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She deserves so much more.
Anger rose, sloshing out and spilling over him. He clamped his eyes closed. Maybe his subconscious was trying to tell him something. Maybe his wife and child would only be hurt by him. Or maybe I’m the one who put Charli in danger to begin with.
35
Charli
Charli walked into The Oyster. The scent of old and new books wrapped around her, pulling her farther into the shop. The large sculpture in the middle was what had caught her attention first. A woman reading a novel, her expression one of fascination and pure joy as her hand reached out as if to turn the page. The entire sculpture was made from pages of books.
Charli scanned the rows of novels. Smaller sculptures were scattered around the store, some more realistic like beehives. Others were more fantastical like a mermaid perched in the folds of an open book with one page textured to look like waves.
“Good afternoon. Can I help you?” a soft voice asked from the left. A woman stood behind an L-shaped desk cluttered with several books stacked with no rhyme or reason.
Charli approached the woman with a smile. “Hello. I’m looking for some books on breastfeeding. Would you have something like that here?”
The woman tapped her bottom lip with a neon-yellow nail. “Yes. I think we do in the parenting section. I’ll show you.” She slipped off the stool and walked ahead of Charli. The clicking noise drew Charli’s attention down to the golden yellow retriever by her side with a vest marking him as a service dog.
“I’m Pippa, by the way.” She flicked her twisted hair over her shoulder.
“I’m Charli.”
Pippa led her down the narrow aisle, turning sideways seemingly to avoid knocking the books with her curvy hips. “Yes, right here. There’s a few to choose from. Is there something else you are looking for?”
“No, this is perfect. Thanks.”
“No problem. Let me know if you need anything.” Pippa continued through the row with her dog following right behind and turned left out of sight.
Charli ran her finger over the titles and picked up two out of the three. She checked her watch. She still had some time to kill before collecting Finn from one of his many appointments at the VA. She moved through the aisles, grabbing a romance novel that seemed interesting, before making her way through what she assumed was the self-help section. Each row had a quote to hint at the theme rather than actual titles. This one was, “In life, nobody will help you until you’re willing to help yourself.” Charli shifted the books in her arms, continuing until her eyes caught on one in particular. She picked it up, scanning the back. This would be perfect for Finn.
She added it to her pile and went to the register.
Pippa put on a pair of blue glasses and smiled. “Find everything you need?”
“And then some.” Charli laughed.
“That’s usually how it works.” Pippa giggled as she scanned the books before slipping them into a paper bag one at a time.
“Are you the owner?” Charli asked.
Pippa nodded. “For a few years now.”
“I can’t believe I haven’t been in here. The artwork is pretty unique.”
Pippa bit her bottom lip. “Thanks.”
“Did you do them?”
A tentative smile curved the corner of Pippa’s mouth up. “Yeah. It’s just a hobby.”
“Wow. Well, they are pretty amazing. Do you sell them?”
“When someone’s interested.” She handed over the bag with Charli’s purchases. “Fifty thirty-two.”
Charli passed over her credit card. “Thank you. I’ll definitely be back again sometime soon.”
“I appreciate your business.” Pippa returned the card with a receipt. “Have a good day.”
“You too.” Charli waddled out the front door—because that’s what it had come to. Walking normally was no longer possible with how big her belly had gotten. The crisp November air sent a chill through her. She pulled her coat closer together. Charli looked both ways and crossed the street. She needed something warm to drink from the Stardust Café.
