Love Inspired November 2013 #2 (25 page)

Laura knew better than to argue. “Thanks, Mom.”

They started to leave, but Aidan climbed out of his booth. “Hey, before you go, I wanted to tell you something about Destiny's book signing.”

“Okay.” So far Laura had learned that Destiny had recently married Aidan's brother, Troy, and had her first book coming out this month. The book was a collection of love stories based in Claremont, and she had a contract to write several more love-story books for cities all across the South. Laura looked forward to meeting the new author and also to figuring out how she could best promote Destiny...and garner some sales for David's bookstore.

“I forgot to tell y'all the other day that she's got a Facebook page, and she's already got a few thousand fans just from the publicity her publisher has done and word of mouth.”

“A few
thousand?
That's terrific.” Laura sensed that next Saturday's book signing had the potential to be much bigger than the “small friends and family” gathering that David had said he anticipated for the event.

“Yeah, we're all pretty excited for her,” Aidan said, “but the part I wanted to tell you about is that we set up an event for her book signing at A Likely Story. I haven't checked it today, but yesterday she already had two hundred people that said they were coming. Just wanted to make sure David ordered enough books.”

Laura couldn't believe it. David hadn't ordered nearly that many books. This would be wonderful for business next week and also great exposure for the bookstore with all of those people coming in. Laura would definitely want to have book club information available for adults. Maybe she'd see about having the adult book club start out with Destiny's book, and Destiny could be a guest author for one of their meetings. “That's great news, Aidan! David's got a Facebook page for the bookstore, too. He hasn't done a lot with it, but we were talking about updating and promoting it better. He wanted me to work on it, and I'll get started right away.”

“Cool,” he said, then nodded to Marjorie. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Holland.”

“You, too.” She waited until they were out of the store, then said, “That was a nice-looking young man, don't you think?”

“I'm not looking, Mom.”

“As I recall, David is a nice-looking man also. Very nice-looking, I'd say. And he's been a real friend, hasn't he? Sounds like his bookstore is doing well, too.”

Laura wasn't going to comment on David's attractiveness, particularly since she'd only recently noticed just how appealing her friend was...and because she didn't want her mother to think there was any chance of a relationship between them. They were friends, and that was that.

She walked beside her mom toward the craft store and wondered whether she should address the other point of her mother's statement—David's business. She could voice her concerns for the financial state of the place, but she wouldn't. Laura needed her parents to feel good about her move here, and she also believed that David's store would become profitable, eventually. The book club was gaining kids by the day, and it appeared the book signing he'd lined up for Destiny Lee was going to bring in plenty of customers, too. Yes, with Laura's help, it would be just fine.

“I really enjoy working there. And I honestly believe the experience will help me be a better teacher. We're starting a children's book club. That's why I need the items from the craft store, to make a prop for their story area.”

“I'm just glad you're happy,” her mother said, and Laura could tell she meant every word. “David, well, he cares about you, Laura. A guy who'd help you the way he has this week,
that's
the kind you need to look for.”

“I told you,” Laura said, forcing a smile as she opened the door to Scraps and Crafts, “I'm not looking.”

“I know, dear, but when you do, I want to make sure you find someone who cares about you. You want a man who chooses
you
.”

The last few words didn't make sense to Laura. A man who chooses her? As opposed to...what? But before she could ask, an older woman standing amid the quilting supplies hurriedly crossed the store to meet them.

“Welcome to Scraps and Crafts,” she said. “I'm Diane Marsh.” She noticed Laura's tummy leading the way and smiled. “I'm guessing you're Laura Holland.”

“I'm not the only pregnant woman in town, am I?”

“No, Hannah Graham is expecting, too, but you're the only one that I knew was pregnant and would be coming over to get supplies to make a boxcar.”

“How did you know that?”

“Zeb. He called and asked if I could get the materials together for you because he was afraid you'd try to carry them to the bookstore yourself. He said you didn't need to be toting that kind of weight in your condition.”

