by Brown,A. S.
"Thanks, Joe. But, it's what I need to do. Even though I never walked down that damn aisle, I'm his wife. Maybe not legally but in my heart, and he would be doing the same thing if the tables were turned. If I was the one—"
"I know he would. In a heartbeat. He wouldn't rest one minute of any day until the person was caught." He lets out a loud sigh. "I gotta get to work."
"OK, bud. I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Of course. You know you don't have to ask." He gathers his keys from behind the counter before saying, "Gwenn called. She will be about ten minutes late. There's an accident on the expressway."
Once Joey is gone, I make myself get up from my chair. I look around the store that was always my dream. We opened about six months before the shooting. Benji always knew books were my passion and since he was a kick ass commercial real estate broker, he was able to find the perfect place for my dreams to take flight. I will never let this place go—it's one of the last things I have that tie me to him.
I finish up the last couple of minutes before we open counting the register. Everything seems to be in order. Usually Gwenn is here by now and she opens the door and works the register for the majority of the morning while I do any necessary paperwork in the back office. Invoicing, inventory, ordering, and payroll, of course. In addition to Gwenn, I have one other employee, Cole. I really should hire a couple part-time people so I can give everyone a break, including myself.
Walking back to the front door, I flip the sign around and unlock the door.
As I settle into my seat behind the desk, the front door opens and Edie, my morning regular, walks in.
"Good morning, Miss Marin. You look lovely today. How have you been?" she asks with a beaming smile on her face. Edie was one of my first customers to step foot into Chapter Fifteen and she stops in every morning now, mostly for the coffee. She still buys books on occasion, but I think she enjoys the company more than anything. And since the shooting we have grown to have something in common; she considers me a widow like her now. Her husband, John, died from colon Cancer three years ago but that doesn't stop her from being the sweetest person I have met, and I don't think I have ever seen her without a smile on her face. I don't know how she does it. Maybe after several years pass I will gain some kind of light back in my life.
"Good morning, Edie. Coffee is ready back on the coffee bar. Help yourself." She gives me a little wave as she heads back to fill up her coffee cup. I don't know how she wakes up every day and plasters a smile on her face. It physically hurts for me to even paste on the fake smile I have to at times, and it feels wrong. Benji is gone, so why should I be happy?
She rounds the corner and comes back with her coffee in hand and a newspaper. Taking a seat across from the check-out counter, she smiles over at me.
"Where is Gwenn today?"
"She will be here soon, I hope. I guess there was an accident on the expressway so she's running a bit late."
"Ah, yes ... I did hear about that accident." She smooths her lavender skirt and smiles brightly at me. "So how have you been, Marin? I know what today is, so is there anything new from the police?"
Shaking my head while I busy myself organizing the pens on the desk, I answer, her "Of course not. I am starting to wonder why I even bother anymore. It's always the same thing. A few new leads but nothing new to report."
Edie places her coffee on the end table and stands and walks toward me as I wipe the tears from my eyes. "Marin, sweetheart, they will find who did this. I have faith that they will. But you need to start living for you again." She grabs my hand and gives it a squeeze. "I never had the honor of meeting Benjamin, but I know he would want you to be happy, to live your life, and not dwell on his death."
"Once the person is caught that did this, maybe then I can stop dwelling, but I doubt it."
"Well, I hope that's the case," she says and gives my hand one more squeeze. She walks back over to her seat and picks her coffee back up before taking a long drink. "Joey makes the best coffee."
She compliments Joey's coffee making skills every morning, and sometimes he's still here to receive the compliments. Turning to organize a few stray invoices, I hear the bell above the door ring. Edie greets Gwenn before I get a chance to.
"Good morning, Gwenn."
Gwenn glances over at me. "Good morning, Edie. Marin, I'm so sorry. There was an accident—"
I cut her off, "It's OK. I talked to Joey this morning and he filled me in. No biggie. Things like that happen, unfortunately."
"You look pretty today, Marin. Not that you don't always look pretty, but extra pretty today," she says as she fluffs her long blonde curls and then applies some lip gloss.
Gwenn is a couple years younger than me and is a Hollywood beauty. Not literally—she could be one if she really wanted to, but her joy is reading and literature. She is an English literature major in her senior year of college CFU and is leaving in about a month and a half to pursue her Master’s in it as well. The only problem is it's in NYU, of all places.
I'm going to miss her like crazy when she goes. Not only does she know her stuff when it comes to all things books but she makes me laugh at least once a day. Men come into the store for the sole reason of trying to pick her up and she puts on her dumb blonde cashier mask for them at first and then WHAM! She hits them with her smarts and they all leave without a date and a little bit dazed.
"Says the girl with the supermodel looks." I grin and roll my eyes. "But thanks. I went to the police station today."
Gwenn rushes to my side. "Oh, my God. I'm sorry. I totally forgot what today is. I'm so damn stupid."
"It's OK, Gwenn. It's no different than last month, or the month before, or every other damn month before that." Irritated—with myself more than anything—I gather up a notebook, pen, and sticky notes. "I'll be in the office for a bit if you need me." I give her a peck on her cheek and walk over and give Edie a hug; she gives me an extra squeeze.
