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She blushed. “I’m not sure I’ll be able to make enough money babysitting to buy abook a month.”
“Then we’ll figure something out. Maybe you could help me with Killer in exchange for your book costs.” She handed the girl one of her cards. “Just drop by next week, and we’ll make a plan. What’s your name?”
“Amy.” The girl took the card and stared at it. “Thank you.”
“No, thankyou.I’ve been looking for some help around here. Now go get settled for the book club. I think Caleb’s about to start.” Rarity smiled as the girl hurried to sit on the floor and watch Caleb.
The woman who’d been next bought the current book and the next for her son. Then she put a third book on her stack. It was a second copy of the next club pick. “I’ll get next week’s book for Amy. That was nice what you did. I’d like to keep her reading too.”
“Thank you. I’ll pull her aside and give it to her before she leaves.” Rarity rang up the charges and put Amy’s book under the counter.
“Just don’t tell her who bought it. I’d rather stay anonymous. She’s a smart girl and works hard. Her mom works at the diner, and she’s single. I’m sure it’s tough.” She nodded toward the book club area, where Caleb had started talking about the book. “I’m so glad you opened up something for the kids. I’ve been trying to get Jake here to pick something out to read with little success. But then his best friend mentioned he was coming today, and he’s all ‘let’s go.’ It’s all about the peers at this age, right?”
Rarity handed her back the credit card. “Thanks again for getting Amy’s book.”
“I saw you shortchanged your register. It’s the least I could do.” The woman nodded toward the other side of the building. “Is your romance section over there? I need a few books for Mommy time.”
Rarity pointed her toward the right section and turned to the next person. This woman had a twenty-dollar bill out as well as her credit card. “Sunny needs both books, and put this away for when someone else needs a book. I’ll do my part too.”
By the time she’d finished ringing up all the kids’ books, Rarity had an envelope with over a hundred dollars and a few business cards promising to buy a book when she needed more money. She was shocked at the community’s support of one little girl’s reading habit. And after they’d gotten their kids’ books taken care of, many of the parents bought something else to keep busy while they waited. Several moms went out to the front to sit on benches near the shop to read. Others found little nooks and crannies to sit on thefloor and read.
Rarity felt blessed for the community support. And her week was going to be amazing with the books she’d sold. She’d originally assumed she was mostly going to be serving the tourist crowd that came to Sedona. Today’s club and Wednesday’s class had taught her different. She had a strong community here that was willing to support the store. She just needed to give them a reason to do it.
As the book club was going, another woman came inside the bookstore. Looking around, she spied Rarity sneaking in some ordering while everyone was busy. She hurried over. “Sorry to bother you, but do you know when the crystal shop is reopening? I’ve been trying to get a necklace I saw last week, and we’re leaving next Friday.”
“She’s not open today?” Rarity craned her neck to try to see Sam’s lights, but as the woman had said, the shop looked dark. Rarity realized she hadn’t seen or spoken to Sam since she’d seen her trying to sneak Marcus out of town on Friday. “Well, I guess not. She had a family emergency. Let me call and see if she’s going to open later today.”
Rarity used her cell to call Sam, but no one picked up. She left a brief message about a customer needing to buy something and that she’d have their contact information here at the store. “Can I get your contact information so I can give it to her?”
The woman smiled and gave Rarity a business card. “That’s my cell, so she can reach me anytime. I really need that necklace. It’s for my mother-in-law’s birthday next weekend. She’s really picky, and this will be perfect. I knew I should have grabbed itwhen I saw it.”
“I’m sure I’ll talk to her soon.” Rarity wasn’t really sure, but she didn’t want to give this woman the idea that Sam was flighty, either.
The store cleared out quickly once the book club was over. A few kids brought their parents over to buy the next in the series, but after that rush was over, she helped Caleb clean up after the event. “So what did you think? Did you like running the club?”
Caleb nodded, his grin as big as some of the participants had been as they left with several books in their arms. “I can’t believe how much fun it was to talk about the book with the kids. They were even able to give me examples of when they felt the same way as the main character. I only wish Janey had been here to see it. She would have loved talking with them.”
Rarity put a hand on his shoulder. “I bet she would have. But you did an amazing job. I have someone coming in next week for the elementary-aged club, but if you want to come and help, that would be awesome.”
“Several of the kids said their little brother or sister were planning on coming and asked if I’d be here. I’d love to come if it doesn’t mess with your staff hours.”
“If next Saturday is even close to being this big, we’ll need you.” Rarity bit into one of the few cookies left over. “I think I need to order more treats too. Annie’s is going to love us.”
After Caleb left, she took Killer out front for a potty break. Sam’s shop was still dark, and she hadn’t returned Rarity’s call. She took her cell from her pocket and dialed Sam’s number again. “Hey, it’s just me. I’m wondering what’s going on. Are you okay? Do you need anything? The group is getting together tomorrow to talk about what we learned this week on Janey’s murder. Come by early, and we can talk. And don’t forget to get that woman’s number. She really wants a necklace. Anyway, I’ll get you...” The message had been too long, and she’d been cut off. She tucked her phone away and looked down at Killer. “Readyto go inside?”
He barked and went to the door to wait for her to open it. Dogs were so much easier to understand than humans. She hoped Sam was all right. She knew Drew and Sam had fought, but that shouldn’t mean that she’d stopcalling Rarity.
Archer showed up right at five and helped her close the bookstore. “I wanted to come by during the book club, but I got slammed with customers right then. I must have handed out fifty or more of your bookmarks.”
Rarity had seen the hikers show up after the book club ended, and she’d sold a lot of the suggested hiking books as well as several popular fiction books due to Archer’s referrals. “You probably need some more, then. I definitely need to reorder your hiking books. Anything new I should add to the list?”
They chatted for a while, then he clicked Killer’s lead onto his collar. “Do you think Killer would mind if we headed over to the Garnet for dinner? I know I need to make white chili for your thing tomorrow, but I thought we’d eat out tonight. I have a reservation out on the deck, and it’s cool enough that we shouldn’t roast.”
“I’d love to.” Rarity tucked a bottle of water and a plastic dish into her tote. “Killer should be fine. And after Friday, I think he’d appreciate going rather than staying home by himself.”
“He runs your social calendar, you know.” Archer held his hand out for her bag, and she gave it to him as she turned off the lights and locked the doors.
“I know, but he’s so cute. I hate to havehim mad at me.”
