The Quietest Shop on Main (Shops on Main #3)

Chapter 8

8

S he wanted to stop and save this moment forever.

Analiese was relaxed and laughing, nothing like the somber, blunt woman who had stopped by the bookshop this afternoon. Grandpa was chuckling, spouting Shakespeare and teasing the whole group with his “wisdom,” and Dalton…Dalton was charm itself.

His smile was wide, his skin sun kissed, his hair messy, and his laugh struck Skyla to the core every time it floated across the table.

She barely caught herself from sighing like a teenage fangirl. For so long it had just been her and Grandpa. When Skyla’s mother died when she was eight, Skyla had been raised by her grandparents. Then eventually, Grandma had passed as well.

Now it was just her and Grandpa.

Skyla had only left him long enough to get a certificate at college, and then had come back. She loved learning, but she loved her tiny family more. So she worked at the bookstore and helped at the library and tried to not worry about the day Grandpa would leave her as well.

But right now, that day felt like an eternity away. There was always an edge of loneliness in her life, and now it was nowhere to be found.

After the stroke, Skyla’s fears that her grandfather would soon be gone had heightened, and with one little dinner invitation, she couldn’t remember why she’d been so worried.

“He sent a note,” Analiese was saying, adding a nonchalant shrug. “Saying he couldn’t marry me, that we’d be miserable together and he’d never make me happy.” Her eyes were shining as she gave Grandpa a sarcastic smile. “After that, I realized that men are horrible, and Dalton brought me back here, where we grew up. My parents think I did something to drive my fiance away, so Dalt was the only one on my side.”

Dalton put his arm around his sister, and it took Skyla a few seconds to catch up to the conversation.

“He just…he just left you?” Skyla gasped, unable to process something so horrible. “On the day of your wedding?”

The bitter smile Analiese gave her was much closer to what Skyla had seen earlier in the day. “Yep.”

“The fool doth think he is wise,” Grandpa began, his tone unusually serious, “but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.” He shook his head. “You’re better off without him, my dear. Any man too cowardly to stand up to his choices isn’t worth having. Especially not one who might’ve blamed his behavior on you.”

Analiese’s shoulders relaxed slightly, and her smile grew more genuine, though her laugh was still laced with frustration. “You know…that’s nicer than my parents ever were about it.”

“Our parents had their heart on that marriage since we were in diapers,” Dalton defended. “Daniel was the son of mom’s best friend. You know it hit her doubly hard.”

“And I’m her daughter,” Analiese said through gritted teeth. “I should mean more to her than a best friend’s son, not to mention, I’m not the type to go around ticking people off for no good reason.” She smiled ferociously. “At least, I didn’t used to be.”

Skyla didn’t know what to say. It was clear that Analiese had been traumatized by the experience. But how could Skyla help? The woman was hurt. Very hurt.

Dalton put his arm around Analiese’s shoulders and pulled her into his side. “You’re still just my amazing sister,” he said softly, kissing the side of her head.

Skyla’s heart was melting with each word he spoke, and yet, to her surprise, a tiny bit of jealousy was churning in her chest. She wished Dalton would kiss her head that way.

“Someday, both you and some guy will see it.”

“I don’t want a guy,” Analiese said stubbornly, pulling out of her brother’s hold.

“Life is awfully long to live alone,” Grandpa said gravely. “One bad apple is only one bad apple, after all.”

Analiese gave him a confused look. “For the first time since we arrived, I think you misquoted something.”

Grandpa leaned forward, his elbows on the table. “While a bad apple might have the power to influence those around it, it’s still only one apple. Men are neither good nor bad, Miss Saunders. Neither are women. They make choices and those choices lead to other choices. We can use others' behavior to justify our own, but in the end, we simply made choices. Some good, some bad, and some that hurt those around us.”

“You make it sound like his choice shouldn’t have hurt,” Analiese said, her tone going cold again.

Grandpa shook his head. “No. It should hurt. Love without pain, isn’t truly love. To love is to offer our trust, and trust is the most fragile thing in the world. Easily broken, hard to repair.” He leaned in slightly. “But love isn’t love without it. We can never truly give ourselves to another without giving the most vulnerable part of ourselves. The most delicate seeds brings forth the most rare and beautiful flowers. But only if we are willing to plant them.”

