CHAPTER FIVE
Casey shut the Reading Room Bookstore’s door behind her. She smiled at the melodious chime created by a string of tiny silver bells swinging lightly in the breeze from a nearby window.
Her brief enjoyment was rudely interrupted by a shrill wolf-whistle.
“Wow! Hey, hot momma! Come here often?”
She mock-scowled and turned in the direction of the voice. “None of that now, Mikey.” Her voice was prim. “Don’t forget who you’re talking to.” But she couldn’t contain a small grin as she walked purposefully towards the cash desk.
“Yeah, the old slave driver herself.” Michael, her assistant/right-hand man/lifesaver emerged from behind a stack of new mysteries he was in the process of shelving. His blue jeans and t-shirt, although a little rumpled and dusty, were more in keeping with the usual tone of the place than Casey’s silk dress.
He ran his hands over his sleek mahogany hair and tightened his ponytail. “What’s with the power clothes? Someone die?”
Casey shot him a look. Michael had a very odd sense of humour. “No, Weirdo. Can’t a woman dress up just because she feels like it?”
“Sure she can. Just not you.” The look he turned on Casey was appraising. Leaning against the end of a bookshelf, he watched her with a contemplative gleam in his brown eyes. “Hot date or something?”
“None of your business. Don’t you have work to do?” Casey snapped and ran an irritated hand through her already messed up curls.
“Oh, Oh, I think I hit a nerve.” Michael’s look grew more probing. “Anyone I know, or is it a secret?”
“I don’t have a date and don’t want to talk about it.” She snapped again, then softened her voice and smiled apologetically. “Rough morning.”
Casey sighed heavily and tried to smooth the damage she’d done to her hairdo.
“Sorry I’m late.” She offered over her shoulder as she placed her briefcase on the floor behind the cash desk and started the morning ritual of filling the cash drawer. “Anything exciting happen this weekend?” She glanced back at Michael.
“We found a copy of that Joan Hess novel you were looking for.” Michael straightened from his perch. “Did you want to put it in the window with the other new editions or display it on the cash counter?” He moved over to stand against the customer side of the cash desk.
“In the window, I think.” Casey was relieved that Michael had given up his line of questioning. She didn’t want to discuss her actions of this morning with anyone; it was all much too embarrassing. What had she been thinking anyway?
She also regretted putting on this dress. True, she felt very feminine in it but it was completely inappropriate for climbing through the stacks. Now she’d be limited to serving coffee in the reading room, while Michael did all the shelf work. And that was something no one should have to do alone; hard, boring, dusty work, it wasn’t a lot of fun.
Michael sauntered away to continue his organizing.
The change sorted, Casey closed the cash drawer with a bang and picked up a battered feather duster. Dusting the shelves, straightening books, and readying the store for opening was pretty mindless, but it was a routine that helped her prepare for the long day ahead.
As she worked, the soothing colors in the room worked their magic and relaxed her tense muscles. The floors, carpeted a dark forest green, made her feel as if she was walking over a lush lawn. The heavy patterned paper on the walls, reminiscent of the early 19th century, and the wainscoting covering the lower half of the walls (at least those walls not already covered with bookshelves) gave the room an early Victorian parlour look. Add to that the woodwork on the ceiling finished the same color as the antique bookshelves and the plants and flowers Casey had hung in every available corner and the overall effect was cozy and quiet.
Many a customer had commented that it felt as if they were stepping back in time or into the middle of a soothing forest setting when they walked through her door, and more than once Casey had been required to wake a sleeping patron who was in danger of spilling hot coffee over himself.
As Casey gazed around her she felt a sense of pride in her accomplishment. A lot of hard work had gone into making the bookstore work and, she had to admit, it had all been worth it.
