I walk into the bookshop around the corner from my apartment. I need a new book to read. Yes, I can just go to the library and borrow a book but this way I get to keep the book and build my own library. I have literally turned the second bedroom in my apartment into a library. There are probably over a hundred books in there. And I am about to add a new one to my collection. Sometimes I go just to walk around and smell the books. No, It’s not like I walk around and sniff all the books; it’s like when someone walks into a coffee shop or isle at the store and the scent just hits you. It is practically my caffeine of choice.
When it is time for me to get a new book I don’t always have one in mind, like today, so I am just going to walk around until one peaks my interest. This isn’t the largest shop around here, but there just is something simple and unique about it. It’s a mom and pop shop, not one of those chain stores; and yet somehow it has hung on all this time…. Although, let’s be honest here, I probably float this shop all on my own just by how much I buy from here. As I walk through the isles piled high with books, I decide to stop in the middle of the isle. I close my eyes and start turning around. As I turn I open my eyes and a gold glint catches my eye. I walk over to the book glinting gold and reach my hand out.
“There you…”
“Oh…” I say as I accidentally brush hands with someone also reaching for the book. “I am so sorry, were you looking for this book?” I question the young woman who has appeared beside me. She seems to be about my age and definitely very bookish.
“Uh… yeah, sorry. Are you a fan of Penelope Waters?” She asks me as we both drop our hands from the book and the book falls to the floor but neither of us moves to pick it up yet.
“No, actually, I have never heard of her, is she a good author?” I return.
“Only one of the best writers from the past 5 years!” The young woman exclaims.
“Wow, and somehow I have never heard of her? Must be one of the best kept secrets!” I joke and the young woman returns with a laugh.
“No way, I find it hard to believe there is anyone who doesn’t know her writing. This would be the 5th book of hers I am purchasing.”
“Five books in five years? She writes fast.”
“Oh there are plenty more too. I always come here to find her books.”
“No way, I’m surprised I’ve never seen you around before then. I’m here quite often searching for a new book to devour. I laugh.
“Really? Me too! I guess we have both been so engrossed in finding whatever book we were in search of. Sorry, I don’t think I introduced myself, I’m Janessa James, but you can call me Nessa.” She reached out a hand in introduction.
“I’m Alli Beaumont, lovely to meet you!” I shake her hand.
“Like the Beaumont hotel?” She asks me.
“Yeah, that’s my Uncle’s business. It was actually my grandfather’s business but my uncle took over when he retired.”
“Nice, never thought I would see a Beaumont in a small bookshop like this one.”
“Oh, haha, no on the contrary I love small book shops. The smaller the better in my opinion. But I don’t know, there is just something…magical, about this one.”
“Yes that’s exactly it! Magical…perfect word choice to describe this place.” Nessa agrees with me, “So, if it isn’t the amazing Penelope Waters that brings you into this shop today, who or what is it?” She questions me.
“Well, actually, I have kind of a mini…okay maybe not all that mini, library collection at my place and I was thinking that it was time for me to get a new book to add to the collection. I just came in here to shop around and see what caught my fancy.” I explain.
“Caught your fancy?”
“Yeah, sorry, just seeing if anything in particular catches my attention.”
“Ah, I see.”
“And when the sun glinted off the gold on the binding it caught my attention, but if you were coming here for it specifically then you must have it. I can always find something else to catch my eye.” I laugh.
“Oh are you sure? I don’t mind sharing Penelope Waters with newbies.” She laughs back to make sure.
“Oh, yes I’m sure. It’s honestly no big deal. But if it will make you feel better, I promise to check out a Penelope Waters book soon.” I tell her.
“Well okay then. Glad I could introduce you to Penelope Waters!” She smiles back.
“Any other suggestions?” I jokingly ask, although I was actually curious to see what she would say.
“Hm… let me think… Have you read The Chronicles of Fairy May? It’s kind of a fairy tail story for grown ups… I don’t know how to explain it, but they are really good!”
“Oh my gosh! Yes I love those books! Best adult fairy tail novels I have come across yet!” I squeal unexpectedly.
“Yes, I know, right! Ugh, what about you; any suggestions for me?” She responds excitedly.
