Renee Andrews - Yuletide Twins

“They were pretty excited when Dad got the job opportunity in Florida.” David’s folks had been thrilled about the potential for a year-round warm climate, but even if they hadn’t been tempted by the beach, they wouldn’t have taken over running A Likely Story. They’d never appreciated the old store on the square the way he had.

“Well, Vesta knew they didn’t want it and insisted you could breathe life into the old place. Back then, I told her that probably wasn’t possible,” Milton said, then added somberly, “I’m sorry that it appears I was right.” He placed his copy of David’s financials back in his briefcase and snapped it shut. “I don’t see how you can keep the place open more than a couple of months, and that’s only if you get enough holiday business to boost your numbers.”

David swallowed past the bitterness creeping up his throat. He’d tried so hard to make the bookstore work, but Milton was right. He lost money every day the doors were open. He scanned the multitude of shelves lining the walls, the tiny reading corners his grandmother had insisted on having for customers to sit and enjoy their books—all of them persistently empty—and his sole customer, Zeb, gingerly perusing the packed shelves. “I’m not ready to give up,” he told the accountant. “My grandmother thought I could make this place work, really believed it could be done, and that I was the one to do it. You said so.”

“I also said that it probably wasn’t possible,” Milton reminded.

Zeb rounded the end of one of the stacks and held up his plastic basket. “Found some good ones today,” he said with a grin.

David’s heart moved with a glimmer of hope. “I had several bags of used books turned in this week for credit, so I thought you’d be able to find quite a few.”

Zeb’s face cracked into more wrinkles as his smile widened. Oddly, the weathered lines made him even more endearing. “Any of those suspense ones I’ve been looking for? Miss Tilly at the nursing home has been asking for some.”

David pointed toward the other side of the store. “I think so. Look over there, about halfway down.”

“Thanks.” Zeb nodded at Milton. “Good to see you, Mil.”

“You, too, Zeb.” He waited for the old man to move a little farther away, lowered his voice and said, “Credit? You’re still taking books for credit? I told your grandmother years ago that she should stop that. It makes no business sense whatsoever.”

“That’s the way used bookstores typically work. And I carry new books, too, but there are folks in Claremont, like Zeb, who like the used ones.” David said a silent prayer that Zeb would take his time finding the books he wanted so Milton wouldn’t also learn the elderly man got his books for free.

Milton tsked and tapped David’s folder on the counter. “Listen, I’m not charging you for my services this quarter. I know you can’t afford it right now.”

“I can’t let you do that,” David began, but Milton shook his head.

“Nope, not taking a penny. But what I am going to do is start praying that you’ll think about what I’ve said and consider other options. You’re a smart young man with a business degree from a great university and your whole life ahead of you. There are other things you can do, businesses that can make a profit and keep your head above water.” Milton turned to leave. “However, if you’re determined to give it a go, I’ll pray for your success.”

David agreed that a prayer wouldn’t hurt.

Help me out, Lord. Show me what I need to do to breathe life into this place. I could really use some guidance here.

The bell on the front door sounded as Milton exited, and Zeb Shackleford edged his way toward David with books balancing over the top of his red plastic basket. He gingerly placed the basket on the counter and then reached to his back pocket and pulled out a worn leather wallet. “Now, I’m gonna pay you today, David. Please don’t fight me on this. I got a lot of books, and I know you can’t afford to keep giving ’em to me for free.”

David suspected Zeb had gotten the gist of his conversation with Milton, even if he might not have caught every word. He loved the old man and the way he took care of so many people around Claremont. Right now he was trying to take care of David, but there was no way David would take his money. “We’ve been through this before. Those books are a donation.”

Zeb opened the wallet and moved a shaky thumb across the top of a few dollar bills. “Please, David. Let me pay.”

David placed his hand on top of Zeb’s, and the trembling ceased. “It’d be different if you were keeping those books yourself, but I know that you’ll be hauling them over to the nursing home and to the hospital and then to the shut-ins around town. You’ll read the books to them, and then if they like the story, you’ll let them keep them, won’t you?” When Zeb didn’t answer, David added, “My grandmother’s last days were so much better because of your visits. She loved listening to you read. You’ve got a way of bringing stories to life. She had that gift, too, before the cancer got the best of her. But with your visits, she could still enjoy a good story.” He pointed to the books. “I’m not letting you pay for them.”

“She never would take my money, either,” Zeb huffed, folding the wallet and sliding it in his back pocket. Then he lifted his eyes and said, “I know you need the money.”

David didn’t want the older man to worry, even if his own anxiety made his stomach churn. He placed all of the man’s books in two plastic bags. “I’ll be fine.”

Zeb placed a hand on David’s forearm and squeezed. “You have a blessed day, son.”

“I will.” The words had barely left David’s mouth when he heard someone moving through one of the aisles from the front of the store. He hadn’t heard the bell sound, but he definitely had another customer. “Hello?”

Zeb turned so that he saw the pregnant woman at the same time as David. But David was certain Zeb didn’t recognize the lady, since she wasn’t from Claremont. David, however, did, and his heart squeezed in his chest the way it always had whenever he saw the stunning blonde in college. Infatuation had a way of doing that, lingering through the years, and David’s had apparently hung around. “Laura?”

“Hey, David.” She continued toward the counter. “I came in when the other man left,” she said, which explained why David didn’t hear the bell, “and then I didn’t want to interrupt you while you were talking to a customer.”

“Well, I’m about to leave.” Zeb extended a hand. “I’m Zebulon Shackleford, but folks around here call me Zeb.”

“Laura Holland,” she answered, shaking his hand and giving him a tender smile.

Holland. David didn’t miss the fact that she was still Laura Holland. No married name. Why not? And who was the father of the baby she carried? So many questions, and he wanted to know the answers.

“I...” She hesitated. “I hope it’s okay that I came here.”

Shell-shocked, David realized he hadn’t said anything more than her name. He mentally slapped himself out of the momentary stupor. “I’m sorry,” he said. “Yes, of course it’s okay.” Though he suddenly wondered why she was here, in his bookstore, when he hadn’t heard anything from her in over two years. The last time he’d seen her, in fact, she’d been very much in love with his college roommate.

Zeb slid his arms between the loops of the bags then pulled them off of the counter as he stepped away. “David, if it’s okay with you, I might sit a spell and read in one of your nooks before I head out. I’m feeling a little weary and think it might do me good to rest a few minutes.”