Claudia stayed close to Erica, who was staring at the bookshelf closest to the door.
“Are you all right?”
“I’m not sure.” Erica lowered her voice. “I can’t stop thinking about her. She lives here. This is her life. Does she come into this bookstore, do you think? Does she wear jewelry from Gaynor’s Gifts?”
Claudia assumed that she in that sentence was Hattie.
“I’m sure she does. It’s a small town. The sort of place where everyone knows everyone. Which is both good and bad.” She glanced over her shoulder but the woman behind the counter was focused on the two children waiting patiently to buy the stack of books they were carrying.
“Alison and Tara, what do you have there?”
“Grandma gave us money to choose books. We can’t read them until Christmas Day.” The taller of the two girls took her sister’s books and placed them on the counter.
“What a perfect gift. Shall I wrap them for you? That way you won’t be tempted.”
The two girls glanced toward a woman, presumably their mother.
“Thanks, Judie. That would be great.” She put two more books on the stack, then added two scented candles, a board game and a silver necklace. “Every year I promise myself I’m going to get ahead and do my shopping in September but it never happens so I’m doing the whole lot right now. How’s your grandmother? Has she recovered from her fall?”
“The bruises are fading but she’s still stiff and not moving well.” Judie rang up the purchases, swiped the woman’s card and handed it back.
“It knocks your confidence, a fall like that. And it doesn’t help with the weather as it is. Everything out there is so icy.”
“We’re driving her everywhere at the moment, which she hates. Thank you for the casserole, by the way. Much appreciated. Will you be at book club on Wednesday?”
“Definitely. Lynda called.” The woman slid her purchases into a bag. “We’re meeting at the inn. Did you hear that?”
“I did. I saw Lynda at yoga on Monday and she told me.” Judie offered both children a sticker. “It will be perfect, particularly as it’s a festive book we’re discussing. I heard it was Hattie’s idea. Are we supposed to bring something? Food? Drink?”
“Hattie said not to bring anything, even when Lynda insisted that we didn’t want to make more work for her. How that girl copes with everything, I have no idea. What with running the inn and caring for Delphi single-handed, she must be exhausted.”
“She looks better than she did two years ago, though,” Judie said. “I was worried about her.”
“We all were. Devastating. And no family to support her. I don’t know where I’d be without my family, even though there are times when I wish they’d all move to California and give me peace. I’ll take two of those pretty bookmarks while I’m here. Actually, make it three. They make great stocking fillers. Thanks, Judie.”
No family to support her.
Claudia winced inwardly and glanced at Erica. She was staring at the books on the shelf without seeing them. “Maybe we should go—”
“No.” Erica shook her head. “I want to listen.”
Claudia closed her eyes. She had a feeling listening was a very bad idea.
“Lynda is keeping an eye on her. She adores that girl. And Noah is always there, of course.”
“He’s a good man.” There was a pause. “Sometimes I wonder—”
“I wonder the same thing. But Lynda asked me to wonder it quietly so that’s what I’m doing.”
Who was Lynda? Noah? And what were the two women wondering about?
They clearly knew each other well. Were part of the same community.
Claudia had grown up in a small town, but she knew Erica had never experienced that. Her mother believed in keeping herself to herself. Not relying on anyone. Erica had once told them that even when she’d broken her arm, she wouldn’t ask anyone for anything. We’ll manage, she’d said to Erica as she’d gritted her teeth and did her best to cook one-handed.
It was a story that had stayed with Claudia, mostly because her own experiences were so different. She’d lived in a neighborhood where you only had to sneeze and someone would be making you a casserole and offering to take the kids to school.
No one had ever offered Erica and her mother a casserole. No one had known her mother was working three jobs. No one had known they were struggling.
Erica’s mother had been determined to manage alone, and Erica had learned that resilience was keeping going even when you thought you couldn’t take another step.
Claudia remembered the first time she’d opened up to them in college. It had been a turning point in their friendship.
Knowing how hard it was for Erica to ask for support, Claudia reached out and gave her arm a squeeze.
“This is a lovely bookstore. Let’s explore.”
Erica finally stirred. “Yes,” she said. “Good idea.”
They stepped farther into the store, away from the conversation. They didn’t need to hear more about Hattie, Claudia thought. They didn’t need to hear that she was exhausted. What was Erica supposed to do anyway? If Hattie’s life was stressful then Erica announcing her existence would surely only add to the stress.
Erica was probably right to walk away. Hattie clearly wasn’t alone and struggling. She had a whole community of people to support her. She had Lynda and she had Noah. Was Noah that gorgeous guy in the truck who had delivered the logs? She didn’t need anyone else.
“There you are!” Anna suddenly appeared. “I was talking to you both for at least five minutes before I realized you weren’t there. I’ve found this stunning art book. I think Meg would love it. And I’ve found a book on battlefields for Pete—are you two all right?”
“Yes,” Claudia said. “We’re fine. Just browsing.”
Anna glanced at the bookshelf next to Erica. “Since when were you two interested in notebooks?”
Notebooks?
Claudia took a closer look at the shelf in front of her. Notebooks. She hadn’t even noticed what she was staring at.
“We thought maybe we’d start journaling.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Yes, she’s kidding,” Erica said. “We’ve been eavesdropping shamelessly. Who knew that the local bookstore would be the perfect place to gain insight into the community? It’s the equivalent of the office water cooler.”
Anna studied her carefully and then gave her sleeve a tug. “Come and see the thriller section. It’s brilliant. All crime tape and blood-spattered walls. You’ll love it.”
Erica allowed Anna to propel her into the next room. Claudia followed.
In normal circumstances she would have admired the business brain behind the store. The whole place was designed to draw people in. She was desperate to explore the cookery section but she didn’t want to leave Erica.
Anna pulled Erica into a corner away from other people. “You’re upset. Tell me about the conversation you overheard.”
“They were talking about Hattie. Everyone seems to know her.”
“Small town.” Anna paused as a woman passed them on her way to the romance section. “Did you learn anything interesting?”