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Chapter 28
Two weeks later
I’ve spent every evening here for the last week arranging inventory, decorating and making sure that everything is perfect for the grand opening. In just half an hour, The Bookish Boutique will officially be open for business. Nervously, I rearrange the bookmark and sticker stands on the checkout counter when a light knock on the glass door breaks my concentration. I peer over the counter to see Avery waving at me from outside while holding Juliet on her hip. Quickly, I move to the door to let them in.
“Hey!” I say, pushing the door open and locking it back up behind them.
Immediately, Juliet reaches for me with a gleeful “Ty!”.
With no hesitation, I take her from Avery’s arms, giving her a break and allowing her to move through the space.
Our official ribbon cutting ceremony is happening at 10:00 when we open, and I invited all of my friends and family to be here. By then, the Fawn Creek Fall Festival will be in full swing and hopefully that will help bring in plenty of foot traffic for our first day.
“Holy crap,” Avery says, as she moves through the space. “It looks so good in here. Better than I ever imagined.” For the last week, not only did I ban everyone but Andrew from coming in here but also, I covered the windows with newspaper so no one could even so much as peek at my progress until I was done.
Avery turns to face me. “You did it, friend.” She says with a hug. “I’m so proud of you and I know Hazel is, too.” She pauses for a beat. “You did, Tyler. And it’s beautiful.”
I take in a deep breath and choke back the tears that I know will fall at some point today. “Thank you” is all I can say in return.
I move through the building, making last-minute adjustments as I take in the fruits of my labor. Every inch of this space is decorated exactly how I dreamed of.
The main room is filled with shelves full of books separated by genre, with book related gifts, decor and comfy clothes spread throughout the space, breaking up the sections. I never imagined that I would have been able to fill so much space with used books, but once the community learned that I was opening a bookstore, I received countless donations of books that people just didn’t know what to do with otherwise. Every wall is full of shelves, with books organized by genre.
In the center of the main room, I will have new arrivals as well as book recommendations for the month. Since it’s October, the table is filled with thrillers, ghost stories and books with autumn vibes.
The children’s area is in its own separate room, down the hall from the entrance. I had Andrew remove part of the wall, so I can monitor the little people while they are in there, but mostly it’s a children’s literary fun zone. The shelves are filled with new and used children’s books, toys, and some cute clothes that I just couldn’t resist. However, my favorite part of the space is all the reading nooks we put in. Besides a child sized egg chair, and a beanbag chair, there’s a wooden swing hanging from the ceiling to use for reading and photo ops. The fake greenery on the wall behind the swing with a sign that says “Adventure is just a page away…” completes the space. I can’t wait to host story time back there every Thursday after school and I already have books chosen for the first few weeks. It’s the exact space that I would have loved to have as a kid, and I can’t wait to share it with the children of Fawn Creek.
As Avery and I finish a quick walk through, Andrew comes in through the back door, arms full of iced coffee and breakfast burritos from Drip. He greets us and then sets everything down on the counter before turning to look at me. “You ready for today?” He asks, kissing my forehead.
“I’m probably going to vomit.” I admit, my nerves are shot. “What if no one comes in? Or what if no one shows up for the ribbon cutting?”
He laughs and shakes his head. “They will. It’s going to be a great day.” He promises.
I nod, only half believing what he says.
“Is the website live yet?” Avery asks, interrupting us.
“Not yet.” I say. “I’m going to get through today first and then I’ll work on opening it up on Monday. Surely, we will be a little less busy that day and I can give it my full attention in case something goes sideways.” I’m hoping that will help us with sales, even on days that are slower around here, by posting and sharing links on our social media pages.
“That’s a good call.” She agrees. “I think today is going to be crazy. The free parking lots are already filling up for the Fall Festival. Being right next to the pocket park will be a huge plus for you, too. There is a lot going on over there today for the kids.”
I hope she’s right. I need this to work out.
By 9:55, the store is filled with all of our family and friends. Avery, Juliet, Andrew, Derek, Cody, Sierra and my parents have all come to be a part of this moment with us. I take a moment to look around at my community and I can’t help but feel so blessed. It’s crazy to think that I lived in a city with thousands of people for years and never felt as connected as I do now in my small town.
At ten o’clock on the dot, we move outside and stand on the sidewalk in front of the door with the members of the city chamber. The street in front of my building is full of Fawn Creek residents cheering us on as we start our new adventure.
After a small speech from the Mayor and an awkward attempt to cut a thick ribbon with oversized scissors, the store is officially open to the public. The crowd funnels into the store and I take my place behind the counter.
My first customer is Piper, the little girl I met at Juliet’s daycare. Piper steps up to the counter and beams, before placing a book about female role models down and pushing it towards me.
“Hey Piper, remember me? This looks like a good choice.” I say with a smile.
She quickly nods, causing her pigtails to fly wildly around her head. “Good job brushing your hair today.” She says with a grin.
“Piper!” a shocked voice calls out from across the store. Ava, the real estate agent, comes around the corner. “I am so sorry.” She says to me, with a red face. “Piper… she has no filter.” She says as she hands me her debit card.
I chuckle to Ava and ring up Piper’s purchase. “It’s okay.” I say with a genuine smile. “She’s spunky. I like her.” I add.
