Best Seller by Christina Rost

Author:Christina Rost [Rost, Christina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scrivenings Press LLC
Published: 2024-08-06T00:00:00+00:00

23

Kelly stood outside the entrance of The Bookend and waited for Rhett to open the door. The sign read closed, but Rhett Sullivan, proprietor of the quaint bookstore in Newport News, had extended an open invitation for her to use his overflow room for research.

The door creaked open. “Good evening, Rhett.”

“Good evening.” He held the door for her and beckoned her inside. “I was sorry to hear about Abram. If you want to talk, I’m here. It’s not easy to lose a close friend.”

A pang wedged itself in her gut. “Thank you.”

Rhett locked the door behind them, then strode ahead and slipped behind the counter. “I’ll be here a few minutes counting the till. You know how to lock up, so please take as much time as you need.”

“I appreciate it.”

As she wove her way through the aisles of books toward the back room, she recalled the day she’d met Rhett. It was a balmy, spring afternoon when an unexpected downpour sent her bursting through his doors to seek shelter.

After she’d wandered the aisles, Rhett introduced himself and asked if he could help her find anything. She explained she’d been out perusing the antique shops and needed something to distract her while her editor took red ink to the story she’d just submitted. For the next hour, they conversed about dead authors over a package of Linzer cookies and steaming cups of creamy coffee.

Before she left, he’d offered to let her use the book storage room any time she needed it.

Kelly pushed through the door and flipped on the light. Oak floor-to-ceiling bookcases wrapped around the room while old books with tattered covers lined the shelves. The wood beneath her feet creaked, and she paused to inhale the rich scent of leather and worn pages. It was the first real breath she’d taken in weeks.

After shutting the door behind her, Kelly walked to the far corner of the room, where a group of well-worn red velvet chairs huddled around an antique worktable. Slumping down into one of the chairs, she sighed. This room held so many happy memories for her—but after today—she shook her head to push away the thought. No. Abram wouldn’t want me to continue in my grief.

She pulled the bulky mailer out of her bag and laid it on the table. Opening the envelope would mean reading Abram’s final correspondence. His final words to help her unravel the puzzle she’d fought to protect and preserve. She exhaled a lungful of breath, then drew out the stack of papers and spread them in front of her.

“Okay Abram, let’s finish this puzzle.”

Clamped to the top of the pile was an envelope. She broke the wax seal and unfolded the pages, reading each word as if it were a sacred script.

Abram began the letter with a riddled greeting then flowed into his wish for her to learn to trust in God’s love and the importance of her role in Emersyn’s life. He talked of their early friendship and their walks around the rose garden.

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