I let out a nervous chuckle. “Don’t go getting emotional on me. You know I don’t know how to deal with people’s feelings,” I semijoked.
He laughed. “That’s true. But this is remarkable. Your mom would be so proud of what you’ve become. I’m so proud of what you’ve become.” He placed a hand on my shoulder and turned toward me. “I’m soproudof what you’ve become,” he repeated, this time the words dripping with deep admiration. “You did it. You did this. I’m so amazed, Karla. It looks amazing.”
“I still can’t believe that it happened. I’m proud of this li’l ole thing.”
“Me too.” He kept his hands on my shoulders and his smile spread wider as he asked me his favorite question of all time. “How’s your heart?”
I grinned and placed my hands against my chest. “Still beating.”
He pulled me into a side hug and kissed my forehead. “Good.”
The two of us talked a little bit longer before heading to join the rest of the crew. Shay looked amazing as always, and so did their two kids, Lance and Ava. Even though we weren’t cousins by blood, those two kids were cousins by heart to both Lorelai and me. Ava and Lance were twins, and about to turn ten any day now. They were a wild pair, and Lorelai loved being their older cousin who taught them all the ways to be mischievous. That was probably why they loved her so much—she was the same type of troublemaker.
Grandma Claire showed up and was quick to pull me into a hug and celebrate my big accomplishment.
“I always knew you were magic,” she said as she held me in her arms. “Your mother would be so proud of you.”
I smiled, knowing she was telling the truth. I always loved when she was around, because I could always see Mom in her eyes. That felt like a gift that kept giving.
As time passed by, the bookstore began to get packed withvisitors, some known, others new, and the celebration began to expand right along with my heart. I felt so overjoyed that so many loved ones and strangers showed up for me and Second Chance. It felt like the greatest dream come true.
“Karla! Karla! Oh my goodness, look at this!” Joanna said frantically as she rushed into the bookstore, wearing her layers of sweaters and a big trench coat. Ever since I was a student in her AP English class, Joanna Rivers had been a defining character in the story of my life. She’d become my safe space when I used to escape to her classroom for lunch hour, and then after my touch with death, she visited me every week at the recovery center. After I went off to college, we’d still have our weekly coffee dates. To this day, we still met up for a friendly drink. She was definitely one of my favorite human beings. Mrs.Rivers—Joanna, as I now called her—was also the highlighted author of the event that night.
Because at the age of seventy, Joanna was now officially a published author. And even though Second Chance was a used bookstore, I couldn’t help but put up a display of her new release. It was a reminder that no matter one’s age, they were never too old to have their own dreams come true. Joanna called her novelWish for Meher own personal second chance. She said it was the first time in all her seventy years that she’d done something just for her. That made me happier than ever before.
“This place is stunning,” Joanna exclaimed as she pulled me into a tight hug. I melted into her hug as I always did when we met up.
“Thank you. And thank you for agreeing to do a reading fromWish for Me. I am so happy and proud of you for showing up today to help celebrate the grand opening.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. This is just remarkable, my dear.” She glanced at her watch. “But I might needa little bit of your father’s whiskey to get me prepared for the reading.” She patted her hand against her chest. “I have a wave of nerves. I swear my heart has been pitter-pattering crazier than ever for the past twenty-four hours.”
“Well, luckily for you, we have all the cocktails available,” I said as I walked her to the bar. “Would you like one of the specialty cocktails for the evening?”
“Oh, no, sweetheart. Just a shot of whiskey. I like my drink with a bite to it.” She winked and nudged my arm.
“I got you covered.” I waved over the bartender, Daniel, who was one of my closest friends. We’d formed a book club a few years ago with our three other friends—Grace, Eric, and Becca—after meeting on an online forum for booklovers. When I told Daniel I was opening a bookshop with a café and bar, he was quick to apply for the position. I’d hired him right on the spot.
I ordered a drink for Joanna. She kept tapping her chest from nerves, and I gathered my hands around hers. I placed them against my own chest, against my heartbeat. “The book is a masterpiece, Joanna.”
“Do you really believe that, or are you just saying that because I’m your favorite teacher?”
“Youaremy favorite teacher,” I said. “And Ireallybelieve that.”
“Thank you, but”—She smiled, squeezed my hands, then dropped them and picked up the glass of whiskey—“I’m still going to need that drink.” She downed it and then slid the glass toward Daniel. “Another one, Daniel.”
She then took my hands back into hers. “Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I always wanted to be an author.”
“You were always meant to be one, too.” I winked. “I’m going to make sure everyone gets seated. Don’t have too many shots of my dad’s whiskey—it’s strong.”
“So am I, Karla.” She downed the shot. “So strong.”
I giggled. She was ridiculous. “Just don’t be up there slurring your words.”
She held up her hand. “Scout’s honor!”
I left my dear friend at the bar and headed over to the main event space where a small stage was set up for Joanna’s reading. We had chairs set up in rows for all of the community who made it to the shop that night, yet somehow, we still didn’t have enough sitting space. About twenty to thirty people were standing. They filled all the aisles among the bookshelves. That sight alone was enough to get me a little misty-eyed. I wondered if the curious strangers who stopped by knew that they were a gigantic part of my dreams coming true.
Next up was the part that I dreaded the most about hosting the grand opening event. It was now time for me to step up on that mini stage and introduce everyone to Second Chance. I was terrified. There were a few things in life that I hated; bullies and public speaking were at the top of the list.
