Page 68 of Fish Out of Water

Jake shrugged. “It just didn’t seem like you.”

“I’m taking a page out of your book.” Robbie moved from behind the counter to fiddle with some books that were out of order on a shelf. “Your methods have their benefits. I’m beginning to see why you do things that way.”

The door opened behind Jake, and he quickly walked over to a shelf, pretending to peruse while Robbie took care of the first real customer. She spent some time looking at books before fielding suggestions from Robbie. Jake was barely listening to the conversation until she moved to the counter to check out.

“You look so familiar,” the customer said.

Robbie smiled. “It’s a small town, so you start recognizing faces quickly.”

“Oh, I don’t live around here. I’m just visiting family. I only come by every few years. But I’m sure I’ve seen your face before, maybe in some news articles or something?”

Jake looked in Robbie’s direction. His expression was plagued by a certain uneasiness that, try as he might, he couldn’t mask. “Perhaps,” he said, hurrying to get the customer checked out. “Like I said, not many people live here. It’s easy to end up in one photo or another.”

“Do you have family in the area?” she pressed.

“I do.” Robbie gave a slight nod. “We, uh, we own this bookstore.”

A look of recognition dawned on the woman’s face. “Eaton,” she said. “Robert Eaton, right?”

Robbie’s shoulders slumped in defeat. “Right. I’m Robert the 3rd.”

The woman nodded slowly. “I read something about you trying to take over the old event center in town to turn it into… a bar, was it?”

“A restaurant. And that was my father, Robert Jr., not me.”

“But it had a family photo that you were in.”

“I can’t control what photos the news uses.” Robbie kept his polite smile plastered on as he glanced back at Jake, who offered a sympathetic grimace in return.

“Well, I don’t think that place should be turned into a restaurant. Don’t the Eatons own enough in town already? It’s almost like you want a monopoly.” The customer laughed.

“Yes, well, that’s my parents, not me. I’m just trying to keep this little bookstore going. Do you want to purchase a canvas bag today for your books?”

“Does the profit go to the Eatons?”

“We own the store, so yes.”

The customer shook her head. “No, thanks. I’ll just carry the books out.”

“We have paper bags too.”

“I’m good.”

Robbie sighed. “Take a canvas tote on me. We’ve got too many of them anyway.”

“Oh, thank you. That’s very nice. You sure you won’t get into trouble with your parents?”

“I’m sure. Have a nice stay in Eventide.”

As soon as the customer left, the bells on the door jingling merrily in her wake, Jake sidled back up to the counter. “That was rough,” he said, resting his elbows on the countertop.

“Story of my life. So, are you buying anything at all, or just loitering?”

“I wanted to talk, but…”

“There’s nothing more to say. I left because I was in a hurry, and I didn’t think you cared if I said goodbye.Doyou care?”

“Fuck no.”