Skyla smiled to herself. Sometimes Grandpa was very much like the famous poet he quoted so often.

Analiese blinked several times, her eyes wet, and she cleared her throat. “Well…I choose not to trust another man,” she said, though there was much less bite in her tone than before.

“And that is your right.” Grandpa leaned back, and Skyla blinked back her own tears.

She hurt for Analiese. Literally. A prick of pain sat right in the middle of Skyla’s sternum as she contemplated Analiese’s story. Even though Skyla barely knew her, Analiese was beautiful and clearly intelligent, but her wound wasn’t healed and Skyla hated when people were in pain.

She would have to see if there was something she could do to help. More than just tossing together a pan of biscuits. She jumped a little when she realized that Dalton was watching her and offered him a shaky smile.

“So,” Dalton hedged, clearly trying to change the subject. “About that fishing trip,” he said to Grandpa.

Grandpa pursed his lips and nodded.

“You’ve always wanted to go.” Dalton didn’t ask it as a question, but Mr. Bowen answered anyway.

Grandpa smirked. “Yes.”

“You want to go now?”

Grandpa glanced at Skyla, then back to Dalton. “Yes.”

Dalton raised an eyebrow, and Skyla had the distinct impression she was missing some unspoken piece of the conversation. “Would you like to set that up now, then?”

“Wait.” Skyla had spoken before she thought better of it and immediately shrank back in her seat when all eyes turned to her. “Sorry, I just…Grandpa isn’t very steady on his feet yet, and he refuses to use a cane.” She ignored Grandpa’s huff. “I’m a little worried about him being able to handle the movement of the ship and stay safe.”

Dalton nodded slowly. “I can see how that would be a problem.” He tilted his head and squished his lips to the side. “I have an idea…but I’m not sure how you’ll feel about it.”

Skyla raised her eyebrows. “What?”

Dalton leaned forward, his hands on either side of his bowl and plate. “What if you came out first?”

Skyla’s eyes nearly popped out of her head.

“Just to get a good feel for it.” Dalton leaned his elbows onto the table. “You can see if you think he can handle it. If not…we’ll wait until Mr. Bowen is a little more sturdy on his feet.”

Her stomach dropped. “What?”

Dalton gave her a delightfully boyish grin. “Skyla…would you be willing to go fishing with me? And yes, this time, it would be a date.”

Dalton almost laughed at the emotions crossing Skyla’s expressive face. She was beautiful in her bewilderment. He hadn’t really planned to be quite so blunt when asking her out, but the situation had just presented itself and Mr. Bowen had definitely been pushing Dalton to do something.

So he had.

And now Skyla was speechless…so was Analiese, come to think of it. He didn’t look at his sister, like he wanted to, however, instead keeping his gaze on Skyla and her moving, but quiet, mouth.

“A date?” she finally wheezed.

Dalton nodded. “It’s about time, don’t you think?”

She slumped against her chair, and her hand shook as she tucked her hair behind her ear again. “To fish?”

Dalton shrugged. “I know it’s not the most popular thing, but it would let you get a feel for it before I take out your grandfather. Plus, it’ll give you a chance to have your own one-that-got-away story,” he joked.

He hoped no one could see his pulse thrumming in his neck. Despite the boost of confidence his earlier moment with Skyla had given him, he wasf incredibly nervous about her answer.

Maybe he was being too bold. Maybe he should have asked her out when things were quiet and they didn’t have an audience. Maybe fishing was completely repulsive to her. Maybe she still needed more time?—

“Okay.”

Dalton blinked and shook his head. “What?”

Mr. Bowen slapped the table. “Wake up, man! She said yes!”

“I think he’s in shock,” Analiese said in a fake whisper. “Never been a good one with the ladies, you see.”

Dalton rolled his eyes and poked Analiese in the side before turning to Skyla. “Let me introduce you to my scheduling expert.” He caught Analiese’s head under his elbow, tugging her nearly out of her chair while she squawked. “She can help us find a time when I don’t have a tour booked.”

Yeah…Skyla’s ears were definitely red. Huh. Her cheeks didn’t change color, but the ears were something to watch for.