Smiling proudly, she walked towards the Art section to return a misplaced book. True the idea wasn’t a new concept, not really, but it did have a slightly different twist on the usual bookstore/coffee shop the big booksellers were developing these days. For one thing almost all her books were second hand, for another the coffee area was situated smack dab in the middle of the bookstore. And patrons were encouraged to pick a book and read while they enjoyed their coffee. The idea had been that the mark-up on coffee was 100 times higher than on the books and if someone became immersed in a good read they were more likely to purchase the book to finish it, than not. In the odd case that the patron didn’t buy the book, they always returned for more coffee to sit and read some more, and the book still remained available for sale. There was some risk to it, but it was working out way better than she could have ever imagined.
She did her usual tour of the seating arrangements, carefully examining each for cleanliness. The five seating areas, as Casey liked to call them, were made up of two or three overstuffed easy chairs and a low coffee table or, in one case, a patchwork love seat, very old and very worn but incredibly comfortable, with a large footstool for resting weary feet on.
Checking the bulbs on the tiffany lamps hung low over each area, she was pleased to note that they were all still working.
She turned on the floor lamp situated behind the love seat. “Drat.” Figures, one of them had to be burnt out. They had been so busy lately it wasn’t too surprising at least one of the bulbs had reached the end of its life cycle.
She searched through the shelves behind the cash counter for a replacement bulb. She’d just bought a huge box at Costco. It had to be here somewhere. With hands on hips she straightened in frustration. “Michael, where are the light bulbs!” She yelled back into the bookstore where Michael was once again busy stacking books.
“Under the coffee maker.” His reply was muffled, but decipherable.
“The coffee maker. Of course, why didn’t I think of that.” She mocked as she walked over to the coffee counter.
Finding the elusive box tucked into the far corner of the cabinet, she replaced the burnt bulb in the floor lamp and then went to work. Turning on the cappuccino maker, she did a quick inventory of the regular and decaf coffee, tea, juice and their stock of espressos; everything seemed to be ready for the day. All that was left was to make the coffee.
Michael appeared at the doorway, a thoughtful frown on his face as he watched her. “Have you given any more thought to my suggestion about adding more exotic coffees and pastries to the menu?”
Casey looked up in surprise; she hadn’t heard him enter. “Sorry Mike, I didn’t see you there.” Her knees creaked as she straightened from her half kneeling position. “You know my feelings on the subject. So far we’re doing just fine.” She grabbed the coffee pot and walked to the small sink set off to one side and turned the cold tap full. As the water splashed into the urn, she continued: “I promise to look into the idea later this year. We have to see how our cash flow is. I don’t want to do too much too soon.”
“But…”
“Not now Michael. It’s just too soon.” She returned with the full coffee pot and poured it into the top of the machine, then flicked the switch to start the brewing process. “And to be honest, if we do expand our line we should seriously consider sourcing free trade beans and maybe starting to sell more bulk items. Go full out with the coffee business…..” She stopped and chewed her lip thoughtfully. “There’s a lot I’d like to do, but I don’t want to expand so fast we risk what we’ve built so far.”
“Good point, Boss.” He agreed with a shrug, “but we should start doing some research soon. We don’t want to be left behind, there are more and more shops li
ke this opening up all the time, we need to keep changing and growing to stay fresh, or risk becoming obsolete.”
“Also a good point.” She agreed ruefully. Michael jogged back to the cash desk to answer the phone, and that ended the conversation for the time being. She knew some serious thought was going to have to be put into the future, and sooner was definitely better than too late.
Coffee preparations completed, she poured herself a cup of the strong brew and went in search of a good book to read during today’s story time.
Entering the section set aside for just that purpose, she smiled. This section of the store was definitely her personal favourite. Located in the far back corner of the bookshop, it was surrounded by the children’s and young reader’s selections and slightly separate from the rest of the bookstore. There was an armchair, similar to the ones found in the coffee area, available for the reader, and the children would have their choice of multicoloured pillows scattered around the floor to sit on or recline against. Casey’s smile widened as she remembered last week’s reading and the enterprising youngsters who made pillow houses to sit in while listening to the stories.
