“But you’re living his life. I’m just saying you should start thinking about your own.” Her voice softened, and when she spoke again, there were tears in her voice as well. “I miss him too, but I also want my sister back. I want to talk to the woman who laughed over lunch and stayed out until almost dawn. I want that sister back, not whoever I’m talking to now. I miss you, Evie.”
I miss me too. “I know, and I’m sorry. It’s just—”
“You need to look after the shop, I know. Just think about it, okay? Love you.”
“Love you too,” I said, unable to keep the tears out of my voice.
“They need me back at work, but I’ll call you tonight. Talk to you then.”
“Until then.”
She disconnected the call before she could hear what I’d said, but then that was Bridget, always on the fast lane while I sat on the road to nowhere.
“Things will get better,” I said, looking around the shop.
It’s the same thing I’d said for the last two years, and day after day, things only seemed to get worse.
“You’ll see,” I said to no one in particular. “This time next year, everything will be fine.”
Chapter Four
After not hearing from the redhead for close to a week, I was pretty sure I’d never hear from her again. That is until she called me right before dinner. Thinking it was Bridget, I picked it up on the second ring and spoke without looking at the caller ID.
“Let me guess, he was a total pushover,” I said with a laugh, stirring the pasta so it wouldn’t boil over.
“I’m sorry, I think I have the wrong number.” The voice was familiar somehow. I’d heard it somewhere, but I couldn’t remember where.
“No, it’s me who should apologize. I picked up the phone without checking the ID.”
“Is this Evie?” the woman asked with a touch of uncertainty in her voice.
“It is,” I said, cradling the phone between my ear and shoulder so I could drain the pasta. “Who is this?”
“Cass.” She laughed, then said, “I don’t think I actually gave you my name. I’m the one who came in for the journals.”
And that’s when it clicked. “Oh! Hi!” Wow, I sounded like a complete dork. “Sorry for the mix-up from before. Sisters, you know?” I released a nervous laugh that hopefully didn’t sound as stupid as I felt.
She giggled. “Can’t say that I do. I’m an only child.”
“Lucky.”
“Anyway, I was calling to see if you had room for another box of books. They’re pretty heavy and look kind of old.
They’re historical romance, I think?” She didn’t sound so sure of herself. “They were my mom’s but I wanted to make sure you had room for them instead of leaving them there to get thrown out.”
My heart dipped at that. I never got rid of any of the books I found outside my door. Sure, I may have dropped them off at
the thrift store if I already had a copy or two, but I never threw them out.
“I think I have the room,” I said once I realized she was waiting for an answer. “If not, I’ll make some. The historical section could use a little love.”
She laughed at that. “Right, because they’re historical romances. Would tomorrow be okay? I know it’s last minute but…”
“It’s no problem at all. I’ll be there from eight until five, so drop by whenever you have time.”
“Great. I guess I’ll see you then.”
I guess you will. “Have a good one.”