Page 17 of Love in Mission City: The Shorts

Sounds creepy to me.

Still, a sale was a sale, and anything that made Miss Edna happy earned me brownie points in the cosmic universe.“I’ll talk to Sunshine.”More likely I’d talk to Raven directly, but I didn’t want Miss Edna thinking she could use me as a conduit.

“Talk to Sunshine about what?”The woman herself exited the backroom with a small stack of children’s books to restock the shelf.

“About getting Raven to sign her latest book so I can give it to Marnie Jones.”

Sunshine beamed.“Well, I’m not close with her, but I’ll give it a shot.Marnie’s a fan, eh?Cool.”She paused.“How’s your stomach doing?”

Miss Edna scowled.“It’s fine.Impertinent question.”

“Make an appointment with Dr.Raymond.”Sunshine gave the older woman a sincere smile.“The good doctor hasn’t heard from you for a while, so you’re due.”With that, she swished away on a swirl of her long, flowing, flowery skirt.

The sound Miss Edna made sounded like a combination of a harrumph andinterfering womanmuttered under her breath.

Yet somehow, deep in my gut, I knew she’d make the phone call.And that it’d be in her best interest to do so.“Were you wanting something for Loriana as well?”

Miss Edna shook her head.“It’s Marnie’s birthday.”

I cocked my head.“How’d you find that out?”

“I have my ways.”

The young librarian was one of the most intensely private people I’d ever met, so that piqued my curiosity.“When do you need it by?”

“Next Friday.”

Which gave me a week and a half.As long as Raven didn’t mind, I’d give it my best shot.I’d drop Miss Edna’s name.Maybe even Marnie’s.For all her aloofness, Raven liked helping members of the community.

“In the meantime, would you like me to pick something for you?I have several new large-print books, including a romance from a Vancouver Island author.”

She eyed me.Then, after what felt like an interminable amount of time, she sighed.“I can’t anymore.Even with the special glasses.The glaucoma is too far advanced.”

I’d noticed her irises getting cloudy but hadn’t commented.

“Would you like me to download an audiobook onto my iPod for you?”

She shook her head and withdrew one from her rather large purse.“Someone donated several to the library, and those nice young girls let me keep this one.On loan.”

Probably permanently.If I thought the offer wouldn’t be rejected, I’d happily buy her one.“What are you listening to?”

She looked around.“That young Marnie has me hooked on J.D.Robb novels.”

I saw nothing scandalous in those.“Oh?”

“They have sex.”

Ah.“Well, I’ll leave you to it.If you need anything, just wave, and Sunshine or I will be happy to help.Washroom’s in the back.”

Employee only, but I’d never tell her that.Whatever she needed, we provided.

She inserted her earphones, waved me off, and hit play.

I’d no notion of how long she’d stay, but that was fine.I gave Ari a subtle nod, and the cat blinked back lazily at me.Miss Edna couldn’t have a pet at the congregate living facility—which I thought was a travesty—so she’d adopted Ari.She visited often, claiming she worried the cat was lonely.

Yeah, the cat who had humans doing her bidding twenty-four/seven?Unlikely.

As my presence was no longer required, I headed to the computer behind the counter.I did my best to compose an email that didn’t sound desperate, but also conveyed the gravity of the request.Hopefully Raven would respond shortly, and I’d know one way or the other.

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