Story time had been Michael’s brainchild and it had proved it’s worth time and time again. While children listened, parents bought; both books and coffee. Their sales had almost doubled since its inception nearly a year ago and had reached the point where they had to seriously consider hiring another helper. Maybe just part time to begin with….
Spying a children’s book that had been one of her favourites as a child, Casey pulled it off the shelf and waved it in the air to get Michael’s attention. “I think we’ll read this one today.”
Michael peeked around the corner of the stacks to view the book she was holding up. “Good choice, not too short but enough pictures to still hold the kids’ attention. Should allow us plenty of time to get a few good sales out of the parents.”
She and Michael made a good team. He had a knack of keeping her thinking on a business level. Sometimes her love of books was too great to be objective when it came to choosing what she would read.
Casey flipped through the book idly as she sipped her coffee; her attention though, was focused on the partnership stake she was considering offering Michael. One of these days she’d have to sit down and work out all the details.
The ringing of the telephone interrupted her thoughts and her attention wandered to where Michael was picking up the extension. With a flip of his wrist he indicated it was for her. He put it on hold and went back to what he was doing.
“I’ll get that in the back room Michael, it’s probably my sister.” She put down the book and walked in the direction of the storeroom/office, a room basically no bigger than a large closet. “It’ll probably be a long call. Could you hang the open sign and watch the store for a bit?”
Michael sent her a thumbs-up form his perch on top of one of the ladders he’d climbed to replace a stray book.
“If it starts getting busy just give me a yell. I’ll probably need an excuse to hang up on her. She’s so hard to get away from.” She sighed in exasperation and, as the frosted glass door clicked closed behind her, picked up the phone.
“Hello, Stephanie.” Casey made herself comfortable in the only chair in the room and put her feet up on the tiny desk still littered with filing she hadn’t got around to yet.
“How did you know it was me?” The disembodied voice of her younger sister floated to her over the phone line. “Never mind about that.” Stephanie dismissed her own question. “What was that quick little comment this morning about asking an accident victim out for lunch? Did you do it? Are you really dating again? It’s about time; you’ve been single for way too long….”
Casey let her sister talk until she ran out of steam.
“How do you know he isn’t an axe murderer or something? Don’t you think you should ask a few more questions before planning my wedding?” Casey’s sarcastic question echoed around the small stockroom. She took a sip of her quickly cooling coffee and, with a moue of distaste, reached back to deposit the mug on a shelf behind her.
“Oh, don’t be a wimp Case, you know what I mean. Anyway, if he weren’t a respectable human being you wouldn’t be asking him out. So give, what happened?”
“Nothing.”
“What do you mean ‘Nothing’?” Stephanie’s voice demanded incredulously.
“He wasn’t there.”
“But…”
Casey took pity on her sister’s curiosity. “He’d checked himself out the night before.” She sighed heavily, as the full import of her actions registered. Leaning back farther in her chair, she twirled one lock of hair idly around her finger.
“I’m sorry Casey.” Stephanie sounded sincere. “Were you really upset?”
“I thought I was relieved, but now…. I just don’t know.” Casey was surprised to hear herself answer honestly. “To be truthful Steph, he was the most attractive, exciting man I had ever met and he was so gentle with his two young nieces. It just made my heart melt. I felt that I should try, you know? I’m sure he forgot all about me as soon as he walked out the door. It was probably for the best.” She finished, not sure if she was trying to convince her sister or herself.
“So what did this mystery man look like to make you act so out of character? You never chase men. You’ve always been so shy and quiet around strangers. He must have been really something.”
“Oh yeah, he was definitely that.” Casey closed her eyes and pictured the man she had seen so briefly. “He was tall, probably six, two or three. It was hard to tell he was lying down most of the time.” She ignored her sister’s snicker. “Dark blond, wavy hair; the brightest, bluest most penetrating eyes I’ve ever seen; great nose; square jaw with just enough stubble to make him look untamed–very Mel Gibsonish. You know, like in the old Lethal Weapon movies? But on a blonder scale if that makes any sense. Arms and chest and abs to rival those of any superstar; …very, very… sexy, to say the least.” Casey opened her eyes to banish the image from her mind. Was it getting warm in here?
