Page 34 of The Library of Second Chances
“Yes, she can be.”
“Good, because I’m about to be blunt too. It sounds to me like maybe you’re your own worst enemy. You obviously have an agent who’s stood by you. Do you really think she’d submit you if she didn’t think your work was up to snuff? Agents value their relationships with editors. They don’t send them just anything.”
Lucy hadn’t thought about it like that. She knew Leona had tried to boost her confidence after the first book fell through, but she’d never jeopardize her career by submitting something that wasn’t good enough. It occurred to Lucy that maybe the problemwas that Leona believed in her as an author more than she’d ever believed in herself.
Debra’s phone chimed and she pulled it out to check the notifications. “My teenage zombies have finally dragged themselves out of bed. I have to get back. But, hey, promise me you’ll think about what I said. Don’t give up when you’re already so close. Maybe the next time I come in that’ll be your book on the shelf.” She pointed to the new releases.
Lucy thanked her for signing the books and for the advice, waving as Debra left the store. She hustled over to the computer and typed a quick email to Leona before she had time to change her mind. No more five-second hesitations around here, she vowed.
She even had an idea for the premise of a new novel.
Leona,
Yes, I still want to be an author. In fact, I have a new idea I want to run by you.
How do you feel about You’ve Got Mail? It’s always been one of my favorite movies, and I’m thinking about a retelling where the couple falls in love via notes left inside books in a Little Free Library.
You always say to use real life for inspiration, right? Although he isn’t trying to bulldoze my bookstore, I have actually been exchanging notes with someone in our Little Free Library. There’s no love connection there, but wouldn’t it be fun if there was?
Thanks for your continued support. Let me know if I should start fleshing out a synopsis.
Lucy
Her finger paused over the mouse for a split second before she sucked in a deep breath and hit Send. Debra was right; shewas her own worst enemy. Leona had believed in her enough to submit two different books to publishers. And Annie had believed in her ability to be a business owner when she left Lucy her family’s legacy. Maybe it was time she started believing in herself as much as everyone else did.
Fourteen
Logan
When Logan entered the bookstore just before closing time, he could hear Lucy talking somewhere farther back in the store. The high pitch and sing-song cadence of her voice made it sound as if she was speaking to a child, and his hunch was confirmed when he heard a young boy reply.
As Logan wandered over to browse the new releases, Lucy led the boy and his mother from the back of the store toward the counter. He gave Lucy a little wave before turning his attention back to the shelf. Something nudged his ankle and he looked down to see Lizzy, the cat he’d met on his last visit. He reached down to pet her head and the cat began walking back and forth to get a few full body scratches before sauntering off to plop down in a patch of sunshine streaming through the front windows. He’d seen a small signed taped inside the window display toward the bottom as he came in that said: “This spaceis left empty for cats in repose.”It was like Lizzy knew exactly where she was supposed to lay.
Logan returned to scanning the shelves. Maybe he’d find something that was perfect for Island Girl.
“Need a recommendation?”
Logan jumped. Lucy had come up behind him, startling him while he was deep in thought about what his new pen pal might like.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
He debated whether he should tell her about his experience with the Little Free Library, but thought better of it. He was here to go through the financials the building’s current owner had sent over. Besides, it didn’t feel right to admit that instead of buying books from her store he’d been trading books with a stranger.
Turning around, he shrugged. “I mostly read reports and spreadsheets these days. Speaking of which, what do you have for me?”
She sighed and he could tell she was trying to talk herself out of buying the building.
“Here’s what he sent.” She walked back behind the counter and took out a pile of papers, then dropped them on the counter with a thud. “I tried to read through it, but I got a little lost on the last inspection report, and then I saw the reserve numbers and got completely overwhelmed.”
“Investing in real estate is rarely a bad idea. It might be a smart investment for you if you don’t have other plans for the money you inherited. It’ll grow a lot more here than sitting in a bank. Plus, the tax credits for historic rehab will help keep your costs down. Does the store turn a profit?”
She nodded. “A small one.”
“And what do you do with it? Do you take owner distributions or reinvest it?”
“I pay myself a reasonable salary, but the profit at the end of the year is so small, I just leave it in the business.”
“Mind if I take a look at your books? Do you have your P&L statements from the last few years?”
