Page 54 of At First Flight
And jealous.
I expect us to continue walking down the street, so I’m shocked when Lila turns and crosses the street in the direction of a lighthouse. The old hinges of a gate squeak when we pass through and head to the entrance. A chalkboard sign indicates that A Page in Time is open in swirling cursive letters.
“I love this place,” Lila gushes as a bell chimes when she pulls the door open.
When we step inside, it’s easy to see why Lila mentioned the bookshop when we parked. There isn’t a bare space not covered in books. Even the spiraling staircase off to the left, which I assume climbs to the top of the lighthouse, is stacked with books—old editions, if I’m not mistaken.
“Hi! Welcome to A Page in Time. Can I help you find anything?” a young woman asks from behind an antique desk with an equally as old typewriter set in the corner.
“Actually, I was hoping Bailey was in. Do you know when she’ll be back?” Lila asks as I sidle up next to her, admiring the view out the window toward the bay.
“She just stepped out. Our dehumidifier is on the fritz so she ran to the hardware store to grab a mobile unit until the repairman can get out here. I suspect she’ll be back shortly.”
“Oh, that doesn’t sound good. Isn’t something like that expensive?” I ask, tugging my phone from my pocket, prepared to do some research. If this is a place Lila loves, I want to make sure it’s taken care of.
Immediately, my search for dehumidifier repair or replacement comes up, and I know this could get costly real quick.
“Crew is home for the summer. Maybe I could have him take a look?”
The bell dings above the door as a soft voice says, “No luck with the repair guy. But I got…oh my gosh, Lila! You’re home.” She rushes toward Lila and envelops her in a hug to rival that of a long-lost sister. “I heard Ashvi say you were back, but I didn’t believe it. But, oh my gosh, you’re here.” She hugs Lila again as the pretty blonde giggles.
“Sorry, this guy here has kept me busy,” Lila points out with a tilt of her head in my direction.
“Oh, is this the fiancé I’ve heard so much about?” the elfish woman asks.
“God, no. This is Dean. I’m watching his kids. Dean, this is Bailey, and she owns this amazing bookstore.”
We shake hands, and I don’t miss the shimmer of curiosity in her eyes as she holds eye contact.
“I was telling Judy that Crew is home for the summer. Maybe he could look at the dehumidifier? He’s always been good with that sort of stuff.”
“No,” Bailey says, her hair ballooning around her body as her head jerks toward Lila.
Lila’s shoulders move toward her ears casually as she smiles. Clearly, there is a story between Bailey and Crew.
“If you’d like, I could make a few calls. It’s sort of what I do.”
“Repair things?” Bailey asks as I watch Lila out of the corner of my eye.
“No,” I reply with a soft chuckle. “Put my money to good use.”
“I still don’t get it.”
Lila chimes in, “He’s a billionaire and owns like a ton of businesses. He probably has a handyman in his back pocket.”
“Really?”
“Sort of,” I say as I scroll through my contacts, but my eyes hang on my father’s number. I may not have a handyman on retainer, but he sure does.
I step out of the main area, leaving the two women to catch up as I explore a back room with a bay window overlooking a garden. I think about Evelyn and how much she would love to play in the dirt and grow vegetables. That certainly wasn’t something my parents allowed when I was young, and I assume my sister was the same way. Oliver always looks fearful when he comes inside after getting dirty in the backyard.
Taking a deep breath, I settle into one of the mid-century modern leather chairs that edge against the paned window andpress the call button on my phone. Inside, I send a silent prayer that my father doesn’t pick up despite my desire to help Lila’s friend.
“Harrington,” my father says abruptly as if I’ve inconvenienced him by calling. Of course, to him, I most likely have.
“It’s Dean.”
“Yes, I do have caller ID. What do you want? Money, a new yacht, an escort for an event?”
