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I shook my head. “You’re getting a little ahead of yourself.”
“What do you think about an official battle of the books at the end of summer?”
We’d gotten the idea for an adult battle of the books after seeing signs on our bulletin board for the local schools that held battles. Teams read the curated list of books and there was a competition where judges asked trivia questions.
“That sounds doable. Want help finding titles?”
“Yes, I have one in mind already.City Spiesby James Ponti. I think that’ll appeal to girls and guys alike. It was on the school list, too, so some parents may have already read it.”
Hailey pulled it up on her phone and showed it to me. “It does look good. We just need four more.”
“Libraries pull from award-winning lists, so we can start there,” I said as I opened my laptop to do a quick search.
I pulled up several lists and printed them so we could look at them together. Grabbing the papers from the printer, I set one in front of Hailey.
She quickly scanned through the list. “I’m going to have fun checking these out.”
“If we switch over to a wine market, where will the books fit in?”
Hailey lifted her head from the list. “You can still sell the books if we stick to the local history and guidebooks. It will fit in nicely with the tourist items.”
I pointed at her excitement with the idea that just popped into my head. “And we can pair wine with a monthly book club or battle.”
Her nose wrinkled. “We’ll have to let go of the children’s story times.”
“That’s okay. I think my customers are looking for an escape by coming here.”
Hailey nodded. “And there’s always the library for story times.”
“Exactly. That need is already being met.” We fell silent for a few minutes, each of us reviewing the book list and looking up summaries online.
We crossed off some and starred others. Then we switched lists.
“Let’s check out the ones we both starred,” I suggested.
Hailey leaned back in her chair. “I think we’re off to a good start.”
“I’m excited about the ideas.” As long as I focused on what wecoulddo, I wouldn’t be focused on all the bad things that could happen.
“Will you consider giving dating another try? It doesn’t have to be Ben. It’s just—I’ve never seen you react to anyone. It was like there was this thing between you. Chemistry, I guess,” Hailey added with a soft smile.
Ever since her brother’s best friend, Ryan, moved back to town and Hailey connected with him, she’d been happy. She wanted the same for me. I didn’t blame her for wanting me to be happy, but I wasn’t the same person. My track record wasn’t the best. I couldn’t help my history any more than she could change who her mother was. Her mother had left her and her brother, Jake, to live with her grandmother when she was six and he was twelve.
“Please?” she pleaded.
“I promise I’ll keep an open mind.” I probably wouldn’t, but I’d think about doing it…someday.
Hailey sighed. “You’re impossible.”
I smiled. “But you love me anyway.”
She nodded. “We’re going to get through the opening of the new coffee shop and your childhood nemesis being back in town.”
“I’m so glad I’m not going through this alone,” I said as she hugged me. I was grateful that Hailey had her grandmother sell their family’s Spice & Tea Shoppe so she could pursue her love of writing because it had prompted her to offer her help in my store. And with Ben back in town, I needed her more than ever.
The question was, did I have the guts to go for the expansion? To even explore the idea? Or was I stuck in a rut? I had to admit taking the risk in my business sounded more appealing than attempting to date again.
All I had to do was remember the gleeful satisfaction on Levi’s face when he announced he’d gotten his green card and wanted a divorce. He pursued me because he’d thought I’d fall for him, and I did. I never suspected it was fake.
