Page 87 of Secrets That Bind Us
Micah leaned down, close to Noah’s face. “Yeah? Why’s that?”
Noah closed his eyes, doing his best not to pee. “Because we’re happy. You don’t have to take care of us anymore. Remember? That’s what you said.”
“Is that right?” Micah asked with a growl.
“You can go now.” Noah replied, his little chest rising and falling quickly as he whimpered.
And just like that, he was alone in his room with Sarah once more.
“I don’t like him.” Sarah said with a scrunch of her nose.
Embarrassed, Noah wiped his tears away, stood up, and went to the bathroom to shower and remove his soiled pajamas.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Verity
Present Day
The little bell above the shop door opens, as Trish, our new store manager, and I put up more books on display. The Ink Plot is very close to ready for our soft opening and grand opening day next week. An entire month ahead of schedule. The three baristas Zoey and I poached from a well-known coffee shop the town over, are currently still deciding over the menu with our head chef, Iris. It’s been a few crazy weeks between poaching and looking at trustworthy applicants to man the store when Zoey and I can’t be available. Such as the small book tour Eli signed me up for in January.
“Oh, shit. I think I forgot to lock the door.” Trish groans, putting up the books in her hands, turning to face me. “Although… might just be the eye candy you brought in to help.” She winks.
Smiling, I shrug. “We’re not open yet!” I call out. But then I hear, “Mommmyyyyyy!” and then, “Mom!”
I sigh, handing Trish the books I have in my hands. “Duty calls. Coming!”
I turn and go past the little tables full of merchandise, stop by the pastry display, and steal a brownie cookie Iris is waving around in her hand while she’s talking to the crew. “Hey!”
“Thank you!” I yelp around a mouth full of brownie and brush past quickly.
“Hey, babe?” I hear from the front of the store.
“I’m goin’, Sheriff.” I call back, and weave through the boxes still on the floor that Dean’s been putting around for me all day, only to see Tiffany Myers standing there, and Dean holding what I’m sure is another very heavybox of paperbacks, as Bear lays on the ground in the corner, licking at his paws.
Her hair is in a low ponytail, and she’s wearing jeans and a hoodie– much like I used to. Her posture is that of a woman who knows she’s beautiful but is too tired to give a shit. “Hey.” She greets with a pained look on her face, cheeks flushing pink. I can tell she doesn’t exactly want to be here, but it seems to be more of a need than a want.
I look between her and Dean, a bit confused. “Heyyy...?”
Tiffany crosses one arm over her chest to hold the other, looking downright nervous. “I saw the Help Wanted sign out front.”
I nod. “Um, yeah.” I jerk my head back. “Why don’t you come in? Dean, baby, could you lock the door?”
He leans over and kisses my cheek. “Sure thing, boss.”
I melt a little as I turn and hear the kids up in the loft or the “Kid’s Korner.” I arch a brow at them to let them know to behave, and they go back to what they were doing. I lead her deeper into the shop and point to one of the tables. She has a weird look in her eyes, like she hasn’t eaten well in a few days. “Coffee or tea? Sandwich? We have a bunch of them we’re testing out for next week’s soft launch, if you’re hungry?”
Her eyes dart around the filling space, almost ready for opening day. “Oh, uh… Yeah, sure. Ham and Swiss if you have it. Whatever tea you have as well is fine. I don’t want you to go to any trouble.”
I nod. “I’ll be right back.”
“Thank you.”
I come back a few minutes later with her order to see she’s staring out the window, as a few drops of rain splash against it, collecting to race down together. It’s been raining a lot this season. I’m actually expecting snow this year. Dean thinks I'm crazy and told me it hasn’t snowed here since our Junior year.But crazier things have happened.
I take in Tiffany. The paleness of her skin, the purple under her eyes, the blonde in her hair isn’t luminous like it was when we were young, fraying at the ends. I set the plate in front of her along with her tea that’s in the oversized mug, then take a seat across from her. Glacier eyes finally look over at me. I push my glasses up my nose, and she gives me a small “Thank you.”
I let her sip on her tea and take a few bites of her sandwich before I disrupt her. But she’s the one who breaks the silence between us, still looking out of the window. “We were really good friends once, weren’t we?”
