She drove to the bookstore thinking about the preparations for Charles’s book signing, which was to be held on Thursday night. Posters had been placed in the front windows of the store and in other stores around town. If the signing went well, then other authors would want to sign their books at Secondhand Prose. With the recent economic downturn, people had been buying fewer books. They were now being considered luxury items. Book signings would bring more people into the store and Abby could use the business.
Francie greeted her at the door.
“You’re here early, Francie.”
“Couldn’t get much sleep. My sister is visiting with her family. The kids don’t sit still for more than ten minutes at a time. And I don’t think they like each other very much.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because all they do is hit one another.”
“Kids fight. That’s what they do.”
“But the twins are only four years old. What are they going to do when they get older?”
“Francie, the way you’re making it sound, they’re not going to get older.”
“Ha ha ha. Very funny.”
“Come on, I’ll make you a cup of coffee. You’ll feel better.”
Ten minutes later, Francie was bragging to Abby about her nephews like a proud aunt. They opened the store and greeted their first customer, Mrs. Timmins, who loved to browse the used paperback racks for hot romances.
Abby held the door open. “Good morning, Mrs. Timmins. How are you today?”
The short, white-haired woman shuffled inside using her walker. “Get in any hot new books for me?”
“Yes, I think we may have. Follow me and we’ll take a look.”
Abby slowly led the way to the used romance paperback book rack. Secondhand Prose was one of the only bookstores in the area that bought used books from patrons. She felt this served two purposes. It recycled old books, and it made them more affordable for people living on a fixed budget, like Mrs. Timmins.
“Here we are.” Abby pointed to some new books on the rack.
Mrs. Timmins reached over and selected a book, bringing it a fraction of an inch from her eyes. Abby watched as she read the back blurb, remembering her mother’s comment about telling a book by its cover and smiling to herself.
“Would you like that one?”
“Hmm... I’m not sure…Oh, what the heck, I need something to read.”
“I’ll take you back to Francie and she’ll check you out.”
They slowly made their way back to the register.
“How are you today, Mrs. Timmins?” Francie asked as she watched the older woman remove the book from her oversized purse that hung from her walker.
“Breathing, which I hear is a good thing.”
“Yeah, the alternative sucks.”
Mrs. Timmins smiled, which would have been a chuckle for most people. Abby helped the old woman out and said goodbye. She knew Mrs. Timmins would be back with the book tomorrow or the next day and trade it in for another.
The phone rang and Francie answered. “It’s for you.” She handed the phone to Abby.
“Is it safe?” whispered the caller.
“What?”
“Is it safe?” the caller repeated and Abby then recognized it to be her cousin Alycia.
“Of course it’s safe. Everyone has to leave their semiautomatics and machetes outside prior to coming in to shop here. Where are you calling from, Alycia?”
“Right outside. I’m hiding in the bushes.”
Taking the cordless phone with her, Abby walked over to the window and saw her cousin crouching behind a large bush.
“Why are you hiding outside?”
“It’s a precaution. The pod people nearly found me earlier.”
Oh, yes, the infamous pod people.
“How do you know?” Abby asked.
“I found the garbage pail overturned and the garbage strewn all over.”
“That was probably a raccoon.”
“That’s what they want you to believe. They’re very clever, you know.”
“Well, I think you’ll be safe here. I’ve been patrolling all morning and haven’t noticed any pod people coming in to shop. We haven’t sold any sci-fi books today, either.”
Abby watched as Alycia stood up from behind the bush, and cautiously looked from side to side before running into the store. Once inside, she made a beeline toward the register area. She kept turning around and peering over her shoulder as if she were being followed.
“What’s up, Alycia?” Abby said.
“Hey, Alycia, love your getup,” Francie added. “The neon brings out the color of your eyes.”
For someone who was afraid of being found by the pod people, Alycia certainly didn’t take her clothing into account. Today she was wearing her special orange Day-Glo sweats with combat boots. She never carried a purse, but wore an oversized belly pouch that looked ridiculous because the strap had to be wrapped around her tiny waist several times. Alycia was most likely making a fashion statement. Abby just had no idea what it was.
“Mom wanted to stop at the drug store and I needed a book.”
“Any particular kind of book?”
“One on werewolves.”
“Why would you want a book about werewolves?” Abby asked, knowing it was a dumb question the minute it left her lips.
“Oh, it’s not for me. It’s a present for my friend. She’s in love with a werewolf.”
“He must have some five o’clock shadow.”
“Only when there’s a full moon.”
“Lucky girl, this friend of yours. I’ll check the computer and see what we have on the subject.”
There were a number of books, so Abby motioned for Alycia to follow her. They stopped in front of a group of shelves holding all sorts of books that would have made even the old-time horror movie actor Lon Chaney smile. “Here you go, Alycia. You should be able to find a good book for your friend. When you decide what you want, come back to the register and I’ll ring it up.” Before walking away, Abby watched her cousin’s black, beady rabbit eyes dart from one book jacket to the next.
A middle-aged woman came rushing over to Abby, nearly mowing her down. “There’s a very strange woman lurking at the desk. You might want to help Francie.”
“Thanks for the heads-up,” Abby said, and the hint of a headache, which had started as a slight throb when Alycia had entered the store, increased significantly with the news. Approaching the desk, she saw Francie’s eyebrows raised and beginning to knit. Aunt Raelene had already been there a few minutes.
“Ah, there’s my favorite niece now.”
“Hello, Aunt Raelene. Alycia is picking out a book for her friend.”
“I know.”
Abby hated to ask, but felt obliged since she hadn’t seen her aunt in a while. “How are you?”
“I’ve seen better days.”
“Are you ill?”
“Beyond ill.”
“That’s