AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Not… necessary.” She barely got the words out through her parched lips, her world turning over, tumbling into pain. This guy, who only a mere week ago had declared his love for her in front of 500 people, was going to build his airport on her father’s beloved bookshop.
She ground her hands tight in her lap, dug her fingernails into her skin to stop the tears from falling.
“Min, look at me.” Ethan’s words were soft, gentle.
“Please, Min.”
She looked at him. His blue eyes were full of love. “It wasn’t necessary to tell you because I won’t be building an airport.”
She shook her head, trying to hold back the blur of tears. “W-what are you saying, Ethan?”
“The Westerly will always remain the Westerly Bookshop. Nothing will change, except maybe…” his mouth twisted into a smile, “the gardens could expand a little. In fact, we could landscape this whole area so the road into Motham is an oasis.”
“What? Oh Ethan. You mean that?”
“You think I would put an airport before you? Never ever, Min.”
No, of course he wouldn’t. She realized how silly she’d been to think that for a single second. Min flung herself into his arms and hugged him tight.
“But the new airport,” she finally managed.
“Is on hold,” Ethan explained. “But when we build it, it will stay inside the boundaries of Motham City. I’ve already got ideas. I’m going to talk to the authorities about whether we can start cleaning up the Wasteland. It’s a huge task, and one that may take a long while. But in the long run, it’s a viable option.”
She smiled at him through her tears. How could she have doubted him?
They cuddled for a long time, then Ethan eyed her curiously. “What were you doing when I got here?”
“Standing outside the door of Dad’s office, stiff as a twig, trying to make myself open the door and go inside.”
“I thought as much when I couldn’t see you at the front desk. Maybe it’s time. After all, you will be the proprietor for many years to come.”
Min smiled at him, a sense of certainty settling over her. “You’re right.” After all, her father would want her to use his study, not cram herself into the tiny office behind the counter.
“If you’re ready?”
“I’m ready.” Min took another deep breath and straightened her shoulders, then she walked to the study, turned the key in the lock and stepped inside.
The room smelled musty, but then again, it always did, with all the old books and papers her father had hoarded over the years.
It was just as he’d left it, other than the boxes that had been taken out of the wreckage.
Min walked around the room, gently touching her father’s artefacts, remembering his face, the furrow he’d get on his brow when browsing through books, his glasses on the end of his nose. The way he’d smile at her and say, “Guess what I found about merfolk?” Or krakens, or orcs. How he was always searching for more books on dragons.
And all the while, Ethan stood quietly watching her. “How does it feel?”
“Okay. So far.” She moved around, touching the spines of books. “Good, actually.”
She smiled at Ethan, deeply grateful that he’d put his ambitions on hold for her and this shop.
“What’s in those boxes?” he asked.
Min grimaced. “They were in the boot of the car when it crashed. After the police brought back all Dad’s belongings, I just hid them in here.”
“Maybe it’s time to open them, Min,” Ethan said gently.
She drew in a big breath. “Yes.” Her smile was wobbly, her glasses fogging up with unshed tears as she watched Gingerbread rubbing his chin on the corner of a box. “And I guess if there’s anything decent in there, it’s best to put it on the shelves for folks to purchase.”
Ethan nodded. She got her father’s pocket knife and sliced the boxes open. “Move over, Ginge,” she said. The cat obligingly went and jumped up on Dad’s desk, watching her as she opened the box.
