Page 99 of This Heart
Winnie jumped in excitement as Liam groaned. “I fear I’m going to have to build a library.”
I laughed and leaned against the counter, watching my younger sister with Winnie. “I’ve always wanted a big library with the rolling ladder.”
Liam laughed. “You have a ladder here at the bookstore.”
Shrugging, I replied, “That’s not the same thing. A personal library with books on old shelves and an old-fashioned ladder. You know, the kind you see in old historical houses.”
Liam nodded. “Is that what you would like someday?”
Facing him, I nodded. “Since I was a little girl, I used to dream of owning a house that overlooked Moose Lake. There is this one, it’s old!” I laughed. “One of the first homes built on the lake, I believe. Anyway, I don’t even know who owns it, but it needs a lot of work. Harper said the Moose Village Historical Society has done some work on it, mainly structural, to keep it in good condition. It’s been for sale forever.”
“So, you’d like a fixer-upper?” Liam asked.
“Yes!” I replied, bouncing on my toes. “It was a struggle for me to decide whether I wanted to remodel The Book Nook or keep that money tucked away to buy the old Miller mansion.”
“The Miller mansion? That giant Victorian up on Summit Peak?”
I smiled. “Yes! That’s the one!”
The corner of his mouth twitched for a moment before he slowly shook his head and rubbed the back of his neck. “Aurora, I hate to tell you this, but someone bought that house.”
I was positive my mouth fell to the floor. “What? When?”
“A few weeks ago.”
“How do you know that?”
He gave a half-shrug. “My father was hired as the contractor to start remodeling it.”
I closed my eyes and saw that dream slipping away. When I opened them again, I let out a long sigh. “That is a real bummer.”
Liam drew me to him. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.”
My head was nestled onto Liam’s chest, and when the bell above the door chimed, Liam made no effort to move away, so neither did I. That was until we saw who was coming in.
“Oh God,” Liam whispered. “Betty Lou.”
Betty Lou Start was the Moose Village town gossip. If there were still a soul left in Moose Village who hadn’t heard about me and Liam, she would have that fixed in the next three hours.
I patted Liam on the chest. “The cat’s out of the bag now.”
He chuckled and kissed the top of my head, which made Betty’s eyes widen in surprise. She made a beeline straight for us.
“I had to see for myself, and I cannot believe I’m the last to know about you two!”
Liam laughed, and I loved the way it sounded. “The last to know what?” Liam asked with a grin.
“Don’t you play with me, Liam Turner. I heard rumors of you two being together, and I had to come and see for myself. This makes me so happy.”
I let out a huge breath and I felt Liam’s arm tighten around me some.
“Why does it make you happy?” I asked out of curiosity.
Betty Lou smiled, which was kind of a rare thing. Usually, she wore a serious expression. “Anyone with two eyes could see how you two looked at each other. And you’ve both been through a lot. It’s nice to see good people happy.”
Stunned, I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Luckily, Liam was able to speak.
“Thank you, Betty Lou.”
