Page 8 of The Luck of Finding You
My stomach flips when I see someone sitting in the chair closest to the door, facing the windows outside. I’ve never talked to a lawyer before, so I don’t know what to expect.
The receptionist opens the door. “Right in here. Mr. Thorne will be with you shortly.” I want to ask who’s in the room if it’s not Mr. Thorne—but then the person sitting in the room turns toward us.
He and I both freeze.
Noah is sitting at the table, and a gorgeous woman is sitting next to him. A wife? Girlfriend?
Dread fills my stomach. Of course he’s taken. Why on earth did I think otherwise after running into him? It’s not like I thought I’d actually see him again. But here he is, in the flesh. It’s a good thing I wasn’t going to fall in love with him again because now that actually can’t happen, not with a woman like that next to his side.
Confusion falls over his face, and I’m still frozen in the doorway. After a beat too long, I’m still standing and now it’s awkward. His piercing green eyes never leave mine. There’s a magnetic force between us, and I couldn’t look away even if I wanted to, which I desperately do want to.
“What…” Noah starts to ask, but then someone moves behind me.
“Oh, good, you’re all here. Shall we?” a man asks, gesturing for me to take a seat at the table. “I’m Jason Thorne, Marsha Langford’s lawyer.”
I nod and make my way to the table, sitting opposite Noah and the beautiful redheaded woman beside him. I regret my choice of seat immediately because Noah’s still watching me, confusion in his eyes. It hits me then that hemust beMarsha’s grandson. I knew she had two grandchildren and that one of them was named Noah. But she’d had a falling out with her daughter a long time ago that never was mended, so she didn’t see them all that often.
I’ve never let myself hope that they might be the same Noah.
I discreetly pull out my phone while Mr. Thorne pulls papers out of a briefcase. I text Holly because this has to be the most insane day ever.
HE IS IN MY MEETING. I REPEAT, HE IS IN MY MEETING WITH THE LAWYER. NOAH IS IN MY MEETING.
Yes. I am absolutely freaking out.
Why do you have to be a teacher?! I NEED MORAL SUPPORT RIGHT NOW, LADY!!
Mr. Thorne clears his throat, and I set my phone down, clasping my hands in my lap to keep them from shaking. Why do I have to have a useless sister who is living her dream while I’m here about to explode with nervous energy? Not that she’s usually useless, but I could really use her support in this moment.
Marsha never gave any indication that she would leave me The Book Shop, but now, with Noah sitting across from me, I really hope she did. I won’t let him take it away from me.
I will myself to look calm, cool, and collected. Even though I am feeling exactly the opposite of all those things.
4
NOAH
I’m gawking at Tally, dumbfounded as to why she’s sitting across the table from me, when Mr. Thorne interrupts my thoughts. “All right. Should we get started, then?”
“Yes,” Annie says, her knee bumping into mine. I know she’s trying to get me to focus, but I can’t stop staring at Tally. She seems even more stunning than an hour ago when I ran into her at the café, and for a split second I’m able to simply look at her before I’m brought back to reality.
“Before I read the will, I’ll make quick introductions. This is Tally Nelson. She’s been managing The Book Shop for the past two years. Tally, this is Noah and Annie Jones, Marsha’s grandchildren.” My eyes don’t leave Tally, and I watch as she looks at Annie for the first time and then back at me. She glances away quickly when she realizes I’m still watching her. I try to tear my eyes away, but I can’t. How is it possible that she has been sitting across from me not once but twice today?
What could it possibly mean? Just because she’s managing Grandma’s shop doesn’t mean she should be at the reading of her will.
I don’t get a chance to find out though because Mr. Thorne clears his throat and starts to read.
“The last will and testament of Marsha Bethany Langford. While I don’t have much, I do have some. To my granddaughter, Annie Mae Jones, I leave my mother’s wedding ring and my cookbook collection.”
He pauses, looking at the woman across the table from me. “I have the ring for you to take, and her cookbooks are in her apartment.” Annie nods as if she was expecting this.
He continues. “To my grandson, Noah Jones, my granddaughter, Annie Mae Jones,and my employee Tally Nora Nelson, I leave The Book Shop.”
My heart is thundering in my chest so loudly that I nearly miss Tally’s small gasp. “She...” Tally stammers, but whatever she was going to say next dies on the tip of her tongue. My mind is swirling. I instinctively start petting Mo, who’s curled up on my lap fast asleep. But the familiar movement does nothing to slow my mind.
Grandma Marsha left usandTally the store? This might just be my lucky day.
Mr. Thorne gives her a smile that I think is meant to be reassuring. But Tally’s face has gone a bit pale, so I think it has the opposite effect. Why does she seem so nervous about this?
