by A. K. Klemm
“So, what’s the hurry?” Sidney interrupted his thoughts as he realized he was hurriedly cramming her suitcase into the trunk of the taxi even though they had plenty of time to get to the airport before their flight.
“Christmas party at the bookshop.”
“I suppose I’m your guest then.”
“I suppose you are.”
“Oh, Sammy-Finns, you couldn’t be sweeter if you tried.”
— Sidney Montgomery, age fifteen, clutching a ten-year-old Sam Finney to her as he patted her pregnant belly
Sam
About a week before the Christmas book club party, AJ came to Sam. “Hey, Sam, I need some help.”
“Yeah? Where’s Matthew?”
“Gone.”
Sam eyed her with a curious expression that she wasn’t sure how to read. Immediately, she tried to mask any feelings she might be wearing on her own face. She missed Matthew a lot, and not just when it came to hanging up door signs.
“I just want you to hang something up for me above the door to the shop,” she went on.
“Sure.” He locked the door to the deli and followed AJ to 32 Aspen Court, where Ivy was at the ready with a wobbly wooden ladder and a heavy wooden sign to match. Tall as Ivy was, she couldn’t reach above the double doors of the old Victorian mansion and wouldn’t have been able to lift the sign up even if she could. Still in his apron, with tomato juice and avocados spread down his front, Sam climbed up the ladder and reached down to the girls who, together, hefted it up to him.
He spent some time under the porch roof adjusting the length of the chain so it was above the door but a patron couldn’t miss seeing it as they entered the store. When he was done, he climbed down and stood back to admire his handiwork. The sign was so large, you could still read it even if you were on the Green.
Rejoice and be Glad.
“Amen,” Sam mumbled.
“Thanks.” AJ slapped him on the back, getting him in the kidneys due to their height difference.
When Sam saw Sidney walk through the door in the middle of the Christmas gathering, arm-in-arm with Matthew, he was surprised to find he was happy to see her. AJ was ready now, he thought. She could stand on her own two feet again. Now was as good a time as any, too. Not even Sid could ruin a night like this. Everyone was on a contentment high.
Sid looked tense, standing there, nervous even. But when she met Sam’s gaze across the room, she visibly relaxed. If Sam Finney was smiling at her—if that once young boy she’d disappointed could forgive her—surely she had a shot with AJ. Sam made his way to Sidney, looking all out of place in holey jeans and knee-high boots among the layers and layers of Victorian garb on everyone else.
Matthew, too, was so very Matthew in his typical lumberjack attire. AJ couldn’t have missed them if she tried, but she hung back a minute and waited anyway when she spotted Sam walking over to them.
Sam tipped his top hat. “Welcome home.” Sidney nearly melted with relief. “Now close that door, you’re letting the snow in.”
“AJ.” Sidney found her daughter. “Matthew invited me. I hope…”
“It’s fine, Mom. It’s fine.” She hugged her mother for the first time in a long time. The brooch AJ was wearing with her costume stabbed her in the neck a little, so she let go a little sooner than Sidney wanted. There was an awkward moment of untangling arms while her mother still hung on.
“Go put your bags in your room and stay awhile.” AJ pursed her lips and finally said something she should have said years ago. “Please.”
Matthew started to follow Sidney out of the door to grab both their luggage.
“Matthew.” She caught his hand with her left, and his thumb touched where the gold band used to be. “Thank you for dragging her back.”
He held her hand tight for a minute, both of them relishing the physical contact. He then leaned in and kissed her cheek before disappearing out the door to get the bags. AJ’s cheek tingled, and she smiled.
It was enough. It was more than enough for now.
“Every one of us strive to be better, to be bold. Keep striving.
That is how we honor the legacy that is Kevin Rhys.”
— Pastor Carson at Kevin Rhys’ funeral
Nancy
Lady Harrigan, of course, was as happy as a clam. First of all, people were treating her like royalty, and who couldn’t love that? She felt like a queen in her long silk skirts, all fuchsia with pink rosettes over white lace on the trim. She’d even found vintage leather high-heeled boots in pink with the old-fashioned laces. Who would have thought?
