at Viti. “Mind your business, honey.”
“You did not just say that to me in my store.” Viti snarled at him with an attitude that matched Brian’s, and raised him.
His friend took a step back, obviously not expecting the pint-size baker to come at him for his obnoxious remark.
“I’m sorry, Viti.” Danny wasn’t just mortified by Brian’s rude behavior, he was so angry he couldn’t see straight. On top of that, he was screwed. He’d lost every chance to tell Jane in his own way.
“You’re not going anywhere until you tell me what he’s talking about. If my friend is in trouble, I want to know about it. I wouldn’t have been able to stay in business if not for Jane. She helped me so much, I can’t possibly repay her, but if she needs me, I will damn well try.”
“I can’t say much.”
“Why not? This person knows. He’s a stranger to us.”
“Yeah, but Jane doesn’t.”
“What? She doesn’t know? How is that possible?”
Brian started to say something but stopped short when Viti shot him a look that was like death.
“Say nothing. Go eat your food.” She sounded like every mother he ever knew.
Brian nodded and wisely took a step back. “I’ll wait outside.”
“Good. Now you.” Viti turned her eyes on Danny. “Tell me everything.”
*
Jane unpacked boxes of children’s books in the stockroom, loving every story. This was the kind of job that often took way longer than it should because she spent so much time flipping through the old beloved titles that they always had in stock. Today’s shipment brought copies of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, The Velveteen Rabbit and The Snowy Day. Jane remembered reading The Snowy Day to Tara every day for three months when she was four years old.
She flipped through a few other favorites, remembering her father reading to the kids who gathered in the store on rainy Saturday afternoons. It wasn’t something that was ever announced. There was no registration, but everyone in town knew if the weather was bad, Mr. Mike would be reading stories at the bookstore at two o’clock. The place was always packed.
Jane continued the tradition, but in this day and age, with phones and video games, turnout was a lot lighter. However, there were still people who had a long history in town, who wandered in and waited for that story on a rainy Saturday. It reminded Jane of where she came from, and a vast appreciation for the gifts she’d been given washed through her.
“Jane?”
The voice belonged to her mother, and rather than its usual lilt, it was solemn and serious, almost like someone had died. “Hey, Mom. What’s up?”
“Can you come out here please?”
Putting down the copy of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Jane stepped out of the workroom and followed her mother to the front of the store. There, with his briefcase in his hand, was her attorney. Standing next to him was a tall woman with a jet-black bob who had been in last week. She didn’t look quite the same as she did when she’d bought a couple of Christmas gifts, but it was definitely her.
Today, instead of jeans and a chunky sweater, Jane could see a tailored suit under her very expensive coat, and heels that were too high for a cold December day.
“What’s this all about? Gary? To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Jane felt like she was in a nightmare going in slow motion, and there was no way to get out of it.
“Jane, this is Mariel Consuelas. She’s with The Homestyle Group.”
Was this supposed to mean something to her? “Hello. You were here last week, weren’t you?”
“Yes. It’s a charming place. Thank you for all your help.” Mariel smiled in that way people do when they’re trying to be friendly, but they’re going to deliver really bad news. For all her polish the woman appeared uncomfortable.
“What’s going on?” Jane insisted again.
Behind her, the door opened and closed, and she could hear Danny’s breathing close in behind her. “Janie…”
Jane held up her hand and waited for Gary to tell her what she didn’t want to know.
“Jane,” Gary began, “I know you’ve been frustrated about your lease, but I’ve just been informed that Van Velt Realty is in the process of selling the building. Mariel is here from the company that’s buying the property.”
She felt herself wobble a little, and Danny’s hands landed on her shoulders. “I see. I doubt I need a committee to tell me I have a new landlord.”
The silence was