Page 30 of Searching for Sadie
"I remember you, Poppy. How are you doing?"
"Well, I'm just stopping into the bookstore. We have a book club on Thursday if you’re interested."
"I haven't read the book."
"There's plenty of time to read it. It's a quick read. Plus, it was written by my best friend Hannah, who will be there. And really, we are just going to drink wine and talk about a book before we make our way down to the karaoke bar. Well, I won't be drinking," she said as she patted her belly, "But it's going to be a good time. Come! Please."
Sadie would swear Poppy said that all in one breath which made her laugh. This was one of those moments where she could lead into the life that she was hoping to have here. One with friends who cared about her. Even if Lucas was still out of her reach, she could have some friends.
"What the hell?” she shrugged. “I'll be there."
"That's wonderful! Come on in! I think Kate has extra copies of the book."
Poppy held the door open as they both entered.
"Hey Poppy," called a woman from behind the counter with a mess of red curls. "I got the invoice from Sam. I love baked goods in the morning and for meetings. I think I added..." The woman stopped talking as soon as she saw Sadie.
"Hi," she said with a genuine smile. "I'm Kate."
"Sadie," she said as she reached out and took her hand.
"Sadie is going to join the book club!" Poppy said as she picked up the folder from the counter.
"Great! I have copies of the book over there if you want. Are you new to the area?"
"Yeah, I just moved into my great aunt's house."
“Oh, are you Ms. Maple’s niece?” Kate asked.
Sadie nodded.
“I took piano lessons from her when I was a kid,” Kate added with a warm smile.
“I’ve heard that a time for two since moving here. She must have taught all the kids,” Sadie said with a chuckle.
“Yeah, she probably did. She was the best. Did she teach you how to play?”
“Yeah, she taught me a lot while I would visit. She bought me my first guitar when I turned thirteen and taught me the chords to I Will Always Love You.”
“That woman loved Dolly,” Poppy added from across the store.
“She really did.”
Sadie bought the book headed home. As she made her way down the road to her house, new book in her hand, the awful morning meeting slightly less of a cloud over her head.
By the time she got home, she had a text from Zara, a voicemail and a text message from her sister.
Tricia - I just wanted to tell you that the show has been reaching out and showing up at the office. I told them where you are.
And just like that the gloom was back. The way she said that like the show harassing her was her fault. Her job had encouraged her to do it for publicity, but when her story didn't end the way they wanted it, they fired her. And her sister took her job. She'd gotten her sister a job at the record label and then when they fired her, they gave her sister her job.
That thought made her so angry. And through all of it her sister had acted like it was all her fault. Like of course, they fired you. I can't help it that I was there to bail them out of your bad situation.
As she opened the door George came trotting down the stairs and wound through her legs.
"Hey big guy!" She said as she bent down and picked up the giant orange fur ball.
"Let's go take a nap."
