Page 26 of The Bookbinder's Guide to Love

He smiled as he knew she wanted him to. She used humor to divert him when he asked anything too personal. “You don’t have to.”

She blinked again rapidly and then stopped as a tear rolled down her face and she rubbed her eyes. “I’d like to. Thank you for asking.”

“You’re welcome. I think Grandpa would like you to.”

Wes might not have spoken to his grandfather in a long time, and part of ithadbeen spite—his family was really good at spite. But another part had been embarrassment and fear. What if Grandpa was happy that Wes had left? Like Wes’s dad had been when he had moved out.

He stood up. “Thanks for the cocoa. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He walked down the hall toward her front door, putting his coat and shoes on, aware she’d followed him. He turned back before he opened the door. There was so much he felt like he should say, but he didn’t really have the right words, so he just nodded at her and then walked out. He shoved his hands in the pockets, noticing the snow had stopped and the sky was starting to lighten as he walked away from her house.

He didn’t know much about new moons or witchy magic, but he felt lighter as he walked away. Staying for Grandpa and not to get the books had been a smart decision.

Sera texted Liberty and Poppy after Wes left. She wasn’t sure what to say, so she just asked if they could talk.

Both said yes, and a few minutes later she was sitting in her favorite overstuffed armchair with her phone propped up against a stack of books, talking to her friends.

“What’s up?” Poppy asked. “Sorry about Ford and that his family are a-holes. Is there anything I can do?”

“I already offered to put a spell on them,” Liberty said. “But she’s handling it. How’d drinks go with the hot toad?”

“Um...yeah, about that... I sort of hooked up with him.”

“For revenge?” Liberty asked. “Revenge sex is the best.”

“Not revenge, Lib. Sera’s not like you. Why?”

Sera sank deeper into the chair and pulled her Disney Hercules blanket off the back of it and wrapped it around her. “Sort of to not be alone and think about Ford’s death and sort of... Well, heishot.”

“That’s all fine,” Poppy said. “Which you know. So what’s actually up?”

“He asked me to speak at the funeral,” she said.

“Oh,” Poppy said. There was concern and affection in her voice. Poppy always seemed the most in tune to everyone else’s feelings out of the three of them.

“How the mighty have fallen,” Liberty added. “He sent her a dicky letter telling her not to attend.”

She was glad Liberty caught Poppy up on that part. But she wasn’t sure why this was making her off balance. She liked Ford. She was definitely going to journal about him and his impact on her life. She would never forget Ford and planned to do something on her own to memorialize him. Something that would fit their relationship.

But talk at his funeral? “I’ve never even been to a funeral.”

“I have. It’s not great,” Poppy said. “When my grandfather died, they had a few friends speak about him. It was nice for my nan and my mum.”

“I haven’t been to one either. What is she supposed to say?” Liberty asked Poppy. “That’s what you want to know, right?” she asked Sera.

“Yeah, but also, do you think I should do it?” Impostor syndrome was nothing new to her. She’d always been different and outside of everyone else. Except here with these two, and with Ford.

“Do you want to?” Poppy and Liberty asked at the same time.

She didn’t know. “Our friendship was sort of quiet. He was so private, I’m not sure he’d want me to share much about him.”

“If you do it, I think you should talk about how he influenced your life. You know, the way he showed you how to bind books and the way he gave you advice,” Poppy said.

“I like that idea,” Liberty said. “If you do it, do it for yourself. Like, show those Sitwells that Ford was important to you.”

She liked the way that sounded. “Thanks. Also, Wes might start working for me temporarily while I find someone to help with the bookbinding.”

“He is?” Liberty asked. “Are you sure about that?”

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