Page 16 of Love in Mission City: The Shorts

Miss Edna sat with Ari in her lap.The cat purred loudly and the elderly lady had her eyes closed.

I was about to place the glass on a coaster on the side table, when her eyes popped open.She held out a shaky hand, and I gave her the glass.She’d never spilled anything, but I wouldn’t care if she did.

She had free rein in this place.Always had and always would.

“What can I help you with today?”

“I’m looking for something special for Marnie.”

The younger librarian.

“Well, I’m sure we can help.”

“I want the newest R.D.Watts book.”

“Okay.”I weighed my next words.“I’m quite certain the library bought multiple copies.”

She waved her hand.“Of course they did.But I want to get a copy of the limited-edition book.Autographed, of course.”

“Of course.”Didn’t everyone?The books were a hot commodity, and everyone was clamoring for a copy.“I don’t see why you think I can help.”

“Rainbow went to school with Raven.”

Ah, so she thought my employee had the inside track because her sister knew the author.That might be possible, but Sunshine would never try to work that angle.

Raven had a standing invitation to read here whenever she wanted and to do signings whenever it tickled her fancy.She rarely did either.

The first couple of books she published under the penname had gone unnoticed.

Oh, Mission City residents enjoyed the books—they just didn’t know the author was in their midst.

An intrepid reporter in town, Sunshine’s younger sister Spring, figured it out.She was taking a class at the University of the Fraser Valley where Raven instructed.Spring nabbed an essay written by her prof, picked up her copy of R.D.Watts’s book, and fed them into a machine-learning-software program that she begged for time on.

I heard she might’ve traded favors, although obviously not the sexual kind.

Or I hoped not.

Anyway, the computer confirmed Spring’s hypothesis.

She managed to convince the editor of the Mission City Dispatch to run with the story.

They asked for Raven’s comment.

When she saw she was about to be outed, she fessed up.

From then on, we couldn’t keep the shelves stocked.

Fans flocked from everywhere for a chance to see Raven or get a signed copy.

If I thought she was comfortable, I’d have asked her to sign every copy.

But she was reticent.Partly because she wanted to keep the copies she did sign exclusive, and partly because she couldn’t fathom why so many people wanted signed copies.Despite her success, the woman was humble.

Or played herself off as such.

“I didn’t realize Marnie was such a fan.”

Miss Edna shrugged.“Young lady would never say as much, but I can tell.When she thinks I’m not looking, I’m observing her.”

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