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CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO
ONE YEAR LATER
I walk into Spines and Wines just after nine in the morning, a paper cup of coffee already in my hand. My heels click across the tile floor as I make my way through the building, the scent of warm coffee and books hitting my nose.
Even after everything, it’s still my favorite scent in the world.
“Morning, Mary,” I say, waving a hand at her. Today, her hair has been dyed a bright shade of aquamarine. “Love that new color on you.”
She looks up at me with wide eyes and puts down the book she was reading, running a hand over her hair. “Well, hey, stranger. I didn’t know you were coming by today. How’ve you been?”
“Oh, fine. Staying busy, all that. How about you? You just got back from the Bahamas, didn’t you?”
She grins. “You remembered! Yes, I did. Now that we’ve got Allen trained”—she points to the man with gray hair tucked under his tweed cap who’s carefully restocking shelves across the store—“I can actually take vacation time without worrying about that old grump in his office back there. I’d forgotten what that feels like.”
“So you had a nice time?”
“The best.” She beams.
“I’m glad. You deserved it. And, speaking ofthat old grump, I was hoping to catch him if he’s in the office today.” I run a hand through Lenny’s soft fur as the fat cat raises her head to look at me, then lies back down and continues purring. “He’s not expecting me, but I brought treats.” I lift the cup in the air.
She tilts her head toward his office and lowers her voice. “You came at the right time. He just got off a call. Go on in. Want me to tell him you’re here?”
“Nah, I’ll just pop in. You’re the best.” I cross the bookstore at a leisurely pace, perusing the shelves for anything new. I stop at each of the memorial shelves, running my fingers over the nameplates Memphis and I had made in memory of our dear friends who gave their lives in the name of books.
Paulette.On her shelf, there are plenty of romance books and a few spicy thrillers.
Logan.I run my fingers across the collection ofThe Hardy Boys novels and other mysteries.
Ethan.I stop at his shelf, running a finger over the spine of the last book he reviewed. One he’d begged me to buddy read with him, though I hadn’t had the time. Memphis has also filled his shelf with all of his favorites from Lyra James.
It’s not much. Not nearly enough. But it’s something we could do. Some small thing to let the world and their families know they aren’t forgotten.
It never gets easier, knowing they’re gone.
Knowing how senseless it all was. How easily it could’ve been anyone else. Often, I find myself wondering if we should’ve left sooner. If I could’ve done more to save us.
If they’d still be here if I made a single different decision.
I’ll never know, and I think for the rest of my life, that will kill me.
“Hey, Allen.”
“Hello there, Lena. Looking mighty pretty today.”
I wave him off. “Oh, you old flirt.” When I reach Memphis’s door, I knock twice, then push it open. “Knock, knock.”
“I’m not buying,” he says, standing up with a sly grin when he sees it’s me.
“Lucky for you, I’m not selling.” I walk around his desk and give him a tight hug, breathing in the scent I’ve become so accustomed to.
“It’s good to see you, Lena.”
“It’s really good to see you, too. I’m sorry I haven’t been around much this…month?Has it been a month? Wow, I’m awful.” I press a fist into my hip.
He shrugs, sitting down in the oversized executive chair I bought him for his birthday after insisting he throw away the one that was killing his back. I found out later he’d just taken it back to his apartment, but it was a nice first step. “Well, I’ll let you off the hook because I’m awful, too. Ithasbeen a month, and I know this because I was out of town the week before last, and last week was Mary’s vacation, so I was swamped. We’re both to blame.”
“Equal blame,” I say, bobbing my head. “I like it.” He flashes me one of those smiles I’m seeing more and more often. “How’ve you been?”
