Page 76 of Summer Holiday Lifeline

“Well, I hope they know what a gem they have in you. I wouldn’t want to see their bottom line if you ever decide to self-publish.”

She tapped one crutch on the floor. “I’ve got plenty on my plate, thanks. How many of these beauties do you have?” She held up the notebook.

“Three, I think.”

“I’ll take them all.”

He nodded, took the one she held, and she followed him to the till. As he rang up her purchases, she gazed around the room. “Very cozy in here, isn’t it?”

“I like it.”

“So I hear.”

He glanced up, but she was still examining the room, not looking at him. “I guess I spend a fair amount of time here,” he conceded.

She chuckled, but didn’t comment on his gross understatement. “Only I wonder.”

When she didn’t continue, but only handed over some cash, he prompted her.

“You have these wonderfully comfortable-looking couches and chairs. And all this quiet.”

“I do.”

“You see, the B and B has been overrun with a group of college kids. Lovely people. But a bit rowdy.”

“You need a place to work?” Steven guessed.

“Do you mind terribly?”

“Not at all. If the occasional customer wandering through won’t bother you, you’re more than welcome. The company will be nice. Though I promise not to interrupt your concentration by chatting.”

“That would be lovely. Thank you.” She turned and started back towards the circle of comfy furniture, leaning heavily on her crutches as she went.

Steven took her new notebooks and the bag she’d abandoned on the floor and followed. Once she was settled in one of the wingbacks, he returned his attention to the books stacked on the table that he and Myles had been working on before their break.

Hours passed. The soft clacking of the keyboard on Tiffany’s laptop played a gentle counterpart to the music rolling constantly under the day’s activities.

Tiffany didn’t talk much. When someone bought three of her novels off the rack, she only smiled to herself. Until the woman realized who she was and approached her. Then she kindly signed the books and chatted about the one she was writing, making the customer’s day, it seemed.

“That was really nice.”

She shrugged. “All in a day’s work.”

“You really love your job, don’t you?”

At that, she closed her laptop and looked up at him. “Don’t you?”

“Yeah. A lot.” He grimaced. “I would have to, wouldn’t I?”

“Would you?”

“It would be some pretty serious self-flagellation to never leave here, and also to not like what I do while I’m here.”

“But it isn’t that.”

“No.” He sat in the chair next to her. “Do you believe in sentient houses?”

“If you think I would sit inside a house in Griffon’s Elbow as often as I do and say I didn’t, then you think I’m way braver than I actually am, my friend.” She focused her attention on the bookshelf opposite them. “Which is an answer in itself, isn’t it? Why?” Her laser attention shifted to his face.