Begin to Begin Read Free

always had his back. He's still lucky to have you."
    "Thanks, Joe. But, it's what I need to do. Even though I never walked down that damn aisle, I'm his wife. Maybe not legally but in my heart, and he would be doing the same thing if the tables were turned. If I was the one—"
    "I know he would. In a heartbeat. He wouldn't rest one minute of any day until the person was caught." He lets out a loud sigh. "I gotta get to work."
    "OK, bud. I'll see you tomorrow?"
    "Of course. You know you don't have to ask." He gathers his keys from behind the counter before saying, "Gwenn called. She will be about ten minutes late. There's an accident on the expressway."
    Once Joey is gone, I make myself get up from my chair. I look around the store that was always my dream. We opened about six months before the shooting. Benji always knew books were my passion and since he was a kick ass commercial real estate broker, he was able to find the perfect place for my dreams to take flight. I will never let this place go—it's one of the last things I have that tie me to him.
    I finish up the last couple of minutes before we open counting the register. Everything seems to be in order. Usually Gwenn is here by now and she opens the door and works the register for the majority of the morning while I do any necessary paperwork in the back office. Invoicing, inventory, ordering, and payroll, of course. In addition to Gwenn, I have one other employee, Cole. I really should hire a couple part-time people so I can give everyone a break, including myself.
    Walking back to the front door, I flip the sign around and unlock the door.
    As I settle into my seat behind the desk, the front door opens and Edie, my morning regular, walks in.
    "Good morning, Miss Marin. You look lovely today. How have you been?" she asks with a beaming smile on her face. Edie was one of my first customers to step foot into Chapter Fifteen and she stops in every morning now, mostly for the coffee. She still buys books on occasion, but I think she enjoys the company more than anything. And since the shooting we have grown to have something in common; she considers me a widow like her now. Her husband, John, died from colon Cancer three years ago but that doesn't stop her from being the sweetest person I have met, and I don't think I have ever seen her without a smile on her face. I don't know how she does it. Maybe after several years pass I will gain some kind of light back in my life.
    "Good morning, Edie. Coffee is ready back on the coffee bar. Help yourself." She gives me a little wave as she heads back to fill up her coffee cup. I don't know how she wakes up every day and plasters a smile on her face. It physically hurts for me to even paste on the fake smile I have to at times, and it feels wrong. Benji is gone, so why should I be happy?
    She rounds the corner and comes back with her coffee in hand and a newspaper. Taking a seat across from the check-out counter, she smiles over at me.
    "Where is Gwenn today?"
    "She will be here soon, I hope. I guess there was an accident on the expressway so she's running a bit late."
    "Ah, yes ... I did hear about that accident." She smooths her lavender skirt and smiles brightly at me. "So how have you been, Marin? I know what today is, so is there anything new from the police?"
    Shaking my head while I busy myself organizing the pens on the desk, I answer, her "Of course not. I am starting to wonder why I even bother anymore. It's always the same thing. A few new leads but nothing new to report."
    Edie places her coffee on the end table and stands and walks toward me as I wipe the tears from my eyes. "Marin, sweetheart, they will find who did this. I have faith that they will. But you need to start living for you again." She grabs my hand and gives it a squeeze. "I never had the honor of meeting Benjamin, but I know he would want you to be happy, to live your life, and not dwell on his death."
    "Once the person is caught that did this, maybe