Laura grinned. “He never stops helping people, does he?”

“No, he doesn't. He also said that you're the one organizing that book club I signed my grandson Andy up for, and he asked if I'd be willing to donate the materials for your prop.”

“Did he leave anything for me to do?” Laura asked.

“Yes, he said he wanted you to meet me!” Diane laughed, and Laura and Marjorie joined in.

“Well, it's nice to meet you,” Laura said. “And this is my mother, Marjorie Holland.”

“Pleasure to meet you,” Marjorie said, shaking Diane's hand.

“You, too,” Diane answered.

Laura could tell the lady was surprised at the fact that her mother was young. She'd seen that same look anytime she introduced her mother growing up, and she suspected that would never change. “I'll probably make my way over to the bookstore tonight during First Friday so I can see the boxcar once it's finished.”

“Do you think I can get it done today?” Laura glanced at her watch. “It's twelve forty-five.”

“Sure you can,” Diane said, “especially since you'll have help.”

“Help?”

“Hannah Graham, the woman I mentioned that is also expecting. She was in here shopping for supplies to decorate her nursery when Zeb called. I told her about the book club, but she'd already heard about it from Mandy and signed up her little Autumn. Anyway, Hannah's a stay-at-home mom now, but before that she would design all of the store windows in the square. She's very talented with props, and when I told her about the boxcar, she said she'd like to help. More than likely, she's already working on it.” Diane smiled. “I saw her head to the bookstore when she left here.”

“She carried the materials over?” Laura asked, wishing she and her mother had come to the craft store first.

“Oh, no, David picked those up for you. He was evidently on the same page as Zeb and didn't want you toting them.”

“Everybody's watching out for me around here, aren't they?” Laura asked.

“That's what folks 'round here do,” Diane said. “It makes us feel useful.”

“Well, I should go help Hannah.”

“Nah, you visit with your mom. Hannah is used to creating on her own, and she said she had a lot of energy to use up. She's only in her first trimester, but she's already nesting. I'm sure you haven't had a chance to decorate your nursery yet, since you just got to town. Let me know when you get ready, and I'll help you out. Hannah will, too, I'm sure, if you'd like additional input.”

Laura didn't even know whether she had a nursery to decorate, but she nodded. “I'll let you know.”

They left the craft shop and immediately saw that several vendors were already setting up booths along the sidewalks and in the center of the square.

“Wow, what's going on?” her mother asked.

“Tonight is the First Friday event. David said they have it every month, and it's a chance for all of the local artists and entertainers to perform, as well as the merchants to showcase their items. That's why we're trying to get the boxcar prop done by tonight.” Laura stopped to look at some colorful wooden puzzles an elderly man had already placed out for viewing. He sat behind the table steadily carving pieces. A woman with a silver bun and a patchwork dress sat beside him painting a completed ballerina puzzle. The pieces stood up from the stand, so little hands would easily be able to drop them in place. “That's so pretty.”

The woman pulled her paintbrush across the edge of the ballerina's skirt and looked up at Laura. “Thank you, dear. We can put your baby's name on one if you'd like.” She smiled. “You having a boy or a girl?”

“Two girls,” Marjorie answered before Laura had a chance.

“Twins!” She put her paintbrush down and placed her palms together as though she were praying. “Well, that's a real Christmas present, isn't it?”

Laura nodded. “Yes, it is.” She ran a finger along one of the ballerina puzzles that had already dried. “I still haven't picked the girls' names yet, but when I do, I'd like to get them these puzzles. They won't be able to put them together for a while, but when they can, I'd really like them to have these.”

“Do you have a business card?” Marjorie asked.

“We sure do,” the man said. He'd finished carving and pulled a small card from his shirt pocket. Handing it to Laura, he said, “I will pray for an easy delivery and two beautiful healthy babies. That's quite a blessing you've got there, young lady.”

