Page 18 of Drive Me Wild
The glass front doors are propped open, so I step inside and see a few doors on both sides of the shallow hall. The placards next to each display the council chamber, toilet, administration office, and Serena’s office.
I try the knob to her office, and it’s locked, so I go to the administration office door, and it swings open. Inside, there is an older woman on the phone sitting behind a counter. She smiles in a greeting, so I look at the corkboard mounted on one wall while I wait for her to finish her call.
I see a flier for an art festival that happened the weekend before I arrived, a few business cards for handyman services and lawn maintenance, and a hand-drawn one for after-school babysitting. But the notice in the middle of the board is the one that draws my curiosity.
Bookstore for sale.
“How can I help you?”
Her voice startles me. “Oh, hi. I was wondering when Serena, er…the Mayor, would be in?”
“She’s usually here right about now. If you want to wait a few minutes, I’m sure you’ll catch her.”
“Thank you.”
“My pleasure.”
I start to walk out toward the benches in front and then stop. “Actually, can you point me in the direction of the bookstore that’s for sale?”
“Sure thing. Just head down Main Street two blocks, hang a right past The Daily Dose, go one block, then turn left. It’s in a red Victorian house that they turned into a shop. Can’t miss it.”
“Thanks.” I wave to her as I bust out the door and hurry to my car. The library books can wait one minute. Ineedto see this shop.
The house-turned-shop is exactly where she said it would be.
It’s three stories tall, including what is likely the attic. The front has a long, wide porch with a few tables and chairs set up like a cafe. There’s a pointed turret on the left side, with windows all around on each of the three floors. The front is fenced with twisted wrought iron painted white and a flower-lined stone path leading up to the front door.
It’s the most beautiful building I’ve ever seen.
I walk the path and climb up the three stairs leading to the front door, which has a stained glass image of a cat sitting on a stack of books on the top half. It’s one of those doors that is splitin two, so you can have the bottom part shut and the top half open.
I step inside and take a deep breath. The scent of coffee mixes with that old paperback smell, and I drift through what used to be the front parlor but is now filled with bookshelves.
“Help you find something, dear?”
A woman with white hair piled into a loose bun approaches me. She has a warm smile and is wearing a T-shirt that says, “I burn for book boyfriends.”
I think I love her.
“Is this the bookstore that’s for sale?”
“It is. You know someone who’s interested in buying? Don’t have any kids to pass it on to.”
“You’re the owner?”
“That I am. Want some coffee? I bought one of those fancy espresso machines a few years ago.”
“Sure.” I follow her into the kitchen, which has been converted into a small cafe of sorts. A single glass case for pastries and desserts and the espresso machine separate one side from a few tiny tables and chairs.
“My name is Mabel. What’s yours?”
“Nice to meet you, Mabel. I’m Zoe.”
“Are you new in town? Or just passing through?”
“I moved here this past weekend. I’m renting a room from Chief Barone.”
“Oh, he’s a good kid, our Chief. Saved us from some awful fires earlier this year.”
