Page 70 of The Pumpkin Pie Book Nook

Robyn nodded, carefully sliding the envelope free. Her fingers hovered over the wax seal, her heart slamming against her ribs.

Robyn met Emily’s eyes. “This is it. Isabel’s final pages.”

Emily wiped at her cheeks, leaving a streak of flour across her skin. “I’m going to cry, and I still have to bake tonight,” she said with a laugh.

“I can’t believe we have the whole story now.” A mix of emotions filled Robyn.

And then, because the universe couldn’t let her have one uninterrupted moment of peace, the next thought slammed into her just as hard⁠—

Now the real race begins. They had seven days to edit, type, and print the entire manuscript, and one shot at saving the bookstore. She couldn’t afford to waste a second.

THIRTY-TWO

TYLER

Tyler was helping Mr. Alders, one of the local retirees, look for a gardening book in the back corner of the bookstore where the nonfiction section was nestled. The older gentleman kept eying the pumpkin pie book nook, and Tyler wasn’t sure if it was because he wanted a slice of pie, or if he found the entire setup distasteful. It could be hard to tell with Mr. Alders. His grandson, Cole, was much easier to read.

Tyler was about to ask him when his phone vibrated in his pocket. Tyler acted nonchalantly, pulling it out to dismiss the message, until he saw it was Robyn.

He quickly read the message, his eyes lighting up at the news.

“What did I just say?” Mr. Alders snapped, squinting at him over his glasses. “I’m trying to see if you have anything on mulches, and you’re over there playing with your phone.”

Tyler tucked the phone away immediately. “You’re right, sir. Sorry. Important message.”

“Hmph.” Mr. Alders jabbed a finger toward the gardening shelves. “Mulches. I need something practical, not one of those books that tells you to talk to your plants.”

Tyler bit back a laugh. “No plant pep talks. Got it.”

He scanned the spines, pulling out a couple titles for the older man to browse. Mr. Alders took them, flipped through the pages, and made a face like each one was more disappointing than the last.

“What was this important message of yours about anyway?” he asked.

“Have you heard about the Maple Falls Book Club?”

Mr. Alders looked up, suspicious. “What’s this now about a book club?”

Tyler gave him the short version: newly founded club, town-wide scavenger hunt, Isabel’s manuscript turning Maple Falls upside down.

“And,” Tyler added, unable to stop the pride in his voice, “Robyn and Emily just found the last installment.”

Mr. Alders stared at him, unimpressed. “That’s what you called important?”

Tyler grinned. “To the people looking for it, yeah.”

“Important is finding the right mulch before frost kills my vegetables,” Mr. Alders said, and went right back to his book.

Tyler chuckled under his breath. At least he’d tried.

He found Mr. Alders a no-nonsense guide that promised better soil, fewer weeds, and absolutely no emotional bonding with begonias. Mr. Alders approved—barely—then shuffled up to the register.

After Tyler rang him up and wished him a good afternoon, he pulled out his phone again—ready to text Robyn back, Are you serious? His thumbs hovered over the screen.

Then the bell above the bookstore door chimed.

Tyler’s head lifted automatically, his heart making him act like a hopeful fool, like maybe it would be Robyn walking back in with that flushed, triumphant look she got when she’d solved something.

He already had a smile forming.