Page 18 of Cookie

He smiled and brushed his knuckles on my cheek before turning me around to take a selfie with the river behind us. After a quick stop at the old-fashioned candy store and buying a bag of kettle corn for the road, we were off.

We left early enough to beat rush hour traffic and since we didn’t stop to eat on the way, we were pulling into the city limits of Grace in record time. It was like going back in time as he slowed to the speed limit and drove slowly down the main street. Charlie glanced at me, and I realized we wore matching grins. Both of us were just as happy to come home as we were about going to visit the city. “Did you want to just drop me off at the store?” I asked.

“No, I want to help you with your things,” Charlie said.

“Have I told you how sweet you are?” I asked because I should tell him every freaking day.

“Tell me that after we make a few trips up those stairs.” He reached across for my leg and rested his hand there as he pulled up to the store. A big banner was draped across the front window that read Under New Management.

“Word spreads fast in Grace,” I said.

“Oh, you have no idea,” Charlie said and climbed out of the car. Both of us walked inside and I was surprised to see a few peopleshopping. Avery looked a little frazzled but smiled and gave me a hug.

“Millie called and said to make sure everyone knew, so I made a banner myself and as soon as I hung it up people started stopping by. Everyone wants to know who the new owner is and how the store is going to change.”

“Thanks so much, Avery,” I said and looked over her shoulder at Charlie when I hugged her. “I haven’t signed the papers yet so I’m not really ready to make too many plans, but I will be changing a few things.”

“I’m so happy to hear the store won’t be closing,” a woman with short grey hair said as she walked up to the counter with an armful of spicy romance books. “It’s nice to see some new blood around here.”

Avery rang her up and a few more people walked in. “See, all you needed to do was put up a banner and people come to check it out,” she said to me before she got busy again.

Charlie stood there and waited the whole time. Saying hello to people he knew and nodding to people in greeting that he didn’t. But he never once looked bored or impatient, and his sweet nature and encouraging words were something I didn’t think I’d ever get tired of. It was official, I was going to be a small-town business owner with a boyfriend that worked right across the street. If you’d told me that a year ago, I would have laughed, but now I smiled to myself. More than happy to start this part of our journey.

Seventeen

Charlie

Afew days passed and the bookstore was still as busy as it was the day we’d driven back from Sacramento. Ryan made sure to speak to every customer that came in, and hopefully it stayed this way, so he knew his decision to move here was a good one. “Hey, what are you thinking about?” Ryan asked as he walked over to me.

“Just thinking how happy I am that you’ll be moving here,” I said and felt like I’d told him that so many times already but not really caring because it was the truth.

“I’m happy too. Now, do you mind getting the ladder for me so I can get a book from the top shelf over there?” Ryan asked as he rushed over to where he’d just pointed. I picked up the small ladder and climbed up to get him what he needed. He smiled and kissed me on the cheek before hurrying off to the register. He wasn’t afraid to love me or to let anyone around us know we were more than friends, and it was so addictive to have his affection and not feel the need to hide it.

Avery’s smile told me she was more than happy with the news too. I was about to tell Ryan I’d come back later when the bell on the door jingled and a large group of people rushed in, led by my parents.

“Don’t just stand there, Charlie, helps us out,” my brother Caspian said and handed me a box that held food containers.

“Ryan, where can we set this up?” Mom asked while Ryan stood frozen with his mouth hanging open, looking between her and me.

“I’ll go get a table from the back, we can put it there,” I said and after setting down the box they’d given me on the counter, I hurried off to get the table. We’d been back here the other day discussing what he’d do about storage, so I knew exactly where the table was, and after picking it up from where it was leaning against the wall, I hurried back out to the store.

“Over here, Charlie.” Mom directed, and I would have sworn ten more people had walked in. A tablecloth appeared out of nowhere and the table was covered and nearly fully loaded as soon as I had it unfolded and the legs in place. My family was nothing if not efficient. Ryan squeezed around a few customers and made his way to me.

“Charlie, what is all this?” he whispered as he slipped his arm around me.

“It’s big congratulations from everyone,” I said, and Mom winked at me.

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“Well, this is what we do when there’s a new business in Grace,” I explained.

“Or someone new moves here,” Mom said.

“Sometimes we actually eat at home,” Clarence said as he picked up a plate and started to load it up with a little of everything.

“Have you met everyone?” Mom asked Ryan, who continued to stare at her wide-eyed.

“Don’t worry, I’ll handle the introductions,” I said and patted his hand after placing it on my arm. “Give us just a minute.” I pulled Ryan to the backroom where I’d gotten the table and spun him around to face me before gripping his arms and meeting his eyes. “Ryan?”

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