She sighed and the irritation that had been evident on her face faded. I could already tell she was one ofthosecustomers. “I can’t remember the title, but it’s blue and has red…maybe yellow words on thefront.”
“Okay, do you remember anything else? The author? What it’s about?” I asked even though I had a feeling I already knew what book she was looking for. A string of women her age had been in the last couple days snatching it up. This always happened when Oprah featured a new title for herbookclub.
Thankfully, Mr. Matthews, the owner of this place, paid attention to all that crap and bought a bunch of copies as soon as the new book was announced. He also made sure it was proudly displayed on the wall behind the front counter so everyone who came in would see it. It was ideal for those customers who couldn’t remember the name, or what itlookedlike.
“I think it’s about a lady whose husband dies, and she’s left to fend for herself.”Wrong. “And the book is her struggle to survive or something.”Closer.
“Andit’sblue?”
“Or maybe it was green. I don’t know. Shouldn’t you know what book I’m talking about? Everyone isreadingit.”
She had a point. I should know which book she was looking for. I’d even read it. I took a deep breath and scrunched my face. All part of an exaggerated show, so she could see just how hard I was trying to help her. I even put a single finger to my lips. But when I looked off to the side of the store pretending to rack my brain for the title of the book she so desperately wanted, I spotted mysister.
Always so serious, she was giving me a stern look. This wasn’t the first time she’d caught me giving a customer ahardtime.
Fine.
“I have a thought.” I smiled while grabbing the red book from the shelf behind me. “We had a few lovely ladies in yesterday, and they all bought this. Could it be the one you’relookingfor?”
“Yes.” Her smile was sheepish. “But I could have sworn itwasblue.”
“Happens to the best of us,” I said, before I rang up herpurchase.
I quickly put her book in a bag and wished her a wonderful day as she left. As soon as the woman walked away, Sarah took her spot in front of thecounter.
“It’s not nice to mess with people like that,” she said, still with the grim expression ofherface.
“Oh, come on, I was about to grab it for her when I saw you. Besides, it’s so slow. I haven’t seen another human being in hours. I’m starving for theinteraction.”
“You like thequiet.”
“I do,” I said withawink.
“You’reimpossible.”
“But youloveme.”
“Yes, Rainier, I do. But only because someonehasto.”
“Whatever.” I sat back down in my chair. “What’sup?”
“Not much, just shopping for a newbraand–”
“GA!” I interrupted. Why Sarah thought her brother wanted to hear about underwear shopping wasbeyondme.
She rolled her eyes. “I was shopping and thought I’d bring you a pretzel from the food court because I’m the bestsisterever.”
“You’re my onlysister.”
“Which is exactly why we need to stick together,” she said shoving a small bag into my hand. “Anyway, I gotta go to work. Just thought I’d stop by andsayhi.”
“You really are the bestthough.”
“I know,” she said, already walking out of the small store. “No more torturing thecustomers.”
“I make no promises,” I answered, but she was out into the main walkway of the mall and didn’t hear me. Which was fine, I was ready to dig into my weak lunch. I’d forgotten to bring something, and Jenny hadn’t shown up toworkyet.
It wasn’t like her to be late. She was my favorite person to work with, not that there were many employees at Between The Pages. The bookstore was usually pretty slow, so it gave us a bunch of time to goof off or read. We’d been working together off and on for the last couple years. It had given us plenty of time to fall into a comfortable workrelationship.
