The profit and loss statement Fred’s accountants had given her told a grim tale of no profit and much loss. Even Liddy’s accountant had advised against her purchasing the business, pointing out she had no business experience herself.
“But I have common sense,” she’d told him. “And I’ve been a reader all my life. I know books, and I know what people want in a bookstore, because they’re the same things I want. The same things my bookstore will have.”
He’d shrugged and given Liddy his blessing and reminded her he was there to help when she needed to bail out. She’d thanked him with a tight smile on her face and a promise to herself there’d be no bailing.
Liddy reminded herself of that conversation as she took in the scene before her. Books piled on the floor, walls that hadn’t been painted since the nineteen sixties, and area rugs worn and buckled and bearing the scent and scars of countless pairs of muddy feet.
In her mind’s eye she knew exactly how she wanted the store to look and how she was going to run it—and no one had better get in her way.
She paused and looked around at the chaos surrounding her. “It’s going to be great when it’s finished, Jess,” she said softly. “You’re going to love it.”
Her list for the day was specific and detailed, and she’d stick to it, come hell or high water.
“Get moving, Liddy. Those books aren’t going to box themselves.”
She started in the front of the store, carefully placing the books into the cartons she, Emma, and Maggie had put together the night before. She’d filled four boxes when she heard the front door open.
“. . . but I told him I was really busy, and I’d rather they send the lawyers up here to take my deposition,” Grace Flynn was saying.
“Will they do that?” Maggie strolled in behind her daughter. Petite and blonde, she’d dressed much like Liddy, in an old T-shirt and work pants.
“I’m pretty sure but probably not till late fall. I think they’d like me to be as nonhostile as possible.” Grace laughed. “As nonhostile as someone can be whose entire life was blown apart by their client.”
Liddy stood up and moved the box she’d just finished packing to the side of the aisle. “So they’re really prosecuting that woman for hacking into your computer?”
“You betcha. That bitch not only stole my husband, she ruined my career.” Petite like her mother, dressed in denim shorts and a tank top the color of lemons, Grace took off her sunglasses, placed them on the counter near Big Red, and pulled her ponytail a little higher.
After Zach, Grace’s husband, left her for one of their paralegals, she’d anonymously started a blog, TheLast2No, where she’d let rip her feelings about her ex and Amber, his girlfriend. Soon readers who’d been similarly dumped by their significant others had gathered to whine and rant and bitch without fear of judgment. When Amber had hacked into Grace’s computer and discovered Grace (screen name Annie Boleyn) was the mastermind behind TheLast2No, she’d contacted a reporter and tipped her off. The following day, Grace was exposed as Annie and became the laughingstock of the Philadelphia legal community for her inability to gracefully bow out of her ex’s life, the consensus being she was unstable and unprofessional. Leaving Philadelphia and her legal career behind, Grace had moved into the house her mother had purchased in Wyndham Beach, but she was still getting her feet on the ground and trying to reinvent herself. In the wake of the discovery of Amber’s illegal hacking, the FBI had been notified, and Amber had been taken into custody.
“But she’s out of jail, right?” Liddy walked to the door and locked it. She didn’t want any unexpected visitors.
“So I heard through the grapevine. Zach had to bail her out.” A sly smile crossed Grace’s lips. “He’s started his own firm out in Chester County, since no one in Philly would hire him once word got out. Amber is his only employee, because no one wanted her, either. Paralegal, receptionist, assistant, gofer. Karma can be a beautiful thing.”
“So they tell me.” Liddy tossed her an empty box. “How ’bout you box up some of those books in the children’s department?”
“Sure.” Grace caught the box with both hands.
“I’ll take nonfiction,” Maggie said. She grabbed a few boxes that were still flat and carried them halfway down the aisle, where she proceeded to unfold them.
The three worked in silence for several minutes before Liddy called to Maggie, “I saw Brett at Ground Me a while ago. He was with a couple of town council members. Looked like they were having a meeting.”
“Oh, yeah. He mentioned he was getting together with a couple of guys for coffee this morning. Something about people complaining about kids drag racing out on Darby Road in the middle of the night.” Maggie sorted through the books on the shelves in front of her, placing some into the open box but leaving others on the shelves. A moment later, she said, “Liddy, there are some really old books here, some with missing, torn, and marked-up pages. Maybe you ought to go through them. A few should probably be tossed, but you might think about selling others online instead of having them take up space in the shop. Who knows how long they’ve been there? Once you rearrange things, you’re not going to have room for books that aren’t likely to sell.”
“Like I have time to run an online business,” Liddy replied. “Just toss the ones aside you think are ready for the scrap heap. I trust your judgment.” She paused as if reconsidering. “Maybe make a list of those you’re throwing out. There could be newer editions we might want to bring in.”
“Good idea.” Maggie came to the front of the store and picked up her bag. Opening it, she took out a small notepad and a pen.
“I can set up online sales,” Grace called from the back of the long room. “I’ve finished most of your website already. I can work up an online store for you. Easy peasy. Just set aside those books you think should go, Mom, and I’ll inventory them. When new titles are brought in, we can add them, too. Many brick-and-mortar bookstores have online shops.”
“Thanks, Gracie,” Liddy said. “You’re hired.”
“I accept.” Grace looked at her mother. “Do I know how to ace a job interview or what?”
“Where would you keep the books you want to sell?” Maggie walked back to the shelves where she’d been working.
Liddy stopped for a moment to consider. “Well, I have two floors above the shop. I need one for storage.” She stepped to the counter and took a sip of coffee. “Grace, you could set up an office for yourself on the second floor and work out of there. We can work out some sort of remuneration schedule once I get this place in order.”
“Sounds good. I’m happy to do that. I have lots of time on my hands,” Grace reminded her.
“Did you sign up to take the Massachusetts bar exam?” Liddy took another sip before setting her coffee back on the counter.
“Not yet. I don’t know what I want to do. I don’t even know if I want to be a lawyer anymore.” Grace stood at the back of the room, her hands on her hips.
“You worked really hard in law school. You’ve spent almost ten years as a practicing attorney. A successful attorney.” Maggie stepped into the aisle to face her daughter. “Are you sure you want to leave that behind?”