Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 89183 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89183 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
“Why, these are all lovely, Josie,” Emily told her. “I can’t thank you enough. I’ll take all of them, and if I come this way again, I hope you’ll be working so we can discuss the books.”
Josie smiled. “I don’t actually work here, but Mari, who owns the bookstore, will always be able to get hold of me if you’d like to talk.”
With a final pat to Mars, Emily Soames got up and took her books to the register. Only then did Josie become aware that Mari was standing off to one side. She came forward now and said, “I think I just overheard a bibliotherapy session.”
They both glanced to where Emily was chatting with Clare as she rang up her books. “It was a short one, but yes, that’s what I do.”
“I loved how kind you were. She’s so much happier now, and I can imagine we could help a lot of people if we incorporated personalized book recommendations.” Her eyes were shining. “I know you’ve barely got off the plane and I already have your plate piled high with things to do, but could you maybe come in one or two afternoons while you’re here? People who want personal recommendations for themselves or a friend could spend an hour with you. If we don’t have the books you think they should read, we could order them. What do you think?”
Josie laughed. “I think you’re one of the most energetic people I’ve ever met.” She loved how enthusiastically Mari was embracing her new role as a bookseller. Then she leaned closer, feeling Mars purr against her thigh. “And I’d love to.”
Then Mari picked up her father’s children’s story. “What did you think?”
“I absolutely love it! Every word, every drawing, the storyline. This is going to go on my must-read list for people who come to the retreats and are divorcing or are already divorced with children.”
Mari beamed. “The publisher has high hopes for it. They want me to do some press as well, though I’m not completely sure how I feel about telling my story to the world once the first book officially releases on Thursday.” She swallowed, her skin going slightly pale. “The big launch party is only a few days away, and the PR team working with the book has already set up several interviews.”
“Just do what’s right for you and forget about the rest,” Josie said. “If you want to talk about your past and your story with people, great. And if you want your story to be something that only you and the people you love know, then that’s perfectly okay too.”
“You sound exactly like Owen.”
“I’m going to take that as a great compliment,” Josie said with a grin. “I look forward to meeting him. And if you want to talk anything through at any point in the future, people have told me I’m a good listener.”
“I can already tell that you are,” Mari said. “Now, since I know exactly how it feels to get off a plane from the US a mere hour or two ago, you’re probably at the point where you could simply close your eyes and fall asleep.”
“I’ll admit that it wouldn’t be too hard to fall asleep right on this sofa.”
“I’m getting ready to close up in about a half hour. If you want to look around the shop for a while, how about I make you dinner upstairs? We won’t talk shop until tomorrow, but we can at least get to know each other better. And then Owen and I can walk you back to the houseboat so that you can get some much needed shut-eye.”
“That sounds perfect.” For the next thirty minutes, Josie had a wonderful time continuing to pore through the books in Mari’s store, both old and new. She chatted with some of the Mathilda Westcott fans, sharing some of her favorite books in the series. To her delight, the Mathilda Westcott section was decorated exactly like the amateur sleuth’s living room, where she often puzzled over clues. One of the fans let on that there was talk of a TV series being made about the books and that it would probably be filmed right here at Elderflower Island Books.
As Mari began to close the shop, the cat jumped up on the counter beside the cash register as though it was his customary spot, then closed his eyes and went to sleep.
Josie then happily went upstairs to Mari’s charming second-story flat. The large windows looked out on the river, and the wood-planked floor had obviously experienced plenty of footsteps in the last two hundred years. The roast chicken dinner Mari made was delicious. Owen Sullivan joined them, and Josie had to admit he was very easy on the eyes. It was lovely to see the devoted way he gazed at Mari and the heat that arced between them when their gazes met.