Page 99 of The Now in Forever
“Uncle Rob is coming.”
“Uncle Rob.”
“He’s going to get me on my feet then help me list the house.” She nods. “I’m moving to Hermosa Beach. It will be warm and wonderful.”
Her smile is so bright, my heart fills. As much as I love Grandma, I really didn’t want to move to New Haven and work at the middle school. “Grandma, that’s great!”
“You are welcome to visit anytime.”
CHAPTER 27
MONDAY, AUGUST 19TH
Uncle Rob showed up and took over the way only Uncle Rob can do. I said my goodbyes and got back on the road. My mind plays over and over what I might say to Ed when I call. Should I call or wait for him to call? Should I just text him?
The whole way to Fortune Falls, I think of things I can say or things I can do, but nothing clicks. Once I’m back at the beach house, I shower for a long time, letting the warm water unravel the knots in my shoulders.
After, I go to my phone and see I’ve missed a call.
Not from Ed, but from Anh.
I call her back, and everything comes spilling out of me at the same rate as the tears falling down my cheeks. First about my grandma, then about Ed. And finally. The bookstore.
“Hattie. I’m so sorry. I can’t fix most of that. You and Ed should talk. If there’s one thing I regret with Melissa, it’s that I kept so much of my feelings bottled up. I didn’t want to burden her. But it just drove us further apart. Call him, or if that feels too hard, write.”
“I can write.” I nod to myself, the tears slowing.
“Yes, you can. And about the bookstore… well, I have an idea. It’s actually why I called. And now with the house stuff, it almost feels like destiny.”
“Destiny? Who is this? Put Anh back on the phone.”
She laughs, and my whole body feels lighter.
“Would you ever consider having a business partner?”
My heart bubbles over like a fizzy glass of champagne. “Are you serious?”
“Aren’t I always?”
“No.” I can’t believe this. Anh and me owning a bookstore together? This could be amazing.
“Well, I am this time.”
We talk for an hour, going over all the logistics. Anh doesn’t want to run the store, but she’d love to be an investor and help with all the paperwork and the legal side of things. She looked over the business plan and made some notes of things we might want to consider. She’s going to send it to me. Once it’s in a good place, we’ll contact Rick and draw up all the paperwork.
Holy shit! We’re buying a bookstore.
I run to my laptop and open my email. On top is one from Anh with a document attached. My heart skips a beat. This is happening. I’m about to click on it and tuck into the work, when another email catches my eye—from Ed.
Message sent: Sunday August 18th 11:18 p.m.
Hattie,
I’ve been trying to figure out what to say to you and how to say it since we said goodbye at the coffee shop. For two people who seem to be crazy about each other, we sure do say a lot of goodbyes. I know email is not a romantic gesture, but maybe it can be.
Writing is supposed to be what I’m good at—so here I go.
That sunny afternoon, when I saw you at the beach house, I couldn’t believe it was you. Like literally, couldn’t believe it. When you remembered me from the signing but didn’t bring up when we met at the bookstore, I thought maybe it wasn’t you.