“Jessica Myers’ Scandalous Love Story by Dalia Davis, it’s kind of a historical romance set in the 1920s.”
“Yes, OMG, I know that one too! I honestly am not sure I would have been able to make the choice she makes between the two men, I mean seriously John was so perfect but William, hmmmm, I don’t know how to explain it but he just seemed to have this deep understanding of who she is, it’s just so…”
“Also perfect?” I question while laughing.
“Yes, exactly, there really is no other way of describing it!”
“I feel the same way about that book, both men, I wish I could just smash them into one character and… that, that would be the one!” I continue laughing.
“What even would his name be if they were one character? Haha.”
“I don’t even know, maybe something like Joiam?” I joke.
“Or maybe Wohn?” She suggests while we both bust a gut laughing at that.
“Sounds as if his name makes him a man from the East either way!” I say between breaths. The way we just keep throwing out different book suggestions and both love them, it seems as if we could almost be the same person. Or at least that we have known each other for a pretty long time. You know, it’s almost like we have been studying to pass the test of friendship our whole lives and this is the moment that we would either pass or fail. I think we are off to a great start.
“It truly seems as if we have known each other for awhile and have been in the same book club or something forever.”
“No way, I was totally just thinking the same thing!” I exclaim in surprise.
“Maybe we should actually start a book club?” She suggests seriously while smiling at me.
“We totally should!” I reach into my purse and grab a pen and a pad of paper. “Here, I can give you my details and you…”
“Hey, sis…ooof”. We both look up behind her as the handsome young man walks up behind her, and we both catch him biting the dust having tripped over the book we dropped earlier and neglected to pick up as we got distracted by our mutual love of books. I barely have time to think as he is tripping in my direction. Both his sister and I end up catching and stabilizing him.
“Oh, hi, I am so sorry about that…” He almost mutters to me, “I tripped over that fallen book.” He stands up right and looks back at the book as he takes his hands back leaving a tingling sensation behind from where he touched me and picks up the book.
“No, no, that’s totally our fault, actually…” I start.
“Your fault, no way, you couldn’t have made me trip from all the way over here. I mean, I may have been looking at you, but I would like to maybe buy you a coffee to apologize for falling on you…”
“What I meant was that we both dropped the book and neglected to pick it up. We were distracted by our conversation and never ended up picking up the book.” I correct him before he can finish.
“Oh…” He says slowly.
“Maybe I could buy you that coffee instead, to apologize for neglecting to pick up the book?” I tell him with a flirty smile.
“Yeah, I’d like that, how can I reach you? I was just about to go out to an early lunch with my sister before I have to get back for a meeting at work.” He clarifies.
“I was just giving your sister my info. She can share it with you.” I finish writing down my information on the piece of paper and rip the sheet off the pad and hand it to Janessa.
“Perfect, I’ll message you later then.” He says. “Janessa, are you ready to go?” He turns to his sister to ask.
“Yes, one moment,” she says, taking the book out of his hands, “I gotta go pay for this book first, Kai.”
“Alright, I’ll meet you outside the door then. Good day miss…” He starts saying goodbye to me only to realize he doesn’t yet know my name.
“Beaumont, Alli Beaumont.” I tell him.
“Miss Beaumont.” He repeats, “Well good day to you then, Miss Alli Beaumont.” He says turning to go.
“Goodbye.” I say to him. I look back to his sister Janessa.
“I am so sorry, if it’s too weird, me going out with your brother for a coffee…” I start, waking from my spellbound moment with her brother.
“Oh, no worries, Alli. I honestly, from what little we know about each other, actually think you two will get along nicely.” She smiles cheerily at me. I breathe a sigh of relief.
“Well, I better go pay for this book so I can have lunch with my brother. It was lovely meeting you and I can’t wait to meet up again soon!” She waves goodbye to me and I respond with another goodbye for her when she suddenly turns around and says, “You might want to try reading My Reality by Adeline Beck; now that’s a good read for young adult fairytales.”
“I’ll give it a look.” I call out to her as she heads to the register to pay for the Penelope Water’s book. Then I go in search of this new book…