Chapter 1
POV LAURIE
I'm staring at the papers from two different real estate agency's. An old customer I knew my entire life wanted to buy the place and some other people showed some interest in the store. My preference would go to her for sure and I'm thoroughly contemplating her offer. Although the price is generous, it's still emotionally preventing me from picking up the phone.
It feels like they want to pull my heart out of my chest just by thinking about it. The thought of letting dad's store go makes me sick. Why did he do this to me? Okay, he knew I wanted a job in a publishing house, but that doesn't mean he had to arrange everything with Macies dad behind my back just before he passed away. Why couldn't he just let it be. He knew I would never make this decision on my own. This is the only thing I have from him. All of his money and time has been spent in here just to give me a good future. He knew if the store would get sold I would have more opportunities to follow through.
I toss the papers to the side and stare at my father's picture on my desk. Even in his last days the only thing on his mind was making sure his daughter would proceed her dreams. How could this all happen so fast? He was fine and all of a sudden he was so sick he couldn't even do his daily shores. In this store rests his heart as he made sure every person that walked inside would feel the warmth and rest he eagerly wanted to give to everyone. Even children new there way to the children's corner, specially built for the tinniest just to make sure they could explore every book at their pace.
Mom or dad would look for a nice book when the children got the opportunity to search something to their likings as well. My father always suggested to keep an eye on them while the parents rummaged through the store. My dad's bookstore was a bit older, it smelled like old books, and I just loved it.
As a baby, my mother passed away. She suffered from internal bleeding after giving birth. Dad never got over it, so he never remarried or attempted to date a single woman. I imagine that the stress he had to bear for all those years has taken its toll on him since his heart broke.
-
As we walk to our favorite spot in the park with drinks in our hands, my mind is drifting off. Macy informed me that she has a job interview scheduled for next week in New York. Accepting the job offer meant she would be moving to New York.
"Say something," she broke the silence when we seated at our favorite wooden bench.
I look up at her and see her concerned expression. "This is just unexpected, I'm sorry Macy but I didn't mean to ruin your excitement. Of course, I would be happy for you. " I told her earnestly, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.
"I don't want to leave you," she added. It feels like I'm stuck here if I don't jump now. You know how my dad is..." She continued.
"I know you will do great. If you choose to accept their offer, they would be lucky to have you in their team. I exhaled while opening my diet coke.
Maybe this could be an opportunity for me, but also for you? She brought the silence to an end with a suggestion.
I am somewhat puzzled as I look up at her. It's a fact that there are numerous publishing houses as well. New York is a large city.
"I don't know, Mace. There's so much on my mind right now," I told her silently. We sat silently and enjoyed each other's company. When we were younger, we used to come here and have a picnic or watch people in curiosity. As we grew older, Macy was interested in seeing the boys who were playing soccer or running. She was impressed by that because she was not an athletic type at all. Occasionally, I take a run when I have some free time. Even when your heart is beating and your body is sweating, I find it relaxing. It feels like you're a life.
'I loved that store,' she said with a big sigh while looking at me with a dreamy expression. It's likely that she's memorizing the times we were secretly searching for adult books that contain a lot of sex. Yes, my father had a corner with those as well. When we were about sixteen, Macy helped me read to children from time to time. On Sunday afternoons, we would sit between the books and help children read or read a story to them. Those were good times.
"Me too," I answered truthfully while resting my head against her shoulder deep in thought.
-
After an hour, we were both content and prepared to leave. “Before I forget, I'm going to send Susanna a quick text.”
Macy was still sitting on the bench quickly texting her niece, she would arrive half an hour later when my bag fell open on the ground the moment I grabbed it from the bench.
'Fuck,' I hissed in annoyance.
“Do you need some help?” Macy asked while she was writing her text.
"No, no." I told her, kneeling to the ground to collect my things.
A few meters away from me, I can see one of my lipsticks in the middle of the road. I stand up and as I make my way towards it, a man who's running stops to pick up my lipstick.
"I'm sorry, it just fell out of my bag." I excused myself instantly, knowing if someone hadn't seen it he could have fallen because of the damn thing.
The man stood up and turned himself to give me a better view. He was tall, athletic, with broad shoulders, nicely shaved, and I almost forgot he just said something to me as I was too busy staring at him.
"Here you go," he handed me the lipstick, showing me an incredibly sexy smile. He was so disgustingly handsome that I didn't care if he was sweaty. I was so mesmerized by him that I couldn't speak, so I gave him a quick 'thanks'.
The man turned back to the direction he was running and decided to turn his head towards me. Clearly, I was still gazing at him, who wouldn't? At that moment, I felt small and had no idea how to compose myself in a decent, but not awkward way.
“You don't need lipstick. You're already beautiful without makeup.” He said in a serious manner, giving me one last glimpse before turning his head.
Astonished, I watched him run away from me when Macy touched my shoulders and started screaming in my ear.
“Why didn't you ask for his number?” She shouted frantically.
“Did you see him and did you see me?” While I was tossing the lipstick back into my bag, I inquired with her.
“Laurie, stop the nonsense!” She screamed. “You have no idea how gorgeous you are,” she gushed and dragged me along. “I hoped he would have asked you for your number,” she added.
At that point, I couldn't hide my disappointment and turned my head in the direction he was heading, hoping to see a glimpse of him, but he was already gone. I'm uncertain if I would have been able to ask for his number if he had stayed a little longer.
-
My phone started ringing when I noticed Annie's phone number.
“Hello Annie,” I greeted her with a friendly greeting, hoping she had heard something from her sister. I asked her sister for advice on where to search for job offers and where I had a good chance of getting a job, considering that she is a writer and knows the publishing industry better.
It's unwise to ask for information if I'm incapable of taking the step I need to take, but when I saw my father holding my small notes from when I was six years old in my dreams the other night, I knew he was trying to tell me something. In those days, I was obsessed with the little notebook where I scribbled a lot of nonsense. That's where my love for writing began.
“My sister returned the call with some information. I have good news and bad news.”
"Okay," I said with hesitation. Not sure what the bad news will be.
“She discovered two publishing houses that are in need of new employees, but the bad news is that they are located in New York.”
