Page 25 of More Than Words
I watched their easy back-and-forth.The warmth and love between them radiated openly.Something about seeing Ethan as a dad, so relaxed and a little goofy, so easily in sync with his daughter caught me off guard.
“Try not to have too much sugar.”He raised his eyebrows.“And back here by six, okay?”
“You’re the best.”Quinn turned to leave with her friend, but hesitated for a moment.“Love you, Dad.Bye, bookstore lady.”
“Her name is Delaney,” Ethan called after her.
“I know.”Quinn laughed.“It’s our thing.”
I didn’t bother hiding my smile as Quinn and her friend took off, running in the direction of the huge cinnamon buns.
“It’s your thing?”he asked with a grin.
“I guess it is.”I shrugged, trying to look casual about it, but on the inside, I loved that Quinn and I hadour thing.
“She’s a handful.”Ethan shook his head and blew out a breath, but his voice was filled with nothing but pride.
“She’s incredible,” I said softly.And then, before I could stop myself, “You’re really good with her.”
Ethan looked over at me, surprise on his face for half a second before his expression settled into something else.“Thanks.I’m really just figuring it out as I go.”
“Well, you make it look easier than it probably is.”I meant it.
He gave a little laugh and rubbed the back of his neck.“Some days feel like a win.Others…well, not so much.”
I flashed him a sympathetic smile.I couldn’t imagine trying to raise a twelve-year-old girl.Let alone doing it on my own.
“She’s a good kid,” Ethan continued.“That makes it easier.”
I nodded and reached across the table to gather up the leftover flyers.The moment was over, but the warmth of watching the two of them together lingered, leaving behind the slightest ache in my chest that I didn’t know what to do with.
They had an effortless rhythm together.The father-daughter connection was different, certainly, but standing on the outside of it made me realize just how long it had been since I’d felt that kind of connection with anyone.
And maybe, how much I’d missed it.
ChapterEight
Delaney
Ihad a post-festival hangover.The Fall into the Plaza event had been a complete success, but spending an entire day outside on my feetpeoplingall day had taken its toll.Sure, I did a good job with my customers, and I enjoyed the relationships I made with each and every one of them.But I was an introvert at heart, and I was exhausted from the effort of beingonall day.
All I wanted to do was hide under my comforter with a mug of tea and a good book and take a personal day.
Not an option when you ran your own business, so somehow I mustered up some energy and got myself down to the shop.Perhaps I wasn’t the only one with a festival hangover, because the shop stayed mercifully quiet for most of the day.
It was late in the day and I was in the back room trying to wrestle a box of new arrivals onto the bottom shelf, when I heard the bells over the front door chime with a new customer, followed by a familiar voice.
“Bookstore lady?”
A warm smile crossed my face reflexively.“I’ll be right there,” I called, brushing my hands on my jeans as I stood and stretched the kink out of my back.
I stepped into the main shop, expecting to see Quinn full of life, bouncing on her toes, eager to tell me all about the book she most certainly had just finished.Instead, Quinn stood with her back to me, her shoulders hunched under her school backpack, her eyes downcast so I could tell she wasn’t really scanning the shelf in front of her.Her usual bounce was noticeably absent.
“Hey, kiddo,” I said, softening my voice.“How was school?”
She shrugged, but didn’t turn around.
“Everything okay?”
