“Like taco shells.”
I smiled. “Just like taco shells.”
While Cammy, Cyndee, and a new girl, Lark, sold books, Alex and Teddy walked up and down my line handing out Post-it Notes so my readers could write down who they wanted me to sign their book to.
Wendy walked up behind us. “I wish your father was here to see this.”
“I’m pretty sure he is,” I said.
“Of course he is,” Grace said.
It was no surprise that Grace was first in line, especially since the book was dedicated to her. I had invited her as my special guest, and we let her in early through the employees’ entrance.
Wendy smiled at me. “Are you ready?”
“I think she’s thirty-years ready,” Dylan said. “Let’s get this show on the road.”
“Good,” Wendy said. “Thank you for having your first signing here.”
“You know my dad would kill me if I didn’t. Thank you for having me.”
Teddy walked up to me with Alexis by his side. She was nine now, and nearly as outspoken as I had been at her age. “Dude, your line goes down the block.”
“She’s not a dude,” Alexis said. “She’s a lady.”
“My apologies. So, before the mayhem commences, may I get your autograph? It’s like you’re a celebrity now.”
“She’s not a celebrity,” Alexis said. “She’s my mom.”
“Dude, celebrity, it’s all good,” I said. I took one of my books from the table and signed it. “There you go, Teddy. It’s my gift.”
“Thanks. I promise I won’t sell it on eBay.”
“You can do whatever you want with it. It’s yours.”
* * *
Alex was right, by the way. Dylan and I married just six months after that Christmas. Dylan already had the wedding tuxedos, and Wendy let us hold the ceremony at the bookstore. It was perfect. At least perfectly us. Wendy was my maid of honor. Grace arranged for our wedding cake. It was gorgeous and was made to look like a stack of books, with the names of the books written in frosting. I’m sure my father would have loved every bit of it.
I never went back to New York. I worked remotely with Jerica on a couple more of her books (yes, I won the battle and she learned to email me her manuscripts) but finally decided it wasn’t worth the aggravation. She was surprisingly gracious when I told her that I was quitting to work on my own book. She even gave me a blurb for the jacket.
After our wedding, I moved in with Dylan. Wendy sold her home and purchased mine to be closer to the store, though I don’t really think that was her prime motivation. I’m happy to report that Bobbooks now has a café. Teddy is the chief barista. He was perfect for the job, as he had worked at a Starbucks for two years before coming to us.
The café part was Wendy’s choice, of course. She said, “Robert will probably let me have it in the next life, but it’s worth it for now.” It has added a nice cushion to her bottom line. Business is good, and she’s now looking at expanding into the space next door. She’s even thought of opening a second store.
On a more personal note, Wendy’s dating someone now. He’s cute, and he’s younger than she is. And he goes by Bobby. I’m just glad she’s not alone.
Dylan and I are looking at a little expansion ourselves. I’m five months pregnant. So far so good. Alexis is hoping for a little sister. I totally get that.
In addition to the café, Wendy’s done a little more remodeling. She put a little plaque up on the wall near the entrance with a picture of my father. Engraved in brass are these words by Vonnegut:
A purpose of human life, no matter who is controlling it, is to love whoever is around to be loved.
Life is good. For my wedding present, Wendy had my father’s letters bound into a book with the title Tabula Rasa: Love Letters from a Father to His Daughter.
I have reread the letters many times now. Someday I’ll pass the book on to my own children. I like the concept of a tabula rasa. There is a time in all our lives that we need to clear the slate, trusting that the truth will set us free. For many, freedom is terrifying. I understand. It’s not always easy and it never feels safe, but truth is always worth the risk. Always.
Interestingly enough, I’ve even learned something about butterflies. In some cultures, butterflies are believed to be visitations from a deceased loved one. They are also a sign to leave our pasts behind.
Every now and then I’ll be reading a book and I’ll look up and there will be a butterfly. Maybe it’s magical thinking. Maybe it’s just selective attention. Then again, maybe it isn’t. Just in case, I always smile and say, “I miss you too, Dad.”
