Page 28 of Crazy in Love

“Yes.”

“Yeah, me too.”

Tiger jumped up between them and put a paw on Nick’s leg. He moved the book and allowed the cat to curl up on his lap.

“Uh. Make yourself at home,” he said as Tiger did just that.

“See how easy he is to talk to?” Faith said with a smile. She stood. “People are right. You’re a decent sounding board. You gonna be okay getting home?”

“Yes. Thank you. Good luck.”

She walked back to the store. It was full of little kids listening to story hour. The joy on their faces warmed Faith’s heart. Every day, she caught glimpses of why her mother loved this place so much. Books affected people in so many ways. They could be a source of information, an escape from pain, a distraction from the troubles of the world, and sometimes, just a frivolous, fun way to spend an evening.

She wandered through the stacks, breathing in the scent of paper and glue binding—that new-book smell. Indescribable,but distinct. Maybe cutting hair wasn’t her true calling after all. Maybe her mother had known better than Faith that she needed this place as much as it needed her.

After closing, she met Alex, Juliet, and Tess at Karla’s for dinner. Still unsure how she was going to handle the letters, she kept her mouth shut. Also, it was only fair she tell her father before anyone else.

Over meatloaf and mashed potatoes, they discussed more trivial things.

“I’m down to my last few hair appointments,” Faith announced. “Be done by the end of the week.”

“Wow,” Juliet said. “That’s big news. You okay with it?”

“I think so,” Faith said. “The store’s growing on me.”

“It will be a lot easier to focus on one thing at a time,” Tess said.

“Yes. I’m also getting back on the dating horse,” Faith said. “Got a coffee date tomorrow with a guy from New Hampton.” Out-of-town men were a must. First, because therewereno dateable men in Green Valley Falls. Second, it made it easier to avoid them when things inevitably didn’t work out.

“Good for you,” Alex said. “’Bout time you did something for yourself.”

“Your dad getting along better then?” Juliet asked.

“The widow Hickman came by with food on Sunday.” Faith raised both eyebrows, indicating she suspected an ulterior motive to the gesture. “I have a feeling Irene spurred that.”

“You think Irene’s matchmaking?” Alex asked.

“I wouldn’t put it past her,” Juliet said. “She does have a bit of a rep in town for that kind of thing.”

“No way Eddie’s ready for dating yet,” Tess said.

“No,” Faith agreed. “I can’t picture him dating at all.”

“That’s ’cause he’s your dad,” Alex said. “I will say, Mrs. Hickman makes a dang good chocolate cake. He could do worse.”

Faith threw a french fry at her, which she caught easily, and popped into her mouth with a wink.

“You gonna wanna move back anytime soon?” Tess asked. “I took Nick to the doctor yesterday morning, and he’s been skulking around ever since. It’s getting old. I’d be glad to boot him.”

“Where would he go?” Faith sipped her drink.

Tess shrugged. “Back to my folks?”

“We’ll see,” Faith said. “I’m not quite ready to leave my dad to his own devices just yet.”

Her new worry was that the scandalous paternity news would cause a relapse in any progress he’d made. No, she’d better stay with him a little longer.

After dinner, her friends helped her at the store and went home. Finally, with a moment alone to really dissect this recent development, she decided she should give her dad his letter. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon. He had a right to know.

---