How to Catch a Bookworm: A Chester Falls Short Story by Ana Ashley

Author:Ana Ashley
Language: eng
Format: mobi, azw3, epub
Published: 2020-07-07T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOUR

BEN

Putting the speed-dating event together had proven much easier than I’d thought. In one afternoon, I’d updated the store’s website adding an events page, ordered posters from a local graphic design store, and sorted out some finger foods from a trader in the Farmers Market.

Ellie had also put in extra hours at the store, making sure everything was clean, all books were in the right place, and that we had a good selection of chart-topping titles as well as some indie authors on display.

She’d even arranged to borrow tables and chairs from the new guy that was working at the Old Mill.

With a few hours to spare before the event started, I decided to do some work in the storeroom. There were some old books somewhere in there I’d wanted to markdown to a lower price. It was one of those boring jobs only Ellie loved doing, but I was feeling nervous about tonight. Cataloging old books and changing their price on the check-out system was the kind of mind-numbing activity I needed.

It wasn’t until Ellie had suggested the speed-dating event that I realized I hadn’t done anything to move the bookstore forward, a thought that didn’t sit well with him. It wasn’t so much that I was afraid of change, but more that moving on and making changes to Bookmarked meant losing the bookstore Aunt Jackie had worked so hard to build. Or so I’d thought.

The conversation with my dad over the weekend had also given me some perspective and confirmed the direction of my thoughts.

The last time I’d been at Chester Falls Health Clinic was when Aunt Jackie had had her last treatment, so the place wasn’t particularly laced with fond memories. Going back there with my dad last weekend brought back those memories of my normally strong and lively aunt looking gaunt and tired.

“Son, you’re still running Jackie’s store. When are you going to run your own?” My dad had asked.

I knew he didn’t need an answer. He’d always been like that since I was very young. We’d have a conversation, and he’d just know how to give the best advice without giving me any advice at all.

We’d sat in silence after that. The wait for the doctor gave me time to reassess my thoughts about doing more new stuff, after all, anything that meant the bookstore was alive also helped keep alive the memory of my aunt. But my dad was right. It was about time Bookmarked was known as my store and not just Jackie’s.

The creaky storeroom door opening nearly made me jump. In fact, I would have if I hadn’t been sitting on the floor. I didn’t bother getting up because it was probably Ellie searching for a book a customer had requested.

“You can put them there on the floor, thanks,” I heard Ellie say.

We weren’t expecting any book deliveries, so I assumed the additional tables and chairs for the event turned up.

I got up to thank my lifesaver personally, picking up speed when I heard the door creak again.

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