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Once we’re done, we head for the checkout, where an older woman with gray hair braided down her back greets us.
“Wow,” she says with a bright little giggle. “You kids certainly have your hands full. Did you find everything you were looking for?”
“And then some,” I joke. “You have such good deals on your books.”
She sighs, scanning my books and slipping them into a paper bag. “Yes, well, I’m sad to say I’m having to close the shop permanently. So, I’m slowly marking everything down.”
My heart sinks. “Oh. I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize.”
“Well, you know how things are around here.” One side of her cheek draws in.
“Small towns are tough,” I agree. “We’re actually not from here. We’re just in town for a visit.”
“Oh.” She eyes us somewhat suspiciously. I pay for my order and step back so Memphis can move forward and begin checking out. “Family in town?”
“No, it’s kind of a strange story, actually. A friend of ours found a vacation rental in Fulfield and thought it would be a good place for all of us to get away,” Austin explains.
“Well, it certainly is a place to get away. Fulfield’s even quieter than we are. I can’t imagine there’s much for you youngins to do there.”
After Memphis pays for his, Mara walks forward. “We went down to the river yesterday,” she says. “It’s so beautiful.”
The woman, whose name tag introduces her as Bertie, makes a softhmphnoise and neither agrees nor disagrees. “How long are you in town?”
“Just the weekend,” I tell her as Mara pays and moves back to make room for Paulette. “We head back home Sunday.”
“Well, just take care of yourselves, okay? This may be a sleepy little small town, but we’ve got our problems just like everywhere else.” She’s quiet for a long while, leaving us with that ominous message.
Once we’ve all checked out and are preparing to leave, she adds, “Come back and see me anytime while you’re here, okay? It’s nice to have some friendly faces in town.”
“Will do,” Austin calls, and we all wave and say our goodbyes.
Outside the store, Mara rushes to keep up with Austin, walking beside him as she and Paulette laugh over something I can’t hear. Memphis slows his pace, remaining with me at the back of the group and letting everyone else get ahead of us. We walk side by side for several moments, neither of us saying anything, just taking in the sunny but cold day and listening to the rustle of our bags in the wind. He seems to have something on his mind, but I’m almost afraid to ask what it is.
“Look, don’t make this weird, but I found something for you,” he says, all in one breath like he’s been waiting to say the words.
“What?”
He reaches inside his bag and pulls out a copy of the latest Arlie Montgomery novel, and I could swear my heart stalls.
“How did you…”
“You picked it up twice while we were in there and kept putting it back. I just figured you should have it.” He nudges it toward me again until I take it.
“Memphis, this is really nice. Thank you.”
“It’s not a big deal.” He sniffles and looks straight ahead. “Consider it my apology for not hiring you.”
I laugh and place the book in my bag. “Well, then, consider this my apology for getting your answer wrong.” I pull out the special edition hardbound copy ofOf Mice and Men.
He stares at it with wide eyes, turning it over in his hands. “Where did you find this?”
“It was in the discounted section. I thought you’d like to have it.”
He looks up at me with a stoic expression, mouth dropped open but no words coming out. Eventually, he clears his throat. “Thank you. Seriously. This is… You didn’t have to do this.”
“Don’t mention it.” I wave him off.
Eventually, he places the book in his bag, but neither of us makes an effort to pick up the pace and remain with the group. Instead, we stay back in comfortable silence, taking turns pretending not to glance at each other.
