Page 48 of Stars Shine In Your Eyes

“This is perfect,” she exclaimed for what felt like the hundredth time as they sourced lamps and side tables and even cushions for the retreat.

Mari had made it explicitly clear to her in the past couple of days that she fully trusted Josie to set up the cottages according to her vision. Of course, Josie was sensitive to the fact that Mari’s funds were limited. But whenever the price of something seemed too high, Malcolm was able to negotiate it down to a more reasonable amount, or he claimed he’d give it to Mari as a gift. First for her birthday and then as an early Christmas gift.

And then, when he needed to come up with another occasion, he decided the item would be a sort of business-warming gift to commemorate the launch of her reading retreats. He was generous, almost to a fault.

Josie sensed that he wanted the time that he had put into his work and the money he’d earned doing so to mean something. To matter. To be more than about what he could buy for himself, but how he could help the people he cared for. So while she knew Mari would probably have discouraged him from buying half of everything they chose, Josie understood why it meant a lot to him to be able to do so.

From there, they wandered around the area, and Josie’s attention seemed to dart everywhere, from the people on the streets, to the pubs that had been standing for hundreds of years, to the trendy boutiques. And then Malcolm was pausing with an expectant smile on his lips as she gazed into a huge and well stocked vintage bookstore.

“Did you steer me here?” All this time, she’d thought they’d just been wandering, but when Malcolm nodded, she knew he’d brought her here, knowing how much she’d love this bookstore.

He looked gratified to see her joy. “I was hoping you’d be pleased.”

“I’m beyond pleased.” She caught his face in her hands and drew him down for a kiss. “Thank you. You’re so thoughtful.”

His skin flushed lightly at both her kiss and her words, and she was glad that she could make him happy too. He deserved nothing but the best. All the joy in the world.

Her stomach twisted at the thought that he’d find that joy with someone else one day. That when he decided he was ready to fall in love, some other woman would come along, and they would have a life together. A life without her.

The thought was like a sharp pain in the center of her chest.

She silently reminded herself yet again that she wasn’t going to waste time lamenting a future that would never be, but would instead fully appreciate what she had now. This beautiful moment with Malcolm.

And, of course, all of these incredible antique books. And, oh, what a treasure trove it was. Everything from Dickens to Harry Potter. Old Penguin paperback books and leather-bound and beautifully silk-bound editions of famous novels packed the shelves.

“I was thinking that having some of these in each cottage, just sitting on the shelves, might inspire some impromptu reading,” he said.

She nodded, almost overwhelmed. “I was planning to ask Mari to order some titles, but I didn’t want to ask for too much. I’d love to have as many options as possible for the retreat participants. Sometimes I don’t know what’s right for a person until I meet them.”

“You knew pretty quickly to give me Walden.”

She smiled. “That was easy.”

“I’ve been reading it. It’s definitely making me realize there’s more to life than making money.”

So many of the titles were on her various lists, and there were books she wanted to add to her library of resources. A bookseller came up to them, clearly spotting a serious buying couple. When she explained what she wanted, he pointed out a full set of Anthony Trollope novels. He had a section of prewar female novelists, some of whom she’d never heard of, and she immediately wanted to read every one.

Malcolm seemed to enjoy her excitement over the books almost as much as the bookseller, who was clearly a fellow bibliophile. She didn’t want just one copy of some of the books she knew well—she wanted several.

After a while, she came to her senses, as though snapping out of a dream. “Oh my gosh. What am I thinking? This will cost a fortune. Mari can’t afford so many books right at the start, before we even know if the retreats will be successful.”

“These will be my gift to Mari. Although I’m going to need a forklift to get them to the cottages.” He chuckled at her delighted expression.

A few quiet words with the bookseller got him a bulk discount and the business card of a delivery company. While Josie was still poring through the books, he made a quick call, then told her, “They’ll ship everything to the cottages by tomorrow afternoon. The painters should be done by the end of today, and we’ve got the bookshelves coming in tomorrow.”

“You really do take care of everyone and everything, don’t you?” She put her arms around him, needing to kiss him again. “You’re a wonderful man, Malcolm Sullivan.”

When it looked like Malcolm was going to argue with her, she put a finger over his lips. “I won’t hear any arguments on the matter. What’s happened in the past is in the past. For both of us. Right now, today, I’m having the most wonderful time with you. I don’t want to think about the past, and I don’t want to think about the future. Just right now with you. That’s all that matters.”

He smiled into her eyes. “So wise. And so beautiful.”

He kissed her again, and she momentarily forgot that they were in the middle of the crowded market hall. Were it not for the books that she was clutching to her chest between them, the kiss would surely have deepened. But the time was ticking away, and not only was there still a lot of work to be done at the cottages this afternoon, but there was Mari’s big book launch tonight. They couldn’t miss that.

All their purchases made, they headed back toward the Tube. Everybody else on board was used to this and it was no big deal for them to be traveling beneath the streets of London through these marvelous stations that were each so unique. But for her, it was yet one more thing to add to her memory bank. She’d never forget coming here. And never regret a second of it, even as her heart broke into a million pieces when she had to leave Elderflower Island and Malcolm.

Fortunately, they made it to Richmond and to the cottages without any issues on the train line, as Malcolm had warned her there might be.

They both got to work. He pitched in with the painter to finish up the sitting room on the last cottage, while she got dusty cleaning out the last of the cupboards. They were close to being able to decorate the common areas, just as he’d said. She couldn’t wait to see it all come together even more than it already had. This reading retreat was going to be absolutely beautiful.

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