Page 109 of Between the Lines

“Anything.” His voice is low and calm.

I play gently with Daisy’s springy curls.

“Can you help me move my stuff back into the house on Thursday?”

Jesse leans forward, resting his knees on his elbows as Daisy munches on Cheerios.

“Yeah, of course. I have a busy schedule this week, but just give me the time and I’ll see what I can do.”

I sit on the picnic bench, one hand resting on Daisy’s stroller, one balled into a fist in front of my mouth. “Thank you . . . for everything.”

Jesse rests his arm around my shoulder, pulling me in for a quick side hug.

“I should probably get going,” I tell him.

We stand and Jesse grabs his helmet, turning towards me as I pack up the stroller.

“Don’t wait too long to talk to your sister, okay?” he says, looking over his shoulder.

I nod, my throat tight.

I load Daisy into the car, and we head into town, straight towards the used bookstore. It’s the only place that feels like safe territory right now.

A bit of calm falls over me as I park in the gravel lot, and even if I get only fifteen minutes in here before Daisy demands we leave, it’s fifteen minutes of peace from the war in my mind.

But as I walk up to the store, pushing her stroller, there’s a new sign taped to the old green door.

Going out of business after 26 years! Last week to shop, everything 50–75% off, get it before we’re gone!

My stomach clenches.

I close my eyes, expecting the words to be different when I open them again. They’re not.

It feels like someone pulled the rug out from under my feet as I browse half-empty shelves, not able to even read the spines of the remaining books through misty eyes.

Then Daisy accidentally drops her sippy cup, and the lid pops straight off, spilling sticky apple juice all over the floor.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I moan and flash my toddler a very unconvincing smile. “It’s okay, honey, we’ll clean it up!” But as I’m digging under the stroller for napkins I swear I stashed back there, my phone buzzes. I look at it, thinking maybe it’s someone. Someone other than who it actually is.

Halle: I did it!! I passed my exam! I’m graduating, baby!

Squatting on the floor, I bite my cheeks and reply with a million celebration emojis. An employee rounds the corner, and we lock eyes.

“I’m sorry—” I start, but she waves her hands.

“I’ll grab paper towels. Be right back!” she says and I close my eyes, sighing deeply.

Daisy begins to whimper, and in a desperate attempt, I dance her hands around, hoping to buy a few minutes.

But as I do, a single tear escapes from my eye, because I tried to take control of something and failed. My sister’s mad at me. In just a few weeks, my best friend and the last person in this town who doesn’t have an issue with me is leaving. The man who I thought loved me is a liar.

And this bookstore is closing.

What’s the saying . . . the straw that broke the camel’s back?

I think I get it now.

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