“Stay strong, sweet girl.” Clara hugged her at the door. “And stay in touch.”
“I will.” Ellie forced herself to hold back the tears threatening her eyes; she wouldn’t give her mother the satisfaction. “Goodbye.”
Under the cover of darkness, Ellie’s mother drove her away from Sims Chapel, the streetlights flickering into the car. Ellie’s jaw tightened as she watched Clara’s house fall from sight, realizing that her summer, as wonderful as it had been, was over.
PARTII
WINTER
CHAPTERSIXTEEN
Dead of Winter
February 1962
Ellie navigated the snow and ice littering the sidewalk; her assistant, not so much.
“It’s official,” said Zora Wheaton, her words barely comprehensible through chattering teeth. “H-Hell has f-finally frozen over.”
Ellie fought a smile, but in truth she couldn’t recall a harsher winter.
Zora looked at her, bewildered. “It’s winters like this that make me question my decision to move north. We don’t get cold like this in Mississippi.”
“So you’ve said.”
They stopped briefly at the intersection, waited for the light to change, then crossed the street and started up the other side. When they reached the bookstore, Ellie asked Zora if they had time for a quick stop.
Zora pushed up her sleeve and checked the time. “Your next class isn’t for another forty-five minutes, so yes.”
“Afternoon, ladies.” Sam looked up from behind the counter as they entered, cheerful as ever. “Can I help you find something, or are you simply seeking refuge from the cold?”
Ellie removed her hat and scarf. “Hi, Sam,” she said with a smile.
“Dr. Spencer, my apologies. I didn’t recognize you. And Ms. Wheaton,” he went on, shifting his gaze. “How lovely to see you both. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Ellie approached the counter. “You said you had a package waiting for me.”
“Yes, I did.” He reached beneath the counter and produced a rectangular box wrapped in brown paper. “This is for you.”
She examined the package. “There’s no return address.”
“That’s odd,” said Zora.
Ellie looked at Sam. “Is this not the book I ordered on supernovas?”
“I’m afraid not. But I’m expecting it any day.”
She frowned. “I was really counting on reviewing it this weekend. I’m already a week behind on my article as it is.”
“Well, if you have a few minutes, I can check this morning’s delivery.” He cast an eye to the unopened stack of boxes behind the counter. “I can’t promise you it will be in there, but it’s worth a shot.”
“Do you mind?”
“Not at all.” He slid off the stool. “It may take a few minutes, so feel free to look around. Perhaps something will catch your eye.”
While Sam checked the boxes, Ellie perused the nonfiction section. Zora, an avid reader in her own right, stayed at the front of the store, rifling through the classics.
“Sorry about the mess,” said Sam as he opened the first box. “I’m in the process of reorganizing.”
