special.”
“You know, you and your uncle are more similarthan I thought,” I say thoughtfully as I try unsuccessfully to tuck a bit of her hair behind her ear.
“Yes,” she agrees. “We both like to eat cold chili in the middle of the night.”
She’s dropping a big hint that she wants a midnight snack, and I figure she’s earned it.
“Get yourself a bowl,” I tell her. “And don’t tell Grandma.”
“I tell Grandmaeverything,” she says, scampering to the cupboard for her bowl.
I have to smile at that. I raised a really good daughter.
Now I just have to figure out how tolock downthe woman I know she wants in our life.
And that might be easier said than done.
16
TAYLOR
The afternoon sun fills the bookshop with warm light as I step back to take a look at my newest display of a very special book.
Starhoof’s pale blue covers with their light blue font might not be anything special on their own, but the paperbacks look great against the backdrop of the bright red tablecloth on the round table. I even put a strand of white Christmas lights around the edge to draw the eye.
I may have over-ordered, but I can’t help feeling happy to see so many copies ofStarhoofright here in my own shop. Even if I have to give them away, I’ll make sure this book gets into some hands that will appreciate it.
Things might not have wound up exactly the way I imagined when I was a kid, but I’m starting to thinkthat my life now might just be even better. I love this town, and I love my shop.
