Page 112 of Authentically, Izzy
“We’ve had folks trying to get in the doors since nine this morning. I’ve had to keep telling them we’d open tomorrow, but they’re nearly bursting to enter.” Her ponytail swished with a shake of her head. “And she hasn’t even started on the ideas she has for the website yet. Said she’s going to work on that tonight with Brynna. Can you imagine?”
“No, truly. What she needs is a respite for a few hours.” He stepped farther into the shop, searching for any sight of Isabelle. “She must be exhausted.”
“You wouldn’t know it to look at her.” Lylla shrugged her shoulders. “She’s been laughing and humming like the happiest person in the whole world. The rest of us might need a respite, but I’m not sure she does. If you ask me, she seems more energetic with each new project.”
As if in response to Lylla’s declaration, the sound of laughter reverberated from overhead.
“They’ve been up there the past two hours working on the children’s place, as they’ve termed it.”
“‘Children’s place’?”
Lylla nodded with an added shrug. “Your mum’s over the moon. Fiona’s positively wild about it. Said something about a ‘touch box’ for certain books.” Lylla’s pale eyes widened. “Don’t ask me. I haven’t the foggiest. And I’ve not seen so much cloth and puff animals inside a bookshop in all my life. If it’s to come out anything like the ground level, it’s bound to be smacking good.”
“Aye, smacking good... ” Brodie murmured, following the sound of the laughter. His mother’s joined in with Isabelle’s. He bypassed the spiral staircase for the larger stairs near the back of the room, following the sounds. At the top of the landing he froze. They’d transformed the entire space into some magical world for children. A few large throw pillows waited on the hardwood floor at one corner and the shelves had been rearranged into various categories to break up the enormous space. Shimmering teal cloth partially covered some of the exposed beams in the ceiling, giving the appearance of sky or clouds above to arch over the myriad displays of colorful children’s books and miscellanea. He truly wished to linger and explore.
“Wonderful! You’ve returned.” His mother walked toward him from a corner of the room where small bookshelves were framed by an assortment of puff animals. “Did you bring the puzzles?” She waved toward a few empty shelves by the window. “We have shelves awaiting them.”
He shuffled another step forward. “They’re in the boot.”
“And did Marcus have any additional children’s games to offer?”
He nodded, still taking in the room. He’d toured various bookshops around the world and this one measured up to them. Even if it wasn’t complete and empty shelves awaited more books ormerchandise, the vision shone delightfully clear. No magical wardrobe necessary.
“Brodie?”
He blinked out of his stupor to find his mother and Isabelle standing nearby, staring at him, the latter’s forehead puckered as she searched his face.
“It’s remarkable, Isabelle.” His attention shifted to his mother, his response unexpectedly breathless. “Truly.”
“Isn’t it?” His mother wrapped an arm around Isabelle’s shoulders. “I thought the loss of what your father had designed would wound me, but once we began shifting things here and decorating things there, I realized Isabelle still understood the heart of my husband’s love for this place. She even made a very special section for our secondhand treasures, as she called the used books.”
“Secondhand treasures,” he whispered, all of it too much to take in at one time. “What a perfect name.”
“And we’ve listed the section as such downstairs,” Mum added.
His attention landed on Isabelle, air bursting from his nose in a strange sort of shocked laugh. “Isabelle,this.” He gestured toward the room. “Thisis what you were made to do,” he breathed out the sentence, pushing a hand through his hair as he turned to take in the room again. “I can’t believe it’s the same shop. You must be exhausted.”
“I’ve loved every minute.” She shot him a grin, the glimmer in her eyes failing to show any weariness at all. “I mean, you can only do so much with a library, and my aunt would only give a certain amount of freedom, but the two of you just let me create. I’m at my best when I’m creating bookish things, or talking of bookish things.” She skimmed her teeth over the bottom lip with a shrug. “Or pushing books on people.”
“A bookshop is the perfect place for a book pusher to work, my dear. In fact, I can’t think of a single occupation more fitting.”
Isabelle shook her head with her laugh, the dark hair of her ponytail swishing. “Well, I don’t know that there are many jobs out there in the world for book pushers and bookshop decorators.”
“It’s more than that and you know it.” Brodie approached, sighing again as he scanned the room. “You have this book knowledge that’s remarkable, this unique passion for it, and a sense of how to remodel a bookshop, as well as a way of matching people with the proper books.”
“Well, if I had more time, I could really get things set.” She rubbed her palms together, an added glint in her dark eyes. “This place is filled with such natural character and charm, it breathes the invitation for creativity. And all that antique furniture upstairs? If we interspersed more of it throughout the shop, it would add a sense of homeyness to everything. Some of the high-backs upstairs would work wonderfully for reading spots.”
“What a brilliant idea!” He stared at her, blinking. “We’ve always wondered what to do with those furnishings.”
“I’m pleased beyond what I can say, my dear. You need to find a way to use these gifts as a part of your daily life. Such creativity and innovation! I can’t believe you’re not knackered.”
“With the third floor free of some of the furniture, we could create office space, Mum.” Brodie laughed. “Part storage and part offices. Skern has been our central location for years, but we’ve never had an actual place fit for an office.”
“Look at the two of you.” Mum clasped her hands together. “The perfect bookish duo.” She laughed and then released a happy sigh before turning to touch Isabelle’s cheek. Isabelle’s eyes rounded and a sudden sheen glimmered to life in those dark eyes, but it wasn't from sadness. No. His lovely American smiled. A sweet, grateful smile.
His heart expanded to post-Grinchlike proportions at the sight.
“So, Brodie-dear,” Mum turned her attention on him. “I believe your lovely friend is due a proper reward for all her hard work.”
