Page 17 of The Bookbinder's Guide to Love

While he’d gone to therapy and knew he was the probable source for his own rough road—something he freely acknowledged—this time it seemed Grandpa bore a bit of the responsibility too.

Maybe Grandpa would say,If he’d wanted those books, he should have visited or called more often.

Fair enough.

It didn’t change the fact that Wes hadn’t been able to. That dogged determination he’d always grudgingly admired in his father was also one of his core traits.

It was easier to see it in Oz and his dad because who wanted to look inward and acknowledge the very same thing in himself?

While his fingers moved over the old book and skills that he’d learned from Grandpa came into play, Wes’s mind reminded him of all the mistakes he’d made.

He had started to call Grandpa a number of times but had stopped, not wanting to be the one to apologize. Why was saying sorry so hard for him? Plus, as old as Ford had been, Wes had thought Grandpa was too stubborn to die.

Even I can’t dodge death.

Wes glanced over his shoulder toward the stool near the counter, where Grandpa had often sat as he taught Wes how to repair books. His voice had sounded so strong and clear, as if the old man was in the room with him.

Was this more of Serafina’s magic?

More likely his own mind trying to find a way to get some closure when there was none to be had.

He’d fucked up and waited too long to make things right.

A smart man would learn from this, Wes thought.

He was going to give himself props for apologizing to Sera so quickly. But then, he hadn’t done it simply because he’d behaved like an ass. He’d also done it because he was still hoping to get back those books.

He also knew Hamish had her box. Wes should have told Sera, but no, he was still playing games.

To what end?

Grandpa had taken the play out of Wes’s hands by giving those books to Hamish.

He looked at the leather as it came off the board. While he knew the steps to repair an old book like this, he was still struggling to find the right steps for himself.

Maybe Sera was the key to that. Ford had left her those books knowing Wes would seek her out. He might not have spoken to Grandpa for the last few years, but his grandfather had known him better than anyone. Had he put the books between them so Wes would finally grow up? Not that Grandpa had ever called him out on the immature way Wes let his temper and stubbornness rule his life. Part of him wanted to change, but another part had no idea how.

He stretched his back as he finally got the old leather free. That box of books had unhinged Wes from the path he’d been on. Some small piece of him had always believed he deserved the things Grandpa had shown and given him. As if he’d been owed something because of his childhood.

Which, he knew, was privileged compared to so many. He had a roof over his head, food in his belly and his own room to sleep in. He hated that he was fixated on the lack of emotional support and love he’d felt growing up. Grandpa had stepped up when Wes had needed him, and Wes hadn’t seen it as an olive branch.

He’d just taken and then behaved like his father. Behaved in a way he’d always hated. Like the man he didn’t want to be.

The alarm on his phone pinged. It was time to leave and go meet Sera. Wes walked to the door, grabbing his coat and keys on the way. He had to figure out how to be like that piece of old leather, how to set himself free.

Which meant he had to let go of the possessiveness he felt toward those books. He had to find peace with Grandpa’s decision. He also had to genuinely apologize to Sera. Find a way to make up for that dumb letter he’d sent and the resentment that had motivated him to do it.

The Bootless Soldier tavern sat at the end of the cobblestoned main street anchoring it in the town. When Sera, Poppy and Liberty had been looking for the right location for their shop, they’d spent a lot of time sitting at a corner table drinking hard cider and debating if they should pay the higher rents on the main street or take a chance on the more mystical side street, which didn’t get as much foot traffic.

Liberty had always been determined they should go with their current location and her friend had been right. But there was a traditional part of Sera that liked the old colonial architecture here. Their building had the same style, but the surrounding ones weren’t the same.

She shook her head. She was standing outside the Bootless Soldier, hesitating because she wasn’t sure what she wanted to happen when she met Wes again.

Her love of Ford made her want to help his family, but her own need to keep being her strongest self made her...well,notwant to. But that went against an ingrained niceness she couldn’t shake.

This thing with Wesley had her reverting back to her old self already. Being fearless was way harder than she wanted to admit.

She needed to go into the tavern. She’d said she’d have one drink, and she was a woman of her word. She’d have her drink, wish him luck in life and then leave.

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