AllFreeNovel
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Heather smirks. “You’re already paying us time and a half.”
“Double time, then. You’re the best!” I toss over my shoulder as I hustle through the back door that exits to a small alleyway behind the row of shops along Main Street.
The shop where I design and craft the furniture for the storefront is only a few minutes’ walk, and in almost no time, I spot the obnoxiously oversized RV parked outside.
“Thanks so much for sorting this out today,” the guy says. “My wife and I have to head back home really early tomorrow, and I know she was just so in love with that loveseat.”
I grin at him. “No worries, man. Happy to help.”
It doesn’t take much time for us to hoist the piece from where I stored it a few days ago, when this gentleman and his wife first visited the store and reserved it, and get it tucked in through theside door of his RV. Once it’s done, we shake hands and he heads out, leaving me with a few blissful moments of quiet alone in my shop before I lock up and head back.
Technically, it’s more direct for me to take the alley all the way back to Cohen Custom, but I glance at my watch, knowing I made quick work with that load-up, and instead head out onto Main Street to take in the crowds. It’s just as busy at the south end of the street, away from the lake, as it is near my end. The brewery is packed with customers filling the patio to the brim. There are pop-up tents in the street, which has been closed off to cars and limited to just foot traffic. It smells like sunscreen and popcorn and beer and hot asphalt, and I smile as I stroll slowly through the crowd.
When I get to Happily Ever After Bookstore, I stop, stepping up onto the curb and over to the small shop, glancing through the door as a customer exits, a bag of books in hand. Then I give in to the desire to poke my head in, stepping through the door and into the shop itself. I immediately spot Busy, standing at the register and chatting with a customer, a smile wide on her face as she rings up a purchase.
“Misery!”
I laugh when Junie suddenly appears at the back of the store, waving wildly. I wave back just as wildly, and she sprints my way, launching herself into my arms as if she’s jumping off the dock back at the lake.
“Hi, Miss Junie,” I say, lifting her up and giving her a hug.
“Is my birfday!” she says loudly, raising her arms in the air, her hands in fists, an almost maniacal smile on her face.
I spin her around in a circle. “It is! Happy birthday! Are youtwotoday?”
She nods dramatically.
“You are such a big girl!” I tell her, just as dramatically, then turn, looking toward where I know Busy is standing behind the register. “Did you know Junie is turningtwotoday?”
Busy rolls her eyes, but her smile is stretched wide across her face as she puts a stack of books into a blue tote bag then thanks her customer.
The woman grins at Junie and me before she says, “Excuse me,” and slides past us toward the door.
“Could you two be any louder?” Busy jokes, rounding the counter and walking our way. She tickles Junie’s bare foot where it dangles. “Huh?”
Junie squeals with laughter again, and I crouch down, setting her on the ground where she promptly races off through the store, toward where I can see Patty Mitchell talking with Briar at the back. I wave when they spot me, and they both wave back before returning to their conversation.
“So, how’s the day going?” I ask, glancing around, spotting at least five…no, six customers looking at titles on the shelves or flipping through open books in their hands.
“Really good, actually. Briar said we’ve already surpassed her stretch goal for opening day sales, so…we’ll see how it looks when we tally the final number.”
In my peripheral vision I see Patty and Junie walking our way, with Junie dragging her grandmother by the hand as fast as she can.
“Goodness, this one has already had too much sugar,” Patty says as they come to a stop next to us.
“She’s going to be a nightmare later, I’m sure,” Busy jokes, bending down and picking her daughter up then placing her on one hip. “Becausesomeoneis getting a special chocolate cake for her birthday!”
Junie starts clapping, that slightly loony smile returning, and I can’t help but laugh.
“We’re having a party today at six,” Patty says. “You’re welcome to join us. We’re doing a barbeque and cake.”
I open my mouth, but before I can say anything, Busy interjects.
“Mom, Reid has more important things to do than eat chocolate cake.” She laughs as she says it then looks at me with an apologetic expression. “Don’t let her guilt you. She’s very good at getting people to do things they don’t want to do.”
There’s nothing sassy in the way she says it, but it still strikes something in my chest.
“Oh, honey, if that were true, my days mothering five teenagers would have been a lot easier,” Patty says, giving me her own look of exasperation as she takes Junie out of Busy’s arms. “Alright, well…if you change your mind, you know where we’ll be. Say goodbye, sweetheart.”
