Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 37200 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 186(@200wpm)___ 149(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37200 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 186(@200wpm)___ 149(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
TWENTY-NINE
Millie
One Month Later
“Are you sure?” I ask the owner of the building Books and Brews is located in. It’s been weird. One minute you’re on this high where everything seems to be perfect, and the next you’re feeling guilty because two innocent people lost their lives to their own son. Sadly, Bonnie and Chad’s bodies were never found, even with Scott’s confession. It was the one thing he wasn’t willing to give the police. He’s a sick piece of shit, and while their only family was in jail awaiting his trial, the community rallied, putting together a small ceremony of sorts, during which everyone said how they loved them.
“I’m positive,” he tells me. Reluctance would be the word to describe how I’m feeling. Books and Brews has been closed since everything unfolded. It couldn’t be open for business until a whole bunch of paperwork was filed. I had the keys, but that didn’t mean it was open for customers. Instead, I’d come in twice a week to make sure all the equipment was running and the place was clean. It was a hard pill to swallow that anything could happen, including me not being able to purchase the equipment inside or keep my loan open for this long. Perry gave me the go-ahead to move residences. They’d have to re-run my credit anyways, but I had to get a utility bill changed into my name, and Ezra was not thrilled with the idea of me paying for anything. It wasn’t because I couldn’t pay it; I could. Especially since after I moved in, bills were non-existent. Ezra was just being his alpha-man self, wanting to pay for everything. Including the startup costs for the papers I’m signing now.
My eyes move to Ezra’s. He’s sitting beside me as I sign what feels like my life away. My loan will cover the amount for all the equipment, furniture, and vendor contracts that Bonnie and Chad secured. It took a lot of work, talking, and negotiating, some of which came with Ezra’s knowledge.
“Here goes nothing.” I sign my name on the dotted line, the last piece of paper to finish transferring everything into my name. A dream that was almost sidetracked. Somehow managing to pull this off still makes me want to pinch myself. One thing I know for sure, the framed photo of Bonnie and Chad will stay exactly where it is. I owe them so much and wish it were them in front of me instead of a stranger.
“Congratulations.” We shake hands, then he hands me a new set of keys to the front and back doors, a contingency Ezra suggested since who knew who else could have them as well.
“Thank you.” He nods and sees himself out.
“Ezra, I couldn’t have done all of this without you. You’ve been the glue holding my pieces together, my business partner in a sense, and the love of my life. I have so much to thank you for that words could barely scratch the surface.” His lips are on mine almost before I finish speaking. No words are necessary; it’s in the way he is there for me. Always.
Epilogue
EZRA
Six Months Later
“I can’t believe we were able to pull it off. I mean, seriously, I get two days off a week now. I don’t know if that was stupid on my part or not,” Millie tells me as we walk through the coffee shop. A lot of changes have been made—paint, a new sign, more plants. A moody yet calming atmosphere is what she was going for. I’d say she nailed it with the black painted walls except behind the bar, where brick was exposed during the first two weeks Books and Brews was hers. The store had already been closed for a month, so Millie took the plunge and gave the place a face lift. Wood ceilings and dark hardwood floors pulled the coffee part together. She also invested in new tables and chairs, well, new to her. Not a table or chair matched. It worked well for her. She kept the hodgepodge of coffee mugs, an ode to Bonnie and Chad. Plus, my woman has this thing about recycling and reusing as much as she can.
“I’d say it was smart. Only having you home Sundays sucked.” Today, we’re doing a walk-through of the bookstore part of her baby. The shop is closed, and the carpenters have just finished staining the bookshelves. This part has been closed for a week. Millie grumbled the entire time, hating that a section was inaccessible. She has big plans in the works, and this was the last part in order to make that happen.
“On that we can agree,” she responds. Hiring four baristas has helped. Sadly, Tasha had already secured a new job by the time things changed. No one could fault her; she’s a college student and needed a job. Luckily, the employees she has working for her are now rock steady, don’t call out, and know the ropes. No one has to make daily deposits; she has a vault they put the cash in, and Millie can deal with it the next day. Now she has the weekend off, right along with me.