The bookshop owner and the coffee shop owner. What went together better than books and coffee? Or tea, of course?
She and Jameson?
Sue smiled as she drew a finger along a row of spines. She used to love falling into a book, reading until the sun peeked through her window. Even in the drowsy aftermath, she didn’t resent the exhaustion as the words stayed with her and carried her through. It has been such a simple pleasure, one she hadn’t indulged in years. When life became about survival, simple pleasures were the first to go.
Sue found a small reading nook buried between the ends of two shelves. A young boy had taken up occupancy there, curling up with a book that looked much older than his reading level, if the scary clown on the cover was any indication. Even so, he was enthralled and didn’t notice her walk past.
Sue paused when she was mostly out of his eyesight and leaned to watch him for a moment. Suddenly, he turned to look at her. “You think I don’t know what’s in that head of yours?”
Sue stiffened. “What did you say?”
The boy blinked. “I didn’t say anything.”
He turned back to his book, his attention disappearing inside the pages.
“Oh, ah, sorry.” Sue retraced her steps.
Ace sat on the sales counter, licking his paw. Sue lifted her hand to pet him now that he was finally still and in range. His head moved to butt her palm as if welcoming her greeting.
Sue smiled at the animal as it soaked up her attention. “Thank you for showing me your place. You’re fortunate to get to live here.”
A bustle of energy in the form of a short woman appeared from the side of the store that had the stage. Cat-eye-shaped glasses and bright lipstick offset black hair streaked with gray piled into a bun on her head. She looked like a character from a book, though Sue couldn’t determine precisely which book.
The woman stopped and looked at Sue in surprise, then to where Sue petted Ace. The cat jumped off the counter and rushed toward the well-loved books. Papers fluttered behind him, knocked to the floor. Sue saw the boy’s hand drop from the chair to absently pet the cat, even as the rest of him was hidden by the shelves.
“I’ll get these.” Sue instantly leaned down to pick up the papers.
The woman came to lean on the counter to watch. “Do you believe in signs?”
“Signs?” Sue glanced at the woman before tapping the papers on the floor to align them in a pile. She slowly stood and placed them on the counter.
“I do,” the woman said.
“I…” Sue glanced around in confusion, looking for a sign on the walls that she might have disobeyed. “Was I not supposed to pet Ace?”
The woman frowned. “Why wouldn’t you pet Ace?”
“I…” Sue frowned. “I’m confused. What sign?”
“What’s your name, love?”
“Sue, ah, Susan Jewel.”
“Nice to meet you, Sue. I’m Melba.” The woman put her hand on the stack of papers Sue had picked up for her. Each motion seemed to tremble with an energetic force. “I’m talking about cosmic signs. When the universe whispers and you’re lucky enough to hear it.”
Sue leaned forward to whisper, “You mean magical powers?”
Just how unique was this town? Did everyone have secret magical powers?
Melba chuckled. “I wish magic. How cool would that be! Though, I suppose there is a kind of everyday magic in things that happen to us.”
Sue couldn’t help but return the smile. “All right. So what is the cosmic sign?”
“You’re meant to be here,” Melba stated, as if it was an obvious fact. “Ace is never wrong in his judgment of people.”
Sue looked around. “It is a great store.”
“I know,” Melba nodded.
“Ace is a fantastic cat,” Sue added.
“He’s a naughty scamp,” Melba said with a shrug. “But I love him. He’s never wrong.”
“So you said.” Sue felt the natural end of a conversation coming and started to pull away.
“Ten thousand,” Melba said.
“Ten thousand what?” Sue stopped her slow departure.
Melba tapped her fingernail on the stack of papers. “To buy out my business. It includes all the inventory, contacts, etcetera, etcetera. Not the building. We lease.”
Sue glanced down and read the page heading, “The Bookstore in Freewild Cove Sales Contract Page Five of Seven.”
“Cosmic, right?”
“Uh,” Sue glanced around. “I think maybe you were expecting someone else?”
“No.” Melba shook her head. “I’m pretty sure it’s you. Ace is never wrong. I’ve had these contracts sitting here for roughly four months. I woke up one night and had a feeling right here.” She pushed her fist to the center of her chest. “It’s time for the last chapter of my business owner book and I should be moving into the epilogue soon. I knew that the right person would find this contract. Not a single person has touched them since I put them here, and don’t let today’s lack of foot traffic fool you. A lot of people have come in.”
“But why would you want to sell? This place is amazing?” Nerves balled in Sue’s stomach. Just minutes ago, she had been daydreaming about a different life.
“It is, isn’t it? And I couldn’t just sell to anyone. I need to know that the universe approves.” Melba slapped her hands on the counter a few times and then propelled herself back a few steps. “But I’m turning sixty years young soon, and there are things I want to do.”
“You don’t look sixty,” Sue said.
“That’s good because I won’t be for another five years,” Melba answered.
Five years was soon?
“What is it you want to do?” Sue asked.
“Not bother with business taxes while I sit back and collect a paycheck.” Melba grinned. “That’s the catch. I come with the store—as an employee, of course. I figure three years is more than enough time to show someone the ropes. That way, I know I’m leaving it in good hands. Now, I won’t lie. It’s not easy being a small business owner. It’s not just selling hard copies anymore. We have to have an online presence with e-books and a portal for customers to order books they want, and we do a book fair at the local schools every year. They don’t make a lot of money, but kids need books.”
“Melba, this is so…” Sue felt her hand tingle.
“Also, you’ll be expected to read to Ace. He likes it when you perform scenes from some of the books.” Melba nodded emphatically. “He’s a naughty bugger. Loves vampire romances.”
“Oh?” Sue tried not to laugh. “I don’t know if—”
“Is it the ten thousand? That’s more of a rough estimate. We can run an inventory report—”
“No, ten thousand seems very fair, if not too cheap for a place like this,” Sue interrupted. “I…”
She thought of the check in her purse. Could she do this?
The ring sent a pulse through her hand so powerful that she gasped and had to grab her palm. “Ow.”
“What is it?” Melba hurried through the café doors to come around the counter next to Sue.