“You’re going to be the best aunt. I’m so happy you’re here with me.”
Stark despair lashed me at her words, at the reminder that there was a possibility I wouldn’t in fact be here with her in the very near future.
Shit.
I’d just unloaded a whole bunch of stress onto my pregnant best friend.
I pulled away from her, studying her pretty face. “You have to let me deal with the Nick stuff. I can’t put this on you and Ramsay. Not now.”
“You’re not putting anything on me. I promise. I’ll let Ramsay deal with it. He already told me to let him handle it, so I’m not stressed. Okay?”
No, not okay.
At her mulish expression, I didn’t push. I just congratulated her again, promised I wouldn’t tell anyone, and asked if she needed anything.
When she insisted that she didn’t, I departed the guest house and headed toward Main Street for a much-needed coffee from Pages & Perks.
My thoughts vacillated between the excitement of becoming an aunt and my worries that I would miss it all. Despite Nee’s protestations, there was no way I could leave her and Ramsay to deal with my immigration and ex issues. I needed to come up with my own plan. I needed to feel like I was the one doing something to protect myself and ensure my future.
The question was what?
My mind raced distractedly as I stepped into the coffeehouse/bookstore. The adorable store Taran inherited from her mom was already busy. Along the back wall was the coffee counter and all the machinery. Bookshelves and stacks lined the adjacent side of the room and in the front were the bistro tables.A comfortable couch and coffee table near the stacks was our go-to spot when me and the girls gathered for ‘book club’. Another favorite spot were two armchairs next to the fireplace, but those were always the first spots snapped up.
Framed literary posters hung on the wall as did metal signs with coffee and book related sayings. Like: “Death to Decaf.” “That’s what I do: I drink coffee. I read books. And I know things.” “Drink Coffee: Do stupid things faster with more energy.” “Heaven is a never-ending supply of coffee and books. Welcome to Heaven.” And my personal favorite: “Imagine the possibilities if Shakespeare had access to coffee.”
I got in line behind two people I assumed were tourists because I didn’t recognize them and I was stewing in my concerns when I heard a voice call out, “Dad!”
Glancing toward the bookstore, I saw a tall, gangly teenage girl whom I recognized. I’d first seen Kelly Shaw at last year’s Highland Games where Murray did storyteller time. It was literally Murray sitting on a stool surrounded by kids, telling them fairy tales in that rumbling, gorgeous voice of his. He had a hypnotic way of telling a tale, so much so that even the adults were mesmerized. Kelly had been there, watching in the crowd. She’d grown a couple of inches since then.
The pretty, blond teenager strolled out of the bookstacks with a paperback in hand and walked toward the front of the line. Sure enough, Murray stood a few people in front of me, head and shoulders above everyone else. I would have noticed him if my mind hadn’t been on Nee and Nick.
Murray’s daughter held out the book to him.
He looked down at her, in profile to me.
A pang echoed across my chest, accompanied by a telltale flutter in my belly I hadn’t experienced since I was thirteen years old, sitting next to my crush Jackson Montgomery in fourth period.
“Can I get this?” Kelly gave her dad a look I remembered Nee giving her parents many a time when she wanted something. TheAren’t I so cute, you can’t deny me anythinglook.
Apparently, Murray was not unaffected. “Aye, okay then. What’s it about?” He glanced over the back cover.
“It’s actually part of a trilogy … come see.” Kelly tugged on her dad’s hand.
Unlike most people who would be annoyed at being pulled out of line, Murray followed his daughter with laid-back docility.
I smiled to myself as she led him between two stacks. Kelly picked up two more books, obviously explaining them as they looked over the back matter. Murray nodded along and easily acquiesced, piling the three books into his arms to bring to the back of the line.
When he turned around and our eyes met, his flared for a second before he and Kelly strolled over to join me.
“London, how are you?” Murray asked. There was more than a casual inquiry in his voice.
I was still mortified he’d witnessed my meltdown yesterday.
“Fine. Looks like you’re stocking up.” I gestured to the books and smiled at Kelly.
We’d met a couple of times over the past nine months, and she seemed like a nice kid. Very articulate and mature for her age. Between that and her height you would be forgiven for mistaking her for being a few years older.
Kelly held up one of the books. “All the girls in my form class are reading this series because of social media. All the American girls love this one. Have you read it?”