Skyla nodded, struggling to meet his gaze, and for some reason, that little display of shyness sent a shot of attraction straight through him. He really liked her quiet, sincere demeanor. No drama, no gossip, no playing coy. She was kind and sweet and a nurturer. Her angelic looks were just a bonus on top of an already amazing package.

“I’m tired,” Mr. Bowen stated loudly. He began to push up from the table. “Time for bed.”

“Oh, um…” Skyla jumped up. “Let me help you, Grandpa.”

He waved her off, shuffling around the table and stopping near Analiese. “Remember what I said. You choose.”

Analiese nodded.

Mr. Bowen’s eyes landed on Dalton, and he raised an eyebrow. Dalton nodded back. Apparently, that was the response Mr. Bowen was looking for, because he nodded in return and headed toward the hall that presumably led to the bedrooms. “See you tomorrow.”

Dalton heard Analiese’s breath intake.

“See you tomorrow!”

Dalton immediately leaned toward Skyla. “Don’t worry. We won’t plan on crashing your table tomorrow night,” he hurried to say.

Skyla only smiled and stood, gathering her plate and a few other dishes. “It’s fine,” she assured him. “I don’t mind.”

It was Dalton’s turn to be shocked as Skyla began taking dishes to the sink.

“Get up,” Analiese whispered. “Go help.”

Dalton shook himself out of his stupor and obeyed.

“You don’t need to do that,” Skyla said as he stepped up next to her.

Dalton stepped even closer. “I want to,” he said, his tone unconsciously husky. He really shouldn’t have gone this far with an audience. He’d been waiting for this moment for so long, and now that it had come, it was too bad the moment was so public. He wanted to stand close to her, to hug her, and maybe, if he could get away with it, kiss her.

“I’m just gonna find something to cut that cake,” Analiese said, breaking into his not so private moment.

“Second drawer,” Skyla called, though her gaze stayed on Dalton.

“I’ll load,” Dalton offered.

Skyla’s smile was bright enough to rival the lighthouses on their city coastline. “Okay. Thank you.”

“No, thank you,” Dalton replied. Wait…what? Why was he thanking her? He’d just offered to do dishes. That didn’t make any sense. Good grief, no wonder men became such idiots when they liked a girl.

Choosing to ignore his own idiocy, Dalton turned to the sink and turned on the water. The next few minutes were weirdly pleasant as Skyla brought dirty dishes, and he scrubbed and loaded them in the dishwasher.

He’d never realized that household chores could be anything but tasks to be marked off a list. He and Analiese kept a mostly clean house, but if all chores were like this, Dalton had a feeling he’d be willing to do a lot more than his normal share.

“That’s it,” Skyla said, bringing him one last glass. “Are you ready for cake?”

“Is it edible?” Dalton teased.

“I heard that,” Analiese called out from the table.

“You were meant to,” Dalton called back. He looked under the sink and was rewarded with the soap he was looking for. “Aha.” Putting some in the dishwasher, he punched the right buttons and dried his hands on a towel. “Ready to risk a poisoning?”

Skyla laughed softly. “I’m sure Analiese made an amazing cake.”

“Ha!” Analiese cried. “Normally, I’d argue with my brother that I’m amazing, but in this case, you’re the one who’s wrong, Skyla.”

Skyla turned her attention to Analiese as they approached the table. “I trust you,” she said with a smile.

Dang it.

If Dalton had already been falling for Skyla before, he was a total goner now. While all the women he knew in town had been more than pleasant to Analiese, none had truly tried to reach her.

One afternoon, and Skyla had done more good than anyone else in this town.

Analiese’s smile was softer and her shoulders more relaxed as she dished up pieces. Lifting a plate, she pretended to study it in the light. “I don’t see any green, toxic sludge. I think we’re safe.”

See you tomorrow.

Mr. Bowen’s words came back to Dalton, and clearly the old man was plotting something. Was he really that eager to see Dalton date Skyla? Or was it something else? Maybe Analiese seemed like a good project to a bored, sick gentleman?

Whatever it was, Dalton wasn’t going to argue. He wanted more time with Skyla, and John Bowen had just given Dalton the perfect excuse.