Page 81 of The Midnight Book Club
“Final offer,” he added.
“Alright, then,” she said, reluctantly giving in.
Once he’d paid for his copy, they walked toward the door.
“Start withDavid Copperfield, then readLittle Dorrit.And I want a full report on each, so don’t try skimming them.”
“Yes, Miss Lyndham,” he teased.
Aurelia laughed but then caught her breath, tears filling her eyes as she realized their exchange was exactly like one of many she’d seen between Aunt Marigold and her customers.The memory came on so quickly that she hadn’t had time to prepare herself.She’d thought she was over these unexpected bouts of sadness, but obviously she’d been wrong.
Oliver’s amused expression turned to concern and she was immediately embarrassed.
“Sorry, I just… Sorry.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Yes—yeah, I’m fine,” she said lightly, though her voice was breaking.“Let me just run and get my coat.”
She hurried upstairs and closed the door to the flat behind her, leaning against it.Damnit, she said to herself,can’t you keep it together for once?She took a few deep breaths, then wiped at her eyes.Shaking her head in frustration, she got ready to face him again.It was a warm day, but—remembering her excuse—she pulled a coat from its hook and went back down to the shop, making sure to smile reassuringly as she led him out the door.
They walked to lunch discussing Dickens, giving her a chance to shift gears and try to let go of her shame over nearly breaking down in front of him.She became animated by their talk of books, forgetting that they were about to sit down to discuss what he didn’t like about the latest draft of hers.
As it turned out, he had plenty of edits, but he’d softened his delivery, making her wonder if James had told him to be a bit gentler with his critiques.There were no major suggestions—nothing that would set Vronsky off—and she was breathing easier once they’d finished lunch and were walking back to the shop again.
Her relief was short-lived, however.
“Earlier, in the shop, you seemed… upset.Did something happen?”
“Oh, nothing happened.I just, um… I was thinking about my aunt and it sort of caught me off guard.She was always pushing books on people, insisting theyhadto read something or other,” she said, trying out a laugh.“Pushing Dickens on you made me think of her.”
“You must miss her.It sounds like you had a lot in common.”
His tone was kind, but Aurelia was convinced she’d shared too much, asked too much of him.She’d nearly cried in front of him, the poor man.
“I’ll work on those edits and get another draft to you soon,” she said, back to business as they neared the shop.“I can probably get them to you by the end of next week.”
“Sure, drop them off when you’re ready and I’ll give you a call when I have some notes.”
“Which will also be the perfect opportunity to tell me what you think ofDavid Copperfield,” she reminded him, pointing to his bag of books.
He smiled.“You’re determined to keep me reading.”
“It’s sort of my job,” she laughed.
Once again, Aurelia watched as he walked away from the shop.Once again, he turned and waved, and they exchanged smiles.
Back inside, though, a frown began to crease her forehead as she remembered how decent he’d been about her emotional meltdown.So much for keeping the proverbial door open, she thought.He’d just had a window into her fragile state, so why would he want to walk through a door?She was doing much better than she’d been back when her ex had broken up with her over her tears and her grief.But obviously she still wasn’t ready to date anyone; this was just further confirmation of what she’d been telling David and Antonia.
She shook her head.Friendship it is, then.She’d just started to allow herself to get used to the idea of him too.It was hard to ignore the tightening in her throat that threatened more tears, and she was angry at herself for being weepy without end.
Catching sight of her laptop, Aurelia made herself think instead about what would happen to Vronsky next.Last night the characters had been begging for an update on his story, and she didn’t want to disappoint them.
48
Aurelia’sdrivetokeepwriting was coming at a cost.More and more she missed a deadline to pay an invoice or bill for the shop, or forgot to place a special order for a customer only to have them show up wanting to collect it.Days started running into one another, so that she’d open the shop on a Sunday for a few hours before realizing her mistake or forget to open it on a weekday.
One morning found Aurelia sitting in her flat revising a chapter of Vronsky’s story when she heard faint knocking coming from the street below.She thought it might be a mistimed delivery for the shop and made her way downstairs, pages and pen in hand.When she spotted Mark through the blinds, she quirked her head in surprise before letting him inside.
