Theodore stood under a bookstore’s awning as the rain poured. He’d only been inside the shop for a minute, wanting to peruse the newest releases to see if the latest book in his mystery series was on the shelves yet. He looked out and waved at his wife Isabelle, as she stood with a cup of coffee snug between her mittens.
“Don’t suppose you’d be willing to share that?” he called out.
“Come here and have a sip!” she replied. The rain was heavy, but he could just make out the end of her laugh, which always trailed off with a snort.
He peaked out from the awning and into the sky, which was filled with stubborn grey clouds.
As he watched her sipping her coffee, swaying her hips side to side as if the sip was the most delightful thing she’d ever tasted, he was reminded of the first time they’d met.
The smell of the bookstore was the best part of walking in. It hit him the second he pushed the door open. Theodore nodded to Marvin, the store’s owner for the past fifty years, and walked into the mystery aisle to see what was new. As his fingers caressed the bindings of the books on the shelf he turned around when he heard footsteps behind him.
“Heard me coming? You must be learning how to be a real detective with all the writing you’ve been doing.”
She was the kind of beautiful you only see when you close your eyes and see someone in memory.
“Have we,” Theodore’s words lingered in the back of his throat, his forehead felt as if it’d just been touched by a hot iron, “met?”
“No,” she replied, “not yet, I mean not officially. Marvin he,” her cheeks turned to rose petals, “mentioned you’re a mystery writer. I’ve been working here for a few weeks and he won’t shut up about you. He says he’s counting down the days until your own work will appear on the shelves.”
“He’s always been a great supporter. He’s one of the reasons I keep coming here. Glad to buy books and fill my apartment just to make sure this place stays open. It’ll be a while before any book of mine is on these shelves, I’m halfway through a first draft at the moment.”
“My name is Isabelle by the way.” The name shot out from between her lips like a cannon blast.
“Uh, Theodore.” He put his hand out to shake hers. “Do you write at all?”
“Not fiction,” she turned her gaze downward and he noticed her swaying her hips side to side, “I’ve been free-lancing for a local magazine, nothing special, it’s only bi-monthly.”
“Any writing counts.”
“Yeah, I hope to write for the local paper someday, or, local website, seems it’s all going digital these days.”
“Soon enough we’ll be digital too,” he replied, then regretted. “How’d you end up working here?”
“With the writing not really paying yet I needed somewhere to work, a bookstore seemed like a good fit. My mom is trying to get me out of the house, so, I didn’t really have a choice. Plus, student loans don’t like being paid bi-monthly I found out.”
“Fair enough. Would you,” he looked over his shoulder and through the window at the front of the shop, “like to get a cup of coffee? I mean,” his fingers disappeared into his hair as he searched for the next phrase, “when you have a break or something.”
“I’m actually off in fifteen minutes,” she replied. “Wait for me?”
He nodded.
He brushed his finger along the books, pulling one out every now and then to read the back and pass the time. After nestling a book of short stories back into place he watched as she talked to Marvin. She had her elbows on the counter with her face propped up on her fists, she was saying something as Marvin licked his thumb over and over while counting out the bills from the till. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and checked the time, he still had five minutes to burn. He walked into another aisle, pulled out a book, and without bothering to check the title tucked it under his arm.
“I’ll take one today,” said Theodore. He smiled at Isabelle and placed the book on the counter.
“One book will keep the lights on for another day,” replied Marvin. He picked up the book and smirked. “Glad to see you’re branching out with your tastes in literature.”
“Huh?”
Marvin showed him the book, ‘Desire: How To Tame Your Inner Sexual Hunger’.
“Uh,” Theodore stood in shock.
“Looks like a good read,” said Isabelle. Theodore watched as she plucked the book from Marvin’s hands and scanned through a few pages. “Ouch.”
“What happened?” asked Theodore. He felt his nervous red cheeks grow pale as his embarrassment turned to worry.
Isabelle put the book on the counter and licked the tip of her finger.
“Paper cut,” she replied.
“That’ll be twenty-six fifty-four,” said Marvin.
Theodore pulled his money-clip out of his front pocket and handed Marvin two twenties.
“I hear coffee helps with that,” said Theodore, putting half his change into the tip-jar before shoving the rest into his pocket.
“Oh yeah?” she replied. “Good thing that’s where we’re headed then. Do you need help with anything before I leave, Marv?”
“You two go along,” replied Marvin, “I’ll finish things up here.”
Theodore held the door open as Isabelle walked out and stood under the awning. She peeked out and looked up into the sky, he soon joined as the door shut behind him.
“Looks like it’s going to rain,” said Isabelle.
“Nothing better than listening to the rain over a cup of coffee,” he replied.
“That’s such a writer thing to say.”
Can’t help it,” he said, a smile creasing from ear to ear.
He watched as the clouds only grew darker.
“Is your book there?” Isabelle called out.
“Not yet!” he shout back.
“Well you’re going to have to run over,” she replied. “It doesn’t look like this rain is going to let up any time soon!”
“Why don’t you come here?”
“Nothing better than listening to the rain over a cup of coffee!”
He caught her smile and couldn’t help but laugh. He looked to the sky once more before returning his gaze back to her, then took his first step out into the rain.
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If you’re looking for more reading options, I have a book available on Kindle as well as various serials on Kindle Vella.
The Centennial Courtship on Kindle.
Abigail Bloom's life is thrown into a sweeping romance when a new deputy rolls into the small town of Brooks Landing, but when her ex-husband enters back into her life, she's unsure if she can hold onto her new chance at true love. A break-in in the small town causes Abigail's ex to suspect the new deputy - Can she trust her new love interest or is he using her as an alibi?
Available on Kindle Vella:
John Prince's life in Peak Creek seems perfect. He's been seeing Cassandra Queen for six months and hopes to move in together. However, Cassandra resists the change, putting John's romantic future into question. When an opportunity to advance at work opens up, John feels his luck turning around. Katie Young, a recent transfer at the firm, has other plans. Their rivalry collides when they have to co-present during a company retreat.
The Fantasy of Love: A Romance Story Collection
The Fantasy of Love is a collection of stories all about romance, from first dates to anniversaries.
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