Amateur Hour

Lisa finished closing out the register, and moved on to tidying the rest of the store; straightening the pretentious former dining room chairs clustered around two tables; putting stray books back where they belonged on the children’s shelves; restocking copies of books sold today.

She checked the clock on the wall, behind the counter. Any minute, now, the love of her life would come through the front door, to whisk her away from here. She helped herself to a cup of coffee, putting it in her red travel mug so she could carry it with her, when he did, and settled back down behind the counter.

Lisa picked up her book, only to see that it wasn’t her book. It was Jane Eyre.

“I’ve read it, already, Gerald. It’s a dark, miserable story, about a sad woman, and the only thing happy about it is the ending. No. Thank you.”

“Tucker’s right about you. You don’t have a romantic bone, in your body,” the Judge chuckled, pulling out one of the chairs that she had just put back into place, to sit down.

“No, I just prefer lighter romances. When it comes to classic romances, give me Jane Austen, any day.”

“Margaret liked Miss Austen, too. You might find some of her old copies, in the attic. Have you been back to the old place, lately?”

“Not for months. Will and Tuck went, to collect the chairs, but… Gerald— how did Margaret find out so quickly about Noah’s poisoning you?” The question had been at the back of her mind, since the last dream she’d had of Margaret.

“Well, she didn’t. She was referring to Beatrice’s death, at the time you’re thinking of. Neither of us knew he’d applied the same technique to me, until Tucker, Will and Liam dug up my faux casket, with the evidence. Maggie had her suspicions about Beatrice’s demise, of course. She knew for certain when she received an envelope, in the mail, with a single Castor bean in it.”

“A threat?” Lisa’s eyebrows shot up.

“A confession, I think. I believe Caroline sent it. Poor child. She wanted all the right things, and did all the wrong things, to get them.”

The front door opened, and the Judge was gone, as suddenly as he arrived. Lisa smiled, at the love of her life, and absently slipped Jane Eyre into her bag.

“I’ve seen some pretty things today, but you’re the prettiest I’ve seen, since breakfast,” Tuck grinned.

“I see the blarney lessons are going well. Will I do?” She stepped out from behind the counter to model her outfit. It was nearly the same as the one she had worn to the opening of Best Little Whorehouse, but this time she wore a split riding skirt, instead of a regular one.

“If you don’t bring home a ribbon, I’ll blame Luna.” He kissed her, grabbed her bag and mug, and handed them to her before escorting her to the door.

“Luna is impeccable. I’m the one, who needs work.”

They paused long enough for Lisa to flip the sign under the ‘Closed’ placard.

“Gone Riding,” it read. “Join us soon at: Lovejoy Stables. Boarding. Training. Trail Rides…And More.”

The End