They don't argue with my retreat to the office. By now, they are used to it.
******
At around lunch time, I decide to make an appearance back out into the store. I notice there are a couple people browsing the stacks, and it makes me smile. I can't help but love that there are people out there that share my love of books. It's not hard to tell the difference between a book lover and someone looking for a book for a certain reason: gift, research, or just to try to get into reading.
The real book lovers come in with a smile and leave with a smile. I catch them occasionally smelling the books, which Cole thinks is weird but Gwenn and I totally get. They rub their hands down the spines of them and caress them and care for them.
Glancing over, I see Gwenn ringing someone up and bagging their purchase with a smile. It really is going to be hard replacing her. Looking over, she makes eye contact with me and makes a silly face, sticking her tongue out. She always tries to make me laugh. I check on the coffee bar and make sure everything is fully stocked there and then check the cooler that holds several sodas, juices, and water.
Plopping down on the stool beside Gwenn, I let out a short sigh. "Everything going good out here today?"
"Yeah," she answers after restocking the bags under the counter. "Kind of a slow day, though."
"Hmm … Wonder if there is something else going on in town?"
The bell rings and an older gentleman walks in and waves at us and then turns toward the history section.
"So the girls and I are going out tonight, just to blow off some steam and vent about everything shitty in our lives. You should go with us." She knows I won't go. She has asked me this almost every weekend since about a month after Benji's death.
I look over at her and roll my eyes. "And what exactly is shitty in your life, Gwenn? Can't be your job because I know for a fact that you have the most kick ass boss on the planet." She laughs and gives me a nudge.
"I usually listen to everyone else. It's my weekly dose of drama hanging out with those girls." We both laug
h because it's true. No one can bring the drama quite like Cindy, Brooke, and Talia. They go to school with Gwenn and met in the same dorm their freshman year. I am an unofficial sidekick but not quite "one of the girls", either. They welcome me on their outings but never invite me unless Gwenn is there. I've made a few Sunday afternoon shopping trips with them but never an actual night out.
"I can't anyway tonight. But thanks for inviting me. Amelia is coming over for dinner, and Joey might pop in too." I take a quick drink out of my bottle of water I swiped from the cooler.
"Are those two ever going to bite the bullet and just do it or what?" Almost choking on my water, I cover my mouth and laugh.
"I don't know. But I wish they would already. I'm sick of having a front row seat to their sexual tension tango they do every time we are together."
We're still laughing when Amelia happens to walk in the door. Gwenn and I give each other a funny look and burst out laughing again.
"What the hell is so funny, you two?" Amelia asks as she flings her mammoth purse onto the counter.
"Joey's not here," Gwenn replies to her question, and we burst out laughing again.
"Shut it." She combs her fingers through her long auburn hair. "I'm not here to see Joey, I was here to talk to you, Marin. I wanted to make sure we were still on for tonight and just to see how your day was going."
Hopping down off my stool, I walk around the counter. "I'm fine, and yes we are still on for dinner. Seven, right?"
"Yeah, I'm bringing Chinese from Little Chinatown, if that works."
"Yep, works for me."
"Is Joey coming? He didn't text me back earlier." Gwenn tries to muffle her laughter from behind the counter. "What is so damn funny, you guys?"
Grabbing Amelia's hand and trying to look at her without laughing, I answer, "We were just discussing how we wish you and Joey would just do the deed already."
Amelia smirks at me and then wiggles her eyebrows at Gwenn. "How do you know we haven't?" Then, she grabs her bag and walks out the door yelling over her shoulder, "See you tonight!"
Gwenn and I stand there with our mouths hanging open and then start laughing again.
I don't think I have laughed this much on this day in a very long time.
Chapter Two
Marin
Right before the dinner hour, Cole showed up to start his shift. He works until close and is a master at closing down the store. He likes to read, but not nearly as much as Gwenn and me. He is more into the organization aspect of the business. It’s not uncommon to find him deep within the shelves making sure everything is in order and where it is supposed to be. He is in his mid-thirties and also does freelance graphic design work. His boyfriend, James, is a chef that works in the evening at one of the upscale restaurants in town so Cole took on this job to keep him busy in the evening. It didn’t take long for him to quickly become part of the Chapter Fifteen family. I rely on him for so much, even if it’s just his ear to listen to me vent.
Between Cole, Gwenn, and Joey, we keep this place running on all wheels. I would be lost without them—hell, without them, there wouldn’t be a Chapter Fifteen
"Hello, ladies. How are you two tonight? Staying out of trouble?"
"Of course. I always stay out of trouble," Gwenn answers with a toss of her hair.
Cole laughs and turns to me. "I'm heading in the back to get anything ready for stocking that came in today. I will pull out tomorrows new releases and set them to the side for Joey to put in the window in the morning."
"Sounds good, Cole. I'm going to cut out of here soon. Amelia and Joey are supposed to be coming for dinner tonight."
Cole makes his way over to me and grabs my hand. I know what he's getting ready to say. "How are you, sweetheart?" He pulls me into his arms and envelopes me in a tight hug.
"I'm good. I'm getting used to the monotony of it all, I guess."