“This is nice, Nancy,” Ann said. “This is real nice.” A compliment from Ann just sent Nancy over the moon. Ivy was waltzing around, looking like a gothic bar wench, but the girl had a real zest for life, and though she and the girl bickered like crazy, she was really starting to love the little gypsy who’d settled down and made a home in Lily Hollow.
Ah, and there came Matthew and Sidney through the door, a perfect ending to their perfect week. Seeing Matthew and AJ would be adorable. Seeing Maude reunite with her daughter would be interesting, too. Maude was off loitering in the westerns, avoiding actual human contact. But she was wearing a costume! Nancy had triumphed.
As much as the old hag grumbled about Jack, she’d loved her father, and she missed him terribly these days. They’d been steadfast companions for so long, raising her daughter and then her granddaughter together. Nancy thought it must be lonely living in that old house now, so she’d introduced Maude to the no-longer-widows-only club.
Then there was Matthew and AJ. Nancy eyed AJ as she watched Matthew enter the service elevator. She suspected what those two would be up to later, then shamed herself for the thought. Matthew disappeared behind the grated door with Sidney, and Nancy saw AJ turn her attention to Maude.
The music was festive, the tree was gorgeous, the scones were out-of-this-world delicious, Harper Jay had been caught spiking the cider, and Nancy was in love with her boots. She tapped her toes in a little happy dance under her skirts. She loved these skirts.
“The moon rose high while the sun was still out – streaked the sky purple and orange. Coyotes howled, and the horses obediently walked the trails, nodding their heads with the rhythm of their pace. It didn’t matter what had been before as long as the cowboy could go out looking at a sunset like this.”
— from Cowboy Moon, by Jack Walters, published in 1978
Granddaddy Jack
Anna Jane, my darling girl,
If you’re reading this, I have passed. No tears. I’ve had a great life. I loved my Emma with all my heart, I did my best as a father, and I’ve been blessed by my grandchildren.
I’ve left you the hotel and all my book royalties. Don’t worry about everyone else, they’ll have their share. Your old great granddad did a good job, kiddo. I’m a proud and happy man. There’s a journal, our notebook, our dreams for the hotel. In your own time, the building is there. Just remember it was your dream first, so don’t give up on it, not even for Kevin.
One more thing: take care of Abigail Lacey. She’s been kind to our family through the years. It will be her time soon; someone should be there for her.
This town needs a spruce, my dear. Nothing spruces like 32 Aspen Court when she’s happy. There’s magic in her bones.
— J. Walters
“It’s a good old building, Abby. She’ll keep.”
— Jack Walters to Abigail Lacey the day Maude closed the hotel doors.
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to my wonderful husband Jonathan, our beautiful daughter, and my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ… You guys are who make life worth living.
Thanks to Jennifer Joy Golightly and my own Emily Strange (Murillo), you two have kept me sane and writing, each in your own ways. To my best friend, Danielle, who reads and listens to everything I throw at the world. To my sister and mom, who both taught me how to read and write in the first place.
Thanks to Lolly Davis, t
he first person I remember telling me I should write. Too bad I don’t have a copy of Younger Squirrel’s Fur.
Thanks to Jacob Cartwright for helping me navigate html when this story was merely a writing exercise on a blog.
Thank you, Katie Lavois, my personal editor and future co-author.
Thanks to everyone who believed in this story.
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About the Author
A. K. Klemm is an avid book blogger and event coordinator. She lives with her husband, daughter, and three hounds near Houston, Texas. The Bookshop Hotel is an ode to her years spent shelving fiction and creating displays at Half Price Books, as well as to one of her favorite stores, called Good Books in the Woods, located in the Spring/Woodlands area of northern Houston.
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Text & Illustrations ©2015 by A. K. Klemm
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Printed in the United States of America
Also available in a trade paperback edition.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Klemm, A. K.
The bookshop hotel / A. K. Klemm
Library of Congress Control Number: 2015942794
ISBN 978-1-9388218-8-2
First Edition
ePub Edition
