Page 58 of The Huckleberry Bookshop

Athena’s gut tightened with dread as she thought about next Saturday. Not only had her ex, Lonnie, reached out via text to meet up for a quick chat before his New Jersey team took on the Dragons, but she’d forgotten her promise to Meddy. Her sister had caught her in a weak moment, making her commit to finally taking advantage of her free Dragons passes. So a week from today the two of them would close up the store a touch early and head into the city with Jenny and Cassandra to watch a game.

Fun, right?

Sure. But right now all Athena wanted was to go home and sleep for a month.

Outside the shop’s doors she caught a glimpse of Cassandra and Landon as their kids, Dusty and Rylnn, ripped in, full of energy. She smiled, delighted at how well five-year-old Dusty was doing. The kid had been through the medical wringer lately, and it was a relief to see it was turning out well for the young family.

“There are new Batman sticker books in the corner,” she called to Dusty. “Princess ones, too,” she added for Rylnn’s benefit.

“Yes!” The girl skipped to the shelf in one of her ever-present, sparkling princess costumes.

Cass and Landon were talking out on the sidewalk and Athena went back to work, startled a few minutes later when the sound of applause filtered into her shop. What was happening out there? Were people crowding around Cass and Landon? She felt like she was missing out on everything lately. Always go, go, go. Once the cookbook was launched and the store established she needed to hire some help and spend more time with her friends again.

Rylnn and Dusty went scooting back outside, and that’s when Athena noticed Chad in the kids’ section by the door, sitting cross-legged on the floor. Not in the sports section, skimming hockey books as she’d expected.

She kept an eye on him as he flipped through books, laughing at some, discarding others as soon as he saw the cover. A stack was building beside him, and she was curious who the lucky recipient was going to be.

She thought about moseying by, but Hannah came to the counter with a book for each of her boys.

“How are your classes?” Athena asked as she rang her through. Her cousin had recently decided to go back to school, making her a very busy single mom.

Maybe keeping busy was a family trait and not an actual personality flaw, like some people believed.

“There’s this one on child development and learning—Wade, quit poking Thomas—which is super interesting.” She eyed the tub of dirty dishes behind Athena that was waiting to be taken into the kitchen. “Text me if you need help cleaning up tonight. I’m around.”

“You’ve already done plenty.” Hannah had spent hours making the back kitchen shine when she’d found out Athena would be shooting videos in the dusty space. Athena hadn’t even had to bribe her with brownies.

“It’s not every day you open a store!”

Hannah and the boys left and Athena’s attention drifted back to Chad. He was watching a mother and child use sign language as the mom corraled two younger toddlers toward the bathroom at the rear of the store. Her signing child, who looked about four, settled in a beanbag chair with a giant sigh of resignation and began flipping through a picture book.

Chad leaned forward, catching the child’s attention. He signed something and the child nodded, scooting closer. The child held the book while the hockey player told the story using his hands, pausing so the child could look at the illustrations before turning the next page.

Athena, absorbed in the sight, jerked when Henry Wylder asked her for a cup of decaf.

“You on drugs? You have a weird look on your face.” Henry smoothed down his salt and peppery hair, then turned to look in the same direction she had been moments ago. “Well, hello!” he called to Chad, a smile cracking his leathery skin. “You been eating well again today? Mrs. Fisher’s Saturday specials are a real treat over there at the diner, don’tcha think?”

Chad gave a sheepish half smile and said, “I missed it today.”

“That’s a real cryin’ shame. I’m sure she has some pie left if you’re fixin’ for something sweet.”

“Thanks.”

Seriously? Chad Mullens had totally managed to charm the grumpy old curmudgeon? No wonder she was having issues holding her ground with the hunk. Apparently, she was the only one impervious to his charm.

Henry turned back to her with a harrumph, stating bluntly, “I never got one of those tarts you were handing out at the parade.”

Technically, she’d served the last one a minute ago, but she reached under the counter and pulled a tart from the package reserved for her parents as thanks for their help and the loan of extra dishes for the grand opening. She set it on a clean plate and pushed it toward Henry. He was the kind of man who needed his wheels greased every so often so he didn’t torture everyone. He’d fought the opening of her store in any way he could—just because he was Henry and she was creating change in the tiny town. She poured a cup of decaffeinated coffee and handed it to him.

He had out his wallet, but he narrowed his eyes. “So I have to pay for a tart while everyone watching the parade got one for free? What kind of scam you got goin’ on in here?”

“Those were parade treats!”

“She’s not charging you, Henry!” Meddy laughed, leaning in front of Athena and pushing the plate closer to him. “Hon, this is on the house as our thanks for you running such a smooth parade earlier.” She winked at him. “But don’t you go expecting this special treatment every day, you ol’ scallywag!”

Pink spots appeared on the man’s cheeks and his jaw opened and closed a few times before he took his order and shuffled away.

“You need to teach me your dark magic tricks,” Athena whispered in awe.

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