Page 8 of Secrets in the Stacks

“Don’t worry about it. We were sitting here, and someone came in with an order form. They said to buy enough for all the volunteers. Since you’re part of the book club and set this whole tent up, I figured you and Darby qualified.”

Rarity threw away her empty plate, taking a piece of the crust and giving it to Killer. “Wow, that was nice. Do you know who it was?”

She shook her head. “Some older guy. He looked familiar, but I thought maybe I’d just seen him around. Maybe he’s part of the festival committee?”

“Maybe.” Rarity wasn’t convinced the committee had any money or goodwill to donate lunch to just one of the many volunteer tents. Maybe it was because it was their first year. She’d ask her city business council representative so she could send a thank-you card from the entire group. But more likely, it had been Jonathon. “Anyway, I better get back and send Darby in here. She’s probably starving.”

Holly sent a pointed look toward Carson. “I hope she actually comes into the tent. Carson feels horrible about scaring her. She’d like to talk to her.”

“I’m sure she’ll come. Darby admitted that she’d overreacted last night. You know how people get when facing the unknown. It’s easy for us to go toward the bad.” Rarity picked Killer up and tucked him under her arm.

“That’s the thing. It’s not bad news until you get it. Darby hasn’t even taken the test. She needs to get a hold of herself before she drives herself crazy and her friends away.” Holly stepped away and greeted a woman who’d just come into the tent.

Rarity nodded to Carson, who was still in a reading, and then quickly exited the tent. She didn’t blame Holly for being upset, but she was stepping into something she needed to stay out of. She didn’t want Darby’s friends to take sides. That never worked out well for anyone.

She hurried back to the tent, clicked Killer’s collar to the lead tied under the table, and walked over to where Darby was restocking the popular-fiction shelf. She looked up and smiled as Rarity came up to her. “You’re back early. I had this. You didn’t have to hurry your lunch.”

“I didn’t. Holly and Carson were both busy, so I didn’t want to keep them from helping others. How have things been here?” Rarity looked around at the empty shop.

“Pretty much just like you see it. Malia talked to a friend for a few minutes, but he didn’t buy anything. I think he was really here to see Malia.” Darby turned toward Malia, who was on the other side of the tent.

“He wasn’t here to see me. You’re acting like he’s interested in me. And he’s not.” Malia walked over to them. “I’m going back over to the cooling booth. It’s quieter over there.”

“Wait, tell me about the guy,” Rarity called after her.

Malia didn’t turn around. She just held up her hand and waved.

“Clearly the subject is over.” Rarity met Darby’s gaze. “How long have you been teasing her?”

Darby held her hands to her chest. “Me? What are you implying?”

“That you’re a total joker.” Rarity took the book out of Darby’s hand and made a shooing motion. “Go eat lunch. And don’t make me come over there and separate the two of you.”

Darby glanced at the wall that separated the two tents. “Maybe I should just go buy something from a food truck.”

“No. You should go in there and apologize to Carson, then eat free pizza and salad. That way you can afford to pay for next semester’s tuition without me having to put you on full-time here at a much higher salary than I can afford.” She set the book on the shelf and reached into the box for the last one. “And when you get back, I’m sending you to the shop to get a few more books to get us through until five tonight. I’ll have a list for you by the time you’re done eating. Go on now, they’re not going to bite. Besides, they’re your friends. They get it.”

“I hope so.” Darby turned to the tent door and disappeared outside.

Rarity could see that she had at least gone to the adjoining tent. All she could do was point people in the right direction. The rest was always up to them. She picked up the empty box and went to the table, where she sat and started writing down a list of books for Darby. Books that should sell, especially with this strong reader group. But you never knew. Readers could be finicky about book buying. The man who’d come earlier in the day looking for a Winston Churchill biography might just forget he said he was coming back. Either way, Rarity wanted to be prepared.

The rest of the festival went by quickly. Even counting the books Darby brought over from the store that afternoon, Rarity didn’t have many to box up and take back when she finished emptying out the tent. She packed the last few books in the box she was working on and took it over to the table where her “register” and tote sat. Killer was still under the table, but he was watching her closely. “Don’t worry, little man, I won’t forget you.”

Darby came in with the empty dolly. “I put the boxes by the register counter and then locked the front door again. We’re going to be busy Tuesday unpacking.”

“Not as much as I’d thought. We had a really good weekend.” Rarity sipped water and put the cap back on her bottle. “How’s the other tent coming?”

“Malia’s stacking the chairs so the rental place can come and get them, but other than that, everyone else is gone. I saw Carson leaving as I came back from the bookstore. We talked earlier and everything’s good, by the way.”

“I figured you’d handle it.” Rarity glanced at her watch. It was almost six. “Why don’t you take off. Are you going to the fireworks?”

“Maybe. Holly and Malia asked me to meet them for dinner about seven, but I said I might have to help you, so I could be late.”

“I’m fine. Killer and I will get this last bit of stuff to the bookstore. You go have fun with the girls.” Rarity rolled her shoulders. “I’m going to put something in the oven to reheat and then spend the rest of the night in the hot tub. I can’t believe how hard it is to sell books out of a tent.”

“It’s the grass you’re standing on,” Archer said as he came in. “Walking on uneven surfaces uses different muscles. I’m all closed up, and everything’s back at my office. Can I help you finish here?”

Darby pushed off the table where she’d been leaning. “Sounds good to me. Now I can run home and check on my grandmother before I go to dinner. She might want me to bring her back something to eat. I haven’t heard from her all day, so I’m thinking she got lost in a book or a project. Sometimes she forgets to eat. That will never be my problem.”

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