“Wow. Ok, I’ve got a pretty good idea of why you wanted to ask him out. I’m getting hot just trying to picture him. Axe murderer be damned. Everyone needs a little danger in their lives, I always say.”
“No you don’t Steph. You’re an accountant who insists on analyzing everything to death. You’re even impossible to go to a movie with; it takes hours for you to read every review and compile all the data.” Casey mocked her sister.
“Well, whatever.” Stephanie knew not to take offence. Teasing was a way of life with them. “I’m glad you made the effort. There are other men out there, and now that you’ve broken the ice, maybe you’ll find another one. It’s about time you got over Scott. He was a vicious vindictive louse. And he never deserved you.”
“Yeah. Maybe.” Casey didn’t feel convinced. “He called me again last week.”
“Who did? Scott?” Her sister’s voice raised an octave. “What did he want?” She demanded. “He’d better not be trying to get back into your good graces. He’s a slimy bastard. I hope you don't believe anything he tells you?”
“I didn’t talk to him. He just left a message saying he called. I didn’t call him back.” She leaned back in her chair and examined the ceiling.
“Well don’t.”
Casey knew Steph only had her best interests at heart, so didn’t let her demanding tone get to her, but she wished just once she could just talk to her sister, explain her feelings, how inadequate she felt now, how Scott had messed with more than just her ability to love, he’d messed with her ability to trust. But Steph never let the talk turn that deep, she was a good woman, but was more comfortable with giving orders than discussing feelings. She had her reasons, Casey knew, but just once…..she sighed and let the thought go. “Don’t worry Steph; I’m not going to do anything that stupid.”
“I should hope not.” Steph retorted. “So are you going to try to find where this mystery man dis
appeared to?” She changed the subject again.
“Are you kidding, it took all the nerve I had just to visit him at the hospital, and I had a reasonable excuse to do that.”
“Well, it’ll be too bad to just let him go; you may be missing out on something wonderful. Anyway the reason I called earlier….”
Casey went on autopilot for the next 25 minutes while her sister lamented about her latest love and the problem she was having with her sick Persian cat. Funny how some people had no idea how to listen to someone else’s problems, but could drone on for hours about every miniscule detail of their own. Her mind wandered back to the question of Andrew. It would be too bad to just let him go; the chemistry between them had been so…. ‘Incredible’ didn’t even cover it. But how? All she had was his sister’s address and even that was in the files at the ski hill. Maybe between now and the next day she patrolled she’d find the nerve to call the sister and track him down. But then she didn’t want to appear too desperate either…. Casey sighed silently and slumped further in her chair. This trying to date thing was more work than it was worth…. Wasn’t it? Andrew’s smiling eyes floated into her mind to taunt her.
Casey tuned back into Stephanie’s latest lament. Somehow she gave all the right answers and managed to make her sister feel good about the latest man problem she was dealing with, without actually hearing most of what she said. A light tap on the door was her cue to hang up.
“Look Steph, I’m sure you’ll do the right thing. You always do… Steph, I have to go now, Michael needs me up front… I’ll talk to you later.” Much later hopefully, Casey sighed to herself. Sometimes talking to her sister was really emotionally draining. Even without a long discussion of her own love life…or lack there-of.
They said their goodbyes and Casey re-entered the bookstore. She felt as if she had just woken from a dream. Talking to Stephanie did that sometimes. Usually such a level-headed, organized woman, her sister could turn flaky when you least expected it. But even so she didn’t know what she’d do without her.
Casey walked up to the woman waiting at the cash desk and returned to the business of running a bookstore. “Hi, what can I help you with today?”