Page 102 of A Not So Merry Rescue
“Duh.” Shania rolls her eyes at my ridiculous question.
I take it from her hands, flipping to the page where I signed it, personalized to her.
Shania does a double take at her name and the signature, the pieces not falling into place. “I don’t understand. How does it have my name in it?”
I grab a napkin and a pen and sign my pen name. The moment it clicks, she jumps from the booth, her hands waving wildly, her mouth open but no sounds emerging.
It’s Autumn who speaks first. “You’re Evelyn Ravenhurst?TheEvelyn Ravenhurst?” she shrieks. Thankfully, the few other patrons aren’t paying us any attention, nor do I think AJ Hart books are their jam. “You’ve been here all this time, and we didn’t even know? How did we not know? How are you here? Are you bullshitting us?”
I don’t take offense to her surprise. “I wouldn’t do such a thing. I promise you I’m Evelyn Ravenhurst.”
Shania finds her voice. “Willa . . . whatever your last name is, you are freaking Evelyn Ravenhurst? I am meeting Evelyn Ravenhurst? Is this real life?”
“Yep.”
“Pretty cool, huh?” Beckett exclaims.
When Autumn clues into what he’s saying, she swats his arm. “You knew all this time and said nothing? You’re no longer my favorite brother.”
He holds up his hands. “Not my secret to tell. Heck, you’re lucky Willa likes your kid enough to share it. She could have left here, and you’d never have been the wiser.”
His voice stumbles on the word “left,” and all the feelings I’ve tamped down try to reemerge.
“Can I hug you?” Shania asks, her voice watery with unshed emotion.
“Bring it in, girl.” I open my arms wide but am not quite prepared for her onslaught.
She whispers in my ear so no one else can hear, “You’re my favorite author. And I’m not saying that because you’re here.”
“I’d be okay if it were the reason, but I know you’re not saying it because you know. That’s why it was okay to tell you.”
A tear drips from her eye as she pulls away. “I don’t know why I’m crying. I’ve always wanted to meet her. You,” she corrects with a snort. “I’m a bit overwhelmed.”
“I get it. The first time I met an author I admire, I pretty much told her I wanted to have her babies.” I can’t believe the words came out of my mouth. Both then and now.
“Will you take a selfie with me? With the book? Can I tell my friends? Is that okay? I know you’re not big about sharing pictures on social media, but I promise I won’t send them the picture. I’ll show it to them and that’s all. They won’t think it’s as cool as I do because they don’t read much.”
“Tell whoever you want.”
“Wait until Alanna gets wind you were here. She’s going to go bananas she didn’t get to meet you.”
“Beckett has books to drop off at the book store. I’m sure glad I never took them out of my trunk after all this time.” I point to Shania’s other gifts. “Books two and three. I’ll send the others when I get home. Anything else you might want?”
“A Hidden Clues bookshop hoodie like the one you were wearing. Oh, and some stickers or bookmarks. If it’s not too much.”
“For my biggest fan? Never.” I bring her to my side, giving her another hug, her excitement bleeding into me.
The waitress interrupts our soiree, taking Autumn’s and Shania’s order while Beckett and I order dessert. Over the shared meal, Autumn and Shania ask me all kinds of questions, most of which I can answer. Some I can’t because even I don’t know the answers, but some I’m not at liberty to say.
When the food is gone, our stomachs full, and my bladder empty, as much as I don’t want to leave, it’s time to get on the road to guarantee I’m home before it’s too dark.
“I should probably head out.”
Beckett drops his card on the table. “Lunch is on me. Give us a few minutes.” He doesn’t wait for their response but drags me outside to the side of the building.
“I want to say goodbye to them.”
“You will. Stupid or not, I can’t let you leave without kissing you one last time.”