I really do.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I wish to acknowledge the life and impact of Carolyn Reidy. In 1995, Carolyn brought me into the Simon & Schuster family and has, until this book, been with me for the entire ride. I’m grateful for her faith in me, her professionalism, and her wisdom. I will miss you, Carolyn.
I’m grateful for Jonathan Karp, who has stepped into Carolyn’s large shoes. He, too, has been a solid companion and welcome sojourner in my literary career. Thank you, Jon.
Thanks to my new Gallery family: Jennifer Bergstrom, Aimée Bell, Jennifer Long, and the rest of the Gallery crew. Thank you for the home and the attention to my books. With this book I welcome a new editor, Hannah Braaten. Thank you for your help, Hannah. Thank you for enduring the slings and arrows of outrageous deadlines so I could focus on writing. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Laurie Liss. Dear agent, we have yet again dodged a bullet.
My assistant, Diane Glad. Thanks for the lemonade. Eleven years and counting.
My wife, Keri. Thank you for being you. I love you and I always will.
More from this Series
Noel Street
The Noel Stranger
The Noel Diary
More from the Author
The Road Home
The Forgotten Road
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Richard Paul Evans is the #1 bestselling author of The Christmas Box and the Michael Vey series. Each of his more than thirty-five novels has been a New York Times bestseller. There are more than thirty-five million copies of his books in print worldwide, translated into more than twenty-four languages. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the American Mothers Book Award, the Romantic Times Best Women’s Novel of the Year Award, the German Audience Gold Award for Romance, five Religion Communicators Council Wilbur Awards, the Washington Times Humanitarian of the Century Award, and the Volunteers of America Empathy Award. He lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with his wife, Keri, not far from their five children and two grandchildren. You can learn more about Richard on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RPEfans or read his blog at www.richardpaulevans.com.
FOR MORE ON THIS AUTHOR:
SimonandSchuster.com/Authors/Richard-Paul-Evans
SimonandSchuster.com
@GalleryBooks
ALSO BY RICHARD PAUL EVANS
The Mistletoe Collection
The Mistletoe Promise
The Mistletoe Inn
The Mistletoe Secret
The Noel Collection
The Noel Diary
The Noel Stranger
Noel Street
The Walk Series
The Walk
Miles to Go
The Road to Grace
A Step of Faith
Walking on Water
The Broken Road Trilogy
The Broken Road
The Forgotten Road
The Road Home
The Four Doors
A Winter Dream
Lost December
Promise Me
The Christmas List
Grace
The Gift
Finding Noel
The Sunflower
A Perfect Day
The Last Promise
The Christmas Box Miracle
The Carousel
The Looking
Glass
The Locket
The Letter
Timepiece
The Christmas Box
For Children and Young Adults
The Dance
The Christmas Candle
The Spyglass
The Tower
The Light of Christmas
Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25
Michael Vey 2: Rise of the Elgen
Michael Vey 3: Battle of the Ampere
Michael Vey 4: Hunt for Jade Dragon
Michael Vey 5: Storm of Lightning
Michael Vey 6: Fall of Hades
Michael Vey 7: The Final Spark
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Gallery Books
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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2020 by Richard Paul Evans
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, address Gallery Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.
First Gallery Books hardcover edition October 2020
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Interior design by Erika R. Genova
Jacket design by Min Choi
Jacket photographs by 123rf
Author photograph © Emily Drew
Library of Congress Control Number: 2020942029
ISBN 978-1-9821-2960-6
ISBN 978-1-9821-2961-3 (ebook)
Text of “The Dance” on pp. 311–14 is from The Dance by Richard Paul Evans with illustrations by Jonathan Linton. Text copyright © 1999 by Richard Paul Evans. Illustrations copyright © 1999 by Jonathan Linton. Reprinted with the permission of Aladdin Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division. All rights reserved.
The Noel Letters (The Noel Collection Book 4) Page 20
