Page 27 of Dying to Read

“Oh, Shirley, that must be hard,”Jonathon said.

“He got an infection, so he’s sick right now. They’re talking about sending him to the hospital for IV antibiotics. Kathy’s talking to Sally at the nursing home today.” Shirley grabbed the last egg. “I’mglad she’s here to help. I’m not sure I could deal with all the drama around there this week. I told her you needed meat the shop.”

“Well, on that note…” Jonathon excused himself.

Rarity started to clean up the table. “You know you can skip work anytime. This is just a business. George is family.”

“I know I could. Kathy, on the other hand, needs to know what I’ve been dealing with. She’s still mad at me for even starting to talk with Terrance. Maybe if she understands what’s happening with her father, it might help us communicate better.” Shirley waved Rarity away as she started to stack the empty boxes and trash. “Let me clean this up. Go work on the bookstore stuff. I know you have a lot to get ready forthe festival.”

Rarity stepped over and hugged Shirley. “Everything’s going to be all right. We both know that neither George nor Terrance could have killed anyone.”

“Now, we need to have a third suspect.” Shirley nodded. “I’m afraid I’m not thinking clearly. I won’t be much help with the sleuthing.”

“You don’t have to be.” Rarity rubbed Shirley’s arms. “We’ve got you.”

“Well, I’ve got this trash.” She looked at the clock on the wall. “We’re done early. Heidi could have come earlier. I’ll have this area organized and looking like we finished days ago.”

“I already told her I’d forgotten about the eggs,” Rarity admitted.

“Well, so much for looking on top of things. You know Heidi Youngman is the biggest gossip in town. Telegraph, telephone, tell Heidi.” Shirley waved her out of the break room. “Go work on something. And don’t fall asleep. You look like you should go curl up on the sofa by the fireplace. But wait until after two. Heidi will think you’re homeless.”

“Unhoused I think is the new term.” Rarity was tired. She couldn’t remember what the wording was, at leastnot right now.

Rarity went out front and checked her to-do list against the calendar. Since they didn’t have any other book clubs this week, she only had the festival to get through. The good news was the tents closed up at six and Drew would have police protection out there to make sure nothing happened to the booths or the inventory inside.She’d done a lot of follow-up for the sleuthing club on Tuesday. She’d also completed a small book order yesterdayfor next week.

There wasn’t much left to dofor the week.

So instead of worrying about today, she started looking at the next three months. Rarity attended a business council meeting once a month, and they had sent her a calendar of festivals and charity events. That’s how she’d gotten roped into working with Heidi’s egg project. And the pets at the nursing home. Gretchen’s project had felt right, and Rarity realized she hadn’t followed up with an adoption day at the bookstore like she’d intended.

She emailed Gretchen to see when her next opening would be. Then emailed Amy and Staci. The two kids had done such a great job with the backpack collection drive, she wanted to give them first dibs on working on this project. If either one said no, Rarity would ask Katie to float it by her high school group. Maybe someone needed some community service activities for their collegeapplications.

She’d finished up when Heidi came in the front door. “Good afternoon, we’ve got the baskets all ready for you.”

Heidi looked surprised. “Oh, that’s a pleasant surprise. I thought maybe I’d have to ask my church group to finish them up. With all that’s been happeningaround here.”

“Nope. We’re done.” Rarity didn’t know what Heidi was talking about. It could have been George and Shirley. Or the books showing up. She hoped it wasn’t her relationship. “We’ve got everythingin the back.”

“Well, bless your heart. I want to tell you that I’m rooting for you and Archer. The two of you make such a cute couple. I’d hate to see you break up. But I guess the heart wants what the heart wants. You’ll be in my prayers.” Heidi went into the back and started talking to Shirley.

Rarity sighed. It was her relationship.

Jonathon stared at the break room door. “What on earth is she talking about?”

“I’m not sure. I guess according to the Sedona grapevine, I’m about to be single again.” Rarity stared at the computer screen, not seeing the calendar she had openedfor next month.

Jonathon stood and patted Rarity’s back. “I don’t believe a word of it. Archer is too in love with you to let anything break youup. I’ve seen the way that boy looks at you. I’m going to go help get the eggs and that woman out of your shop. She’s tainting the positive energy in here.”

“Thanks, Jonathon.” Rarity laughed and then tried to focus on filling up the calendar, but her thoughts kept going back to what Archer had said last night, that they needed to talk.

By the time all the laundry baskets filled with eggs were packed into Heidi’s van, Rarity was wiped out from smiling every time the woman looked at her. As she took the last box of candy out to the car, Heidi stopped and gave Rarity a big hug. “I’m so thankful for all the hard work you did on this. Good things come from good works. You remember that.”

“I will. And I’ll see you at the festival.” Rarity waved and smiled until the woman had walked out of the bookstore. She waited until the door closed, then added, “Unless I see you coming.”

“You were amazing. I can’t believe you kept your face so upbeat.” Jonathon glanced at the clock. “I’m starving. You do realize we forgot toorder lunch?”

* * *

Drew showed up before she closed the bookstore for the day. Jonathon packed up his laptop and nodded to Rarity. “I’m heading home. I’ve got my writers’ group this evening. We’re going to listen to an author talk at the university.”

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