Page 23 of Catch Me When I Fall

“Well then, maybe Michael stopping you was fate stepping in,” Sarah replied, meeting my eyes as she leaned over the counter. “It’s a beautiful thing, you know?”

Fate.

I could feel my throat burning, but I swallowed again, forcing the burn to disappear. “So, uh, why did you need me here this morning?” I asked, changing the subject.

She blew out a breath before a bubbly laugh came from her. “Okay, I hope you don’t think I’m crazy for saying this, but…I want to give you a job.”

A job?

I blinked. “A-a job?”

The kind woman nodded. “Yes. A job. I don’t know what your plans are, but I wanted to be the first to offer one before everyone else in town finds out you’re here,” she explained with a laugh.

I looked over the wall of books and then to the coffee counter, where Margo was loading up coffee beans. “I don’t—I don’t understand,” I whispered, looking back at Sarah. “You’ve already done so much for me, and you haven’t even known me for twenty-four hours.”

The smile slowly faded from Sarah’s face, quickly replaced by pity.

I didn’t want anyone’s pity, but in my situation, there wasn’t anything I could do but accept it. I wasn’t strong enough to refuse it. Hell, I didn’t even know how I would do that.

I froze as Sarah came around the counter. Not even a second later, my hands were in hers as she held them up between us, our gazes locked. “Carrie?” she called softly.

The burning was back, and so were the tears I thought I was done shedding. They didn’t spill over, though. I wouldn’t let them, not yet, not here in front of this angel I’d just met yesterday.

“Yes?” My voice was almost non-existent as every emotion a human was capable of feeling clogged my throat, possessing me to remain frozen in place. I couldn’t move away from her even if I wanted to.

“You landed in a soft spot, Carrie. It’s okay to stop fighting. I know it’s weird, I know it’s a whirlwind, and I know you’ve been running with your defenses up, but you’re safe here. Let me help you start your new chapter.”

“Sarah—”

She squeezed my hands. “Take the job. It doesn’t pay much, and its only part time, but it will give you something to do while you find yourself again.”

My bottom lip trembled as the bell above the door jingled and a British accent filled my ears. “Did you hire her yet, darling?”

Unexpectedly, a laugh bubbled up from me. The sound was so shocking, I didn’t believe it was real for a moment, but only a moment, because then, the laughter didn’t stop. Sarah joined me, her eyes shining with what could only be described as love.

“I’ll take the job,” I declared once our laughter died.

“Good,” she said before turning me around to face the man I’d met yesterday. “This is Rossy.”

Rossy smiled, holding his hand out to me. “Very excited to meet you, my dear.”

I shook his hand. “So you’re my boss?”

The man threw his head back and laughed, the rich sound echoing against the books. “Heavens no. I leave all that nonsense to Sarah. I may be the owner, but I don’t run the damn thing.”

My brows rose in surprise as he spun on his heel, leaving Sarah and I behind to head over to the coffee counter.

“He’s a nut, but I love him,” Sarah whispered in my ear.

He was, but in the best way. “What does he do?” I found myself asking.

“Drinks coffee, hogs the window seats, reads novels. Oh, and he’ll get authors to come in for signings,” she told me as I turned to face her.

“Author signings?”

She nodded. “Its difficult since this is a small town and we’re a small store. Most publishers aren’t interested in sending their authors out here, but the independently published authors love coming. We have a signing next month.”

“That sounds fun,” I murmured, more to myself than to her.

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