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I nodded and rang up her order, placed it in a bag, and the instant she was out the door, I buried my face in my hands and sobbed.
* * *
“Did you hear Brooke and Tristan entered the Festive Treasures contest this year? It was quite the event last time.”
“I wonder what she will make this time?”
“Something sinful, I’m sure. I heard Tristan say he was planning on helping her. They sure turned out to be an amazing couple.”
I nodded, half listening as Trinity and Peggy told me the story of how the two of them had met. I grabbed a cookie from the box they brought back and took a bite while the three of us sat in the lunchroom. My mind was still on the news I’d heard this morning, and while I was grateful for the distraction, listening to the two of them, I still couldn’t keep my mind from wandering.
“Yes, it was quite something. The things he did in that bakery near drove poor Melinda crazy. She was always so frazzled while Brooke was off. It was really something to see.”
“Remember how we all knew they were meant to be together?”
“Kind of how we thought you and Zach were meant to be together.”
When I looked up, they both sat staring at me. “Is everything alright?” Trinity asked.
I nodded. “Just got some news this morning.”
“Oh, my dear, I sure hope everything is alright?” Peggy said, looking worried.
I smiled just as the bells jingled out front. I looked at both ladies. “I’ll get it. You both enjoy.”
I shut the door to the lunchroom and made my way out front, only to see there was no one in the store. I frowned and made my way to the front counter to make sure the register was secured and that was when I caught sight of Grace standing just below the counter holding a book.
“Grace?” I questioned, bringing my hand to my chest.
“Hi, Iris. I really want to apologize that this book is so late. My Dad told me to tell you he’d pay the outstanding amount when he got here.”
I reached over and took the book from her hands. I remembered when she’d taken this book out.
“Well, thank you for returning it.”
“You are welcome. Iris, I was wondering if I can still be a part of the reading program. I’ll attend more often now, and I promise you the books won’t be late anymore. Dad mumbled something about me not being able to participate anymore because of the late books.”
It was then the bells jingled over the door, and I looked up to see Zach. When our eyes met, I caught the sadness in his, and then I looked down at Grace. She too had a sadness in her eyes I hadn’t noticed at first.
“Sure thing, sweetie. You know where to find the books. Go take your pick, and next week we are readingCharlotte’s Web, so you might want to grab a copy of that.”
“Okay, thanks, Iris.”
She slowly made her way over to the spot where we kept the books for the young reader’s program, and I walked around the counter and right over to Zach, instantly wrapping my arms around him. I’d like to think it was to comfort him, but it was more to comfort me. I’d missed him so much.
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered as he wrapped his arms around me. “I just heard the news this morning.”
“Thank you.”
“How is Gracie?”
Zach slowly let me go and shrugged. “She’s doing okay, better than I expected her to.”
I looked over at where she sat on the floor, cross-legged, looking at some books she’d pulled out of the shelf, giggling to herself at one of them.
“I was going to message you today,” we both said in unison, causing us to laugh.
“Go ahead,” Zach said, placing his hand on my lower back and guiding me over toward the counter.
