Page 33 of Secret Sins

"Okay."

Chapter 13

Van

I'd barely gotten the word out of my mouth when an older woman came bursting into the store. Backing into the shop, she hung up her umbrella and peeled off a striped wool cape while speaking the entire time.

"I swear, it's a gullywasher out there, sweetpea. An absolute drencher."

Since I had a minute before the woman became aware of my presence, I moved over to the armchair and picked up my tea. Bailey's face was pink, her gaze darting between me and the gregarious woman.

"How's it been in here this morning?" Pushing damp curly hair out of her face, the woman turned and spotted me. "Oh! I didn't realize we had a customer."

We?

"I'm Riley, Bailey's mama, and sometimes her salesperson." Extending her hand, she gripped mine before I could actually offer it to her. "Nice to meet you. You're Van?"

Bewildered, I looked over at Bailey. She was grinning from ear to ear, petting Charlie's back as he bumped his head into her chin.

"Yes, I'm Van."

Riley winked. "Everyone knows everyone in this town, sweetheart."

"I guess that explains it," I said. I tried not to feel intimidated, but her personality dominated the entire space.

"Ooh, Bailey, you put out some tea and honey. Just perfect for a day like this, isn't it, Van?"

"Especially the honey," I murmured, maintaining eye contact with Bailey.

"Liam and Rory dabble in beekeepin'. They don't sell it right now; don't have enough to go that extra step just yet." She poured a cup of tea and added a generous spoonful of honey. "But we get to reap the benefits, don't we, now?"

"Sure do. Um, I came in because I wanted a few more books to add to my collection."

"I know just the thing." Taking me by the arm, Riley steered me around the corner of the nearest shelf, bringing her tea with her. "You like legal thrillers, I can tell."

What the actual fuck did this woman eat for breakfast? We were well past Wheaties-style energy. "Um, sure. David Baldacci is good."

"I knew it!"

Four Davids and a few Toms later, Riley pushed me toward the counter with alacrity. Her touch was gentle on my back, in all honesty, but she might as well have twisted my arm behind me and forced me to the register. She certainly knew how to make someone say yes when they hadn't intended to.

"I don't know where I'll put all these," I said as Bailey rang me up.

"I'll buy them back from you or trade them when you're done reading."

"Really? Won't you lose money doing that?"

"Well, actually, I have an entire section of used books. It helps to have a wide variety of options in such a small town."

"Tourists might give us a few big days a month," Riley said. "But loyal townies are the bread and butter of Bookish. We have to offer what they're looking for."

"Some customers don't have as much extra money to spend, and I'd rather they get the chance to read what they like. It's more important than making a huge profit. We have a library in town, but they don't have very current editions unless they receive donated books."

It was just like Bailey to think of others first, to align her dreams with reality to ensure they worked out. Something else nagged at the back of my mind, but I put it away until I'd checked out and said goodbye.

Leashing Heidi as soon as I walked through the door and set down my bag of books, I took her to the surf to let her run around. The rain had left behind a clean slate covered in a layer of steam once the sun came out. Few others were out and about, which I knew from my short time here was unusual. Heidi took off, barking madly as I released her.

It was pathetic to think I had so much in common with a dog; very recently, I'd been cooped up in a tiny room, only allowed out when someone in charge decided it was okay. And, worst of all, still being on a leash when I did get to go outside. Never truly liberated, never exercising my personal autonomy.