Leaning back, he brushes a stray hair off of my cheek. "I love ya, girl, and I'm always here for you." Cole kisses me on the cheek then rushes to the stockroom in the back of the store.
I glance around the store to take a mental count of how many people are in here and if Cole will be OK if I leave about an hour early; Gwenn will be leaving shortly as well. We haven't been busy much today so I am pretty sure he will survive his shift on his own. Even though I know he’ll be fine, I start cleaning up the coffee area—one less thing for him to worry about—when Cole pops back out from the stockroom.
"Hey, my lovely little Mare Bear, we have a problem." Groaning, I turn around and give him the evil eye.
I heave out a big sigh. "Don't say that, Cole. I really, really wanted to get out of here a little bit early tonight."
"Well, it seems that the warehouse sent us the new releases that released a month ago. Not the ones due to drop tomorrow."
"You have got to be kidding me." As I'm saying this, he is nodding, saying that he is most definitely not kidding. "Jesus … There are going to be a ton of pissed off people that were expecting to get their books they have been waiting for what seems like forever tomorrow. That means they will most likely buy them elsewhere."
I throw the coffee-stained paper towel into the trash bin. "I will go make some calls. What a damn mess."
Cole sticks his bottom lip out and pouts. "I'm sorry, Mare. Do you want me to try and take care of it?" There is no use having him do it because in the past he hasn't been able to get anywhere with the office at the main warehouse. They will only speak to who signs off on the orders, and that would be me.
"No, I'll take care of it. But can you call Amelia and let her know I may be running late and that I will call her when I leave?"
"You got it, doll face."
He hands me the paperwork, and I trudge back to the office to make all the calls. This is going to be a long night.
******
Two hours later, I have finished making all the necessary calls and figuring out what happened. Apparently, the warehouse sent us someone else's order. They told us to keep them as they have already contacted the other bookstore and ordered the books they needed and they are expediting the new releases to us. They still won't be here for another day or two, though, so in addition to straightening this mess out, I needed to contact the people that preordered the book for pick-up on release day. Some were fine with it. Some … not so much. Oh, well.
Grabbing my phone, I shoot a quick text to Amelia that I am cleaning up my previously clean desk then leaving. I want to make sure that Cole doesn't need a quick break before I leave as well.
I walk out and notice the store is pretty dead and he is sitting behind the counter scrolling through his phone and eating an apple. Most bosses would frown upon that, but I know him well enough by now to know that he wouldn't even have it out if there were customers in the store.
"Hey, Cole, I'm going to head out," I call across the store to him. He looks up and smiles at me. "Do you need a break before I leave?"
"Nah. I'm good. You go and have a nice dinner with Joey and Amelia."
"OK. If no one shows up in the next thirty minutes, go ahead and close. No sense you sitting here bored."
"You got it, boss lady. It's a bit cool out tonight. Make sure you bundle up."
It's really not that cold, just cold enough to warrant having a coat on is about it, but I wave to Cole in acknowledgement anyway and walk out the door.
Pausing, I breathe in the crisp, cool air. I kind of like it. The bite of it clears my mind and makes my insides feel refreshed. Making my way down the street to the lot that I park my car in, I hum a song I heard on the radio this morning but can’t remember the name of. After a few minutes, I see the lot in the distance; it's a pay-by-the month lot, and it's not as expensive as some of the others around. The only disadvantage is that I have to walk a little further. Luckily, it's only seven o’clock and hasn't quite reached complete darkness and the streets are well-lit.
Before another thought enters my brain, I'm knocked to the ground and feel an
immense pressure on my back.
"Don't scream, don't say a word, and I won't hurt you," is whispered in my ear. I am too stunned to speak so I only whimper and nod. As I try to lift my head up to scan my surroundings, I notice his dirty hand on one side of my head. He pushes my head back onto the hard, rocky pavement and starts to push my skirt up the backs of my thighs.
What is happening right now?
Am I going to be raped?
Frozen by fear, all I do is focus on Benji’s face in my mind.
But as soon as the nightmare starts, it comes to an end.
The weight that was pushing me down into the ground, that I could only assume was him kneeling on me, is gone. I flip over to see what happened, assuming he must have heard someone in the distance and took off, but that’s not what I see.
There is a man punching another man. I have no idea which one of these guys was hurting me until I see their hands—then I am certain who is who. I can’t really make out the attacker’s face very well so I look back to his dirty, disgusting hands.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?” the stranger screams, and he continues to punch the awful man. I must have let out a small whimper or some sound because my rescuer halts his attack and turns briefly my way.
My breathing hitches.
It was the only break the attacker needed to get away. He scrambles to his feet and runs in the opposite direction.
I look between the two of them, not sure what to do. The stranger turns to follow the attacker and then changes his mind and turns his attention to me.
"Oh, my God, you're bleeding." Rushing to my side, he lifts my face to get a better look at me.
His hair is the color of a dark moonless night and eyes as green as an emerald pasture in early spring. He is day and night combined; light but dark and he quite possibly just saved my life.
"Can I call someone to help you?" he asks, his voice rough and labored from his attack on the horrible man, his eyebrows drawn together in concern.