“Yes, sir.” I hesitated. He looked all scrunched and uncomfortable. “I’m on the schedule.”
“I’m sorry. Your mom must’ve forgotten to mention that she doesn’t need you today.”
My muscles locked. Nothing moved except my eyes and my lips. “Why?”
“We have a new intern. Nice girl. Beasley is majoring in fashion merchandising at the community college.” He gave a hearty laugh. “She offered to work for free, but of course, we’ll pay her.”
An intern was a wonderful idea. The shop got extra help. The college student got something valuable to put on her resume. From the business angle, it was completely logical. But they should’ve told mebeforethey hired her. “Why didn’t I know about this?”
He deflated. “I’m sorry. We forgot, which isn’t a good excuse.”
“No, it’s not.” I put my travel mug down with a snap. “When am I scheduled next?”
“The rest of the week hasn’t changed.”
I stalked to the stairs and then paused. “I need to work, too. Please don’t cut me out.” Without waiting for his response, I charged up to my room, threw off my sundress, and whipped on shorts and a tank top. Then I crashed on the bed, a cat wedged under each arm.
After my folks left, I listened to music. Happy songs to vaccinate me against gloom. An hour was enough, though. I rocketed out of bed, startling the cats. I’d wasted too much of the morning when I could’ve been useful. Project Pack Up was next.
I crossed to my brother’s bedroom and leaned against the closed door. Breathing slowly. Summoning my courage to face it again. The hardest job was past.
Open door.
Step inside.
Okay, that went well. What should we target today?
The mattress and box springs had disappeared. All that remained was a rectangular impression in the carpet.
I frowned at the bookcase, swept my gaze over to the desk, and then back again to the shelves. Yeah, there was the project. Time to find a genie. I hurried down the back stairs and into the sunroom. “Grant?”
He walked in from the outside, looking incredibly good in jeans and a snug T-shirt. I could see why Lacey hadn’t been able to resist him last fall for the brief time they dated.
Of course, I could also see why she was with Eli now. He matched her in every adjective that mattered— smart, generous, loyal, and imperfectly human.
“I know what my wish is today. Organizing his books.”
Grant followed me to my brother’s room. I entered boldly this time and went straight to the bookcase. The top shelf held non-fiction on a variety of subjects. Astronomy. Egyptology. Applied statistics. The remaining shelves were all fiction. The first book I picked up wasA Wrinkle in Time.I thought it was boring, but my twin had said it was one of his favorites, although he would never explain why. Just claimed that it resonated in a strange way.
This book was staying. What else did he have?
A set of classics, such asThe Adventures of Sherlock HolmesandThe Count of Monte Cristo.Another shelf with twenty-first century books like...
Sara, just readThe Martian.
Really, Sean?Three hundred pages about a guy living alone on a deserted planet?
Okay, then, watch the movie. It’s almost as good as the book. You’ll think it’s awesome, and I will never let you forget it.
His books were such a personal part of him—a peek into his personality, his loves, his conscience. I smiled at their worn covers, because a smile would indicate to Grant that everything was okay.
Not.
I couldn’t do this after all. Backing away, I circled past the genie to stand by the door. “I won’t be here for this wish.”
“May I ask why?”
“You can do it yourself.” My face felt tight. “You don’t need me.”
