Page 16 of Tattered Edges

It was magical.

The walls were lined with polished wooden shelves filled with books. There were so many different spines, it looked more like a library than a bookstore. At a glance, I had no idea if there was any rhyme or reason as to how the books were organized, but it didn’t matter. This was the kind of bookshop you visited to get lost.

In the center of the store, there were tables stacked with more books. There were also couches and armchairs scattered about for anyone who wished the lounge and read. Old, worn, patterned area rugs were strategically placed throughout the shop, protecting the wooden floors and cozying up the place. There was also a flight of stairs with a beautiful banister that led to the second floor, which bordered the perimeter of the room.

“Oh. Sawyer. Hi!”

I jumped, startled out of my thoughts by the woman I assumed was Victoria.

“Wow, that’s going to be weird. I’ll get used to it, though. Don’t worry.”

I wasn’t entirely sure what she meant, but I nodded anyway.

“Victoria?”

“Oh, goodness me. Yes. Sorry. I’m Victoria, and I am at your service,” she said, offering me her hand. Her accent was quite posh, and I wondered if she was South African, like Prue, fromThe Great British Bake-off.

I accepted her hand, but before I could get in another word, she was speaking again.

“I’ll admit, I’ve been looking forward to this day for weeks. I did a bit of online sleuthing. Couldn’t help myself. Maeve Sawyer Nielsen? It couldn’t have been a coincidence. And, I must say, seeing you in person?” She paused and shook her head. “You are a sight to behold. I swear, if one of those photo generator things took a picture of your mum and your dad and created an image of what their child might look like, it would be the spitting image of you. Gorgeous, you are.”

“Ummm, thank you?” I hummed, completely clueless as to how to properly respond to that.

“Sorry. That sounded weird. I’m not a freak, I promise, just a fan. Of your mum, not of you—not that I assume we won’t get on. I—oh, gosh. I’m just word vomiting all over you.”

I laughed softly, sure I liked her already.

Victoria Smith was a petite, curvy woman with gorgeous, thick, purple ombre hair that hung in soft waves just past her shoulders. She wore clear, pink-tinted cat-eye framed glasses that were totally retro and very cool. She had on a pair of maroon slacks that stopped at her ankle, revealing laced up leather boots I loved. To top it all off, she had on a pair of suspenders over the long-sleeved, black t-shirt she wore tucked in at her waist.

In an attempt to put her at ease, I asked, “You mentioned my mother. Have you read any of her novels?”

“Have I—?” She cut herself off with laughter. “I’ve read almost all of them. Some of them more than once. She was brilliant, your mum. The only one I’ve not read was her last. I have it, of course. It’s been on my TBR for years, I just haven’t been able to bring myself to read it knowing it really is her last.”

“Yeah. I know what you mean.”

I was actually quite relieved to learn she hadn’t readAll the Shades of Summer. She was clearly a super fan. I didn’t feel like telling her I hadn’t readanyof Maeve Nielsen’s books, especially her last one, or why.

“Anyway, when I realized who you were, I took a peek at your social media accounts. It’s how I know you prefer to be called Sawyer. I don’t blame you, by the way. If my mum was Maeve Nielsen, I’d do the same. I imagine it would get old introducing yourself only to have a reader like me question if there was any relation.”

While I hoped my mother wasn’t a frequent topic of conversation between us, it was safe to say Victoria was every bit the book nerd I’d wished her to be.

“I hope you don’t mind my snooping. When I got the news about Sawyer—your father, that is—I was devastated. This place hasn’t been the same without him. Not to mention, I was terrified what would happen in his absence.

“It’s no secret no one else in his family cares about this store. I thought it might get sold off and I’d be without a job; but I love it here. I’ve been stocking these shelves for more than sixteen years. It hardly feels like work at all.

“It’s been pretty quiet the last couple of months, but when I was told you were coming, I was thrilled. I knew, considering who your mum was, I had nothing to worry about.”

When she paused, I was quick to jump in, afraid I wouldn’t get a word in if I didn’t hurry.

“I haven’t had the chance to wander the store yet, but it’s like a dream in here. This is the kind of place that needs to be preserved for any book lovers out there. Not a big-box bookstore, but a small local one, meant to bring the reading community together.”

Victoria beamed. “Exactly. That’s exactly right!”

Before she could get going again, I interjected, “I should warn you, though, I’ve never owned a business before. I’m a quick study, and I’m not afraid of a challenge, but I’m a novice, not an expert. I could really use your help.”

“Say no more,” she declared, holding up a hand. “I was Sawyer’s right-hand woman, and I’m more than happy to be the same for you. I was on my way to the back to grab a couple things. Have a look around, and then I’ll give you a proper tour, how does that sound?”

My day was starting to look up.

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