Page 70 of Spotlight
Greer comes out of her room as I’m sliding my phone back into my pocket. She looks a thousand times better. The cough is still there, but she’s been fever-free since yesterday morning. By Monday I think we’ll be back to our normal routine.
“Ready?” I ask her.
She nods happily, holding her new horse in one hand.
We go to the bookstore first. Oh, how I’ve missed it. Gigi hugs Greer before my daughter runs off to the kids’ section to see what new books she might have missed.
“She looks better,” Gigi notes.
“She is,” I say. “How is it going here?”
“It’s been quiet.”
My stomach drops. “Really?”
She picks up on my disappointment and gives me a reassuring smile. “The weather is nice. People are out enjoying it. They’ll be back.”
I hope she’s right. Keeping the store afloat is a constant challenge. Some months things look great and then it seems as soon as I get comfortable, we have a month or two where it feels like we’ll never get back into the black. It’s one of the many reasons I’m so determined to win the best bookstore in the city award. It comes with extra media coverage, newspaper articles, social media posts, and a very fancy-looking trophy to display in the store.
“Thanks for looking out for everything. Did the new shelving arrive?”
“It’s in the back.”
“Great,” I say, heading in that direction. We have a new stack of advanced book copies from publishers, and it looks like a new shipment of restocks came in too. I pick through each box, then examine the long, heavy boxes that must be shelving. I might need Grandpa to come in and help me get those together. We are expanding the teen section with a private nook outside of the kid area. I’ve noticed more and more young readers popping in, and I want our store to be inclusive.
After I’ve looked through everything, I go to the note wall. I can easily pick out the newest notes from Grandpa. A white sticky note with the Mustangs logo up top says,Extra sweets for my sweetie. And a torn piece of newspaper withHave a good dayin red Sharpie.
I pull out my phone and snap a picture of it, then send it to Flynn.
His reply is almost immediate. Instead of typing out the words, “you too,” he’s written it on the palm of his hand and taken a picture.
* * *
After we leave the bookstore, I take Greer to get sandwiches at our favorite little café before heading back to the apartment. Ruby is waiting at my door.
“Aunt Ruby!” Greer runs and launches herself at my sister.
“Oh, I missed your germy face,” Ruby says as she picks up Greer and hugs her.
“I’m not germy anymore.” She coughs immediately after and the three of us laugh.
I unlock my apartment, and we all go inside.
“Can I steal my niece for a bit?” Ruby asks.
“Are you sure? She doesn’t have strep, but she still might get you sick.”
“I’m willing to risk it.”
“Avoiding writing?”
She gasps dramatically. “How dare you. I want to spend time with my favorite girl. But also, yes. I’m pretty sure I’ve forgotten how to write a book.”
As I’m laughing at my sister, Greer bounces up and down.
“Can I, Mom? Please?” Greer whines but in the most adorable way.
“Yes, but take it easy. Your body needs rest.” I kiss the top of her head. I give my sister my best no-nonsense glare. “No junk food.”
