For the Girls' Sake - By Janice Kay Johnson Page 0,39

place, her clapping endearingly enthusiastic.

She had that magical ability to see through a child’s eyes. In that, she reminded him of Jenny, who had never seemed quite grown-up to him.

But unlike Jenny, who had never worked, Lynn successfully ran a small business and coped with a young child. On the way to the bathroom this morning, he’d seen her worry as she wrote checks, sighed, laid an envelope aside, then changed her mind and opened it again. She must have nothing put away. What kind of health insurance did she carry? he wondered, when he should have been thinking about the alarming, precipitate drop in the price per share of a small software company that had recently gone public and which he’d recommended to his clients.

Did he have a right to ask Lynn about her finances? If she was anxious now, what would her checking account look like in March after the winter slowdown in the tourist trade? Would she take help from him?

Instead of suggesting that he and Rose leave right after lunch, Adam let Lynn put both girls down for a nap. Maybe he’d take them all out to dinner.

Lynn came into the kitchen. "Well, they’re giggling in there, so I can’t guarantee they’ll actually get any sleep, but it seems worth a try."

"Rose can catch up on the way home," he said indifferently.

"I’ll leave you to work." She had some bright catalogs in her hand.

"Publishers’ lists?" he asked, nodding at them.

"Yeah. I enjoy choosing what books we’ll carry as much as I do selling them. Of course the reps try to push certain ones, but a bookseller needs to know her own market."

"What do you look for?" he asked with real curiosity.

"Um..." She was still hovering in the doorway.

"Why don’t you sit down?"

“Can I get you something to drink?"

"I’ll take a cup of coffee." He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had instant, but it wasn’t bad stuff. The caffeine kick was the same.

While she boiled water, he thumbed through spring catalogs from Little, Brown, as well as Simon & Schuster and Scholastic. Every single book looked bright and appealing.

As they drank coffee, Lynn talked about what she found did well for her: local history and flora and fauna, of course, fiction set in the Northwest, a few paperback bestsellers, children’s books. "When it rains," she said with a quick grin, "the kids suddenly need indoor entertainment." Gardening books, she continued; something about going on vacation in a place like Otter Beach inspired people to think they’d go home and transform their yards into cottage or Japanese gardens.

"I have some sidelines, too, including a few needlework and latch-hook rug kits. Vacation makes people dream."

"And you don’t have to worry about a Barnes & Noble opening in the next block."

"Right." Her pretty, round face looked rueful. "Of course, the reason I don’t have to worry is that there isn’t enough volume of business here to attract one. Which also limits any possibility of expansion or growth for me, too."

"How about a second store? Say in Cannon Beach or Lincoln City?"

"I’ve thought about it. They each have independents now, and it doesn’t make sense for two of us to compete. And with Shelly a preschooler, the travel and headaches don’t seem very appealing. But maybe someday..." She shrugged. "If one of those stores should come up for sale..."

Adam drummed his fingers on his thigh. "What do you do about health insurance?"

"I have coverage." Her formerly artless tone became wary. "Were you worried about Shelly?"

"I want her well taken care of." Even he recognized how tactless that sounded, but too late.

Gentle green eyes became fiery. "Are you suggesting I don’t take adequate care of her?"

"No." He grimaced. "I’m sorry. I don’t always express myself well. I know you’re doing the best you can. It’s probably better than I do. I just got to worrying about whether you make enough to manage."

"Well, don’t," she said stiffly. "I’ll let you know before Shelly and I are out on the street."

Irked, he said, "I was trying to offer help."

Brows lifted, she said coolly, "Were you?"

"Clumsily."

"Then thank you." She gathered up her catalogs. "But we’re doing just fine. I happen to believe that luxurious surroundings aren’t essential to emotional well-being."

"I won’t argue." Although he’d never forgive himself if he left Shelly with her and they both died some night in a fire started by antique wiring.

She stood, tiny curls escaping the severe braid to frame her face. Instead of leaving the kitchen immediately, Lynn