Fifi wiggled a finger at me. "I'd say part of that luck came from Verlene's friend, Derby, being Griffen's partner."
"Besides, I heard how smooth your voice got when you were talking to him. Uhm, huh!"
I cut my eyes at her. "Did not! I can see that you're going to be the bane of my existence now that I can't get rid of you. Aren't you?"
Fifi put her finger to her chin. "Let's see . . . I own the bookstore and you own the building. Yep . . . you're stuck with me forever."
"Mom knew what she was doing all the way around, didn't she?"
"Are you really okay with it, sugah?" Mom's will had stipulated that I sell Fifi at least controlling interest in the store if I wanted to remain involved. We could have avoided all the angst if I had just gone through the paperwork sooner.
"Yeah, I'm fine with it now. Honest, that's why I sold you the whole thing. A lot has happened in the last few months. Mom will always be in my heart, but I need to get on with my life, and that is not as a bookstore owner. That's your gig."
"I think your momma realized that books weren't your thing a long time ago. She was a very smart woman. And to think that I fought with her about that book purchase." Fifi shook her head.
"Well, we should finish up with that next week. It's a little strange that both doctors agreed to put the auction off a week. I get the strange feeling that they are going to purchase it together. I'll just be glad when it's over. That whole deal was starting to make me feel nervous."
Fifi picked a few stray crumbs from the rug and set them on the edge of her plate. "Did they ever find out why that Bakari—"
"I don't know, and I'm sorry but I don't want to know. I've had enough death and drama for a whole lifetime."
"I agree. But ya know something, sugah? With the kind of money we're going to get for the sale of that book . . . Well, I really hate to bring it up, but did you call the lawyer about your ex-husband yet?"
"Yeah, right . . . like when have I had time to think about him?"
"Well, I just don't want you to wind up having to face him in court. I think your momma's will gives you a way out. She must'a been thinking about somethin' like that when she drew it up. She always dotted her I's and crossed her T's."
"Thanks to Mom, we will have a lot to share."
Fifi looked sad. "I would gladly give it all up if we could have Camille back."
I rubbed her shoulder. "Believe me. I know where Mom is, and I'm absolutely positive she would not come back for all the tea in China."
"You think so?"
"I know so," I said as I looked at my watch. "Our lunch break is over. We need to get downstairs and see what damage our— correction—your new assistant has wrought in our absence."
We walked into the store together and were greeted by Rolling Stones music blaring from the sound system. Fifi screwed up her face like she had just eaten three lemons.
"Gabi!" she yelled over the music. "Turn that racket down."
I burst out laughing. "Boy, does that sound familiar."
Fifi charged to where they had moved the counter, and reached behind it to flick off the stereo. "That boy is going to be the death of me yet."
"Yeah, but that boy graduated at the top of his class with a degree in Hungarian Literature from Pratt," I said. "You two are a match made in heaven."
Gabi Fabian, my former hairdresser, strolled out of the stockroom with a load of new books. "I couldn't heart you from in there."
"Heart me? What are you talking about, heart me?" Fifi glared.
I snorted with a laugh that, if I let it out, would cause Fifi to belt me. I could see the look in her eyes.
"Dude! Heart replaces the word hear, because you should be listening with your cosmic heart rather than your natural ears."
Fifi shut her eyes.
I had to turn away from both of them. I had lost a hairdresser, but gained a comedy team.
I could hear Fifi giving him a piece of her mind as she followed him to the bookshelves.
"Hello, can you tell me where I can find Sloane Templeton?" asked the deep, delicious voice.
I turned to the counter with my best smile pasted on.
Before me stood a black Adonis.
"I'm Sloane Templeton." I managed to say without drooling on myself.
His chiseled jaw showcased the large hazel eyes rimmed by long, thick lashes. His shirt looked painted onto the bulging biceps straining to release themselves from the confines of the soft fabric of his silk shirt that was tailored all the way down to his trim waist.
"Hi, I'm Danny Kellogg. I'm a fireman at the station up the street from your Aunt Verlene. I saw you at the turkey fryer fire, and Verlene said you might be available for a date.
My brain seized right up.
Actually, it shouted a hallelujah chorus, and when the chorus was done, the pipe organ exploded and pieces of it shot through every brain cell I owned.
My track record jumped up and slapped me in the head. Every one of the last three men that I had picked had been based on their outstanding good looks and muscles that apparently were only in their heads and not their hearts. My overwhelming lesson had been that I did not need a man to validate me . . . at least, not one who wanted to kill me.
I shook my head. I was not going to be led by eye candy ever again!
I needed a vacation from boyfriends for a season . . . a man-cation.
"I'm sorry, Danny. I'm sure you are wonderful, but my aunt was mistaken. I'm offthe market indefinitely."
Discussion Questions
Why do you think someone like Sloane keeps getting into destructive relationships?
Did Sloane have the right to flee from the relationship with her husband? And for either position, why do you feel that way?
Fifi felt that helping people was a "social services" problem. What do you think?
How far should Sloane have gone to defend herself from Trey?
How would you have handled Sloane's abusive situations?
Why do you think Sloane would not admit the abusive relationship with Trey to Fifi?
Has your nurturing spirit ever gotten you in trouble with a particular person whom you have chosen to help?
How can God use each of these situations to teach and grow us as Christians?
Why would conducting verbal conversations with God make you feel closer to Him?
What lessons should Sloane learn from these recent brushes with disastrous men?
How would you describe Sloane's spiritual journey?
What evidence did you find to support or deny that Sloane understands true love?
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Cooking the Books: A Sloane Templeton Novel (2012) Page 26