Laura smiled. “Thank you, and I know.”

She and her mother continued across the square, all of the booths tempting them with every step.

“Look at those wreaths,” her mother said. “I haven't seen anything like them. Are they made of ribbon, or is that something else?” She pointed to the red, green and gold Christmas wreaths that seemed to change color in the sunlight.

“I'm not sure.” Laura realized she would love to browse all of the booths with her mother, but she needed to get back to the bookstore and build the boxcar. “Mom, why don't you spend the night tonight? We could see all of the First Friday booths, and then tomorrow the town is adding even more for the Holiday Crafters Extravaganza, with everything geared around Thanksgiving and Christmas.” She knew she'd have to call and explain to her dad, but she also knew that he'd want her to spend some quality time with her mom, if Marjorie were willing to stay.

Which she wasn't.

“Oh, honey, I was going to tell you that I probably need to head on home after we get you back to the bookstore. I have to work in the morning, you know. I had thought I'd have a chance to take a peek at your apartment, but I don't think it's going to work this time.”

“Right. I wasn't thinking.”

“But I need to go get that bag of clothes for you out of the car. I'm parked behind the toy store. Why don't you head on back to the bookstore, and I'll grab it and bring it to you before I go. That way I can see David before I leave.”

Laura didn't know why she thought her mother might actually want to spend more than a little time with her. “Sure, that'd be fine.”

Marjorie clicked her way toward Tiny Tots Treasure Box and then disappeared down the sidewalk leading to the parking area, while Laura, feeling defeated, went back to A Likely Story. Entering, she was surprised that the first thing she saw was the top of what appeared to be a red boxcar peeking above the bookshelves in the back right corner of the store. “Oh, my!”

“Whoops, we're caught. She's back,” David said.

Laura heard a child's laugh, then some scuffling as someone apparently tripped, and then he stepped around the nearest endcap grinning and looking guilty.

“You've already finished it?” Laura asked.

“Not all of it,” he said. “We were trying to get it done and surprise you, but you got back quicker than we thought. I figured you'd spend a little more time with your mom.”

“You knew Mom was coming?” she asked, shocked.

He shook his head. “No, but Aidan Lee came by to see if I'd gotten in that graphics book he needed for school, and he mentioned that he'd met your mother at Nelson's.”

“Did he tell you about Destiny Lee's event page for the signing?” she asked.

“He did, and I ordered more books. I have to admit, it surprised me, but in a good way.”

She liked the way his eyes held a glint of excitement when he told her about ordering those books. She wanted to give him lots of reasons to look like that, and she hoped to start tonight when she signed up a bunch of kids for the book club. “And so you decided you'd surprise
me
in a good way by building the boxcar on your own?”

“Nope, we're helping!”

Laura recognized Kaden's voice, and then he peeked from behind a book stack to verify the fact. “You're helping?” she asked.

He nodded. “Yep.” He motioned for Laura to follow him, and she did. “See, me and Autumn are helping my mom and Miss Hannah. Miss Hannah is the best at drawing and painting and stuff, but Autumn and I have been really good at making the nail marks, haven't we, Miss Hannah?”

A woman with short brown hair and a streak of brown paint on her cheek stood up from where she and Mandy had been painting the lower half of a ladder extending down the right side of the boxcar.

“Hey, I'm Hannah Graham. I hope you don't mind us working on your reading prop. I used to be a window designer for the square before I married Matt, and this project reminded me of how much fun it is.”

“I don't mind at all.”

“And I'm Autumn.” A beautiful little girl sat beside the boxcar with a black marker in hand.

“Nice to meet you, Autumn, and thank you for helping with the boxcar,” Laura said.

“You're welcome,” she said, then turned her attention back to the nail marks she'd been making with the marker.

“Hey, Laura,” Mandy said with a wave of a paint-splattered hand.

“Hi, Mandy. Thanks for helping.”