Book Fair and Foul (Ashton Corners Book Club) Read Free

grin. “Friday we’re taking tea, all posh and gentle, today we’re taking inventory in Molly’s store, dressed in jeans and T-shirts.”
    Sally-Jo laughed. “We can’t do glam every day, Lizzie.”
    “I hear you gals. I might remind you that the men in the book club were not included in Friday’s outing,” Bob Miller said with an exaggerated air of aggrievement.
    “Am I to believe you would have actually enjoyed high tea at the Jefferson Hotel, Bob Miller?” Molly asked as she walked past the girls on her way to the front desk, her arms filled with books.
    “That would be carrying togetherness a bit too far,” Bob said quickly. “Now, this here is more my style. Where would you like this box deposited?”
    Molly took a moment to brush back a stray strand of gray hair that had escaped the French roll that had been a tidy hairdo earlier that morning. “I guess right by the back door, Bob. I think I’ll end up with several boxes to be tossed. I thought I’d donate some to the Bargain Bin. I like that their profits go to help the food bank. The rest will go to the library. It seems their budget is never quite elastic enough.”
    “Great idea, Molly,” said Jacob Smith, from his perch on top of the ladder. He’d been busy dusting off the top of the shelves, a task that needed to be done on a more regular basis, Molly always said, though she could never quite follow through on it.
    “Well, y’all know how grateful I am to you for giving up your Sunday to help with this inventory. Lizzie and I did it when I bought the store but I guess it does make sense to do it twice a year. That way, I can keep better track of inventory changes.”
    “Uh, you mean losses, don’t you?” Stephanie asked. She and Andie had just finished with the children’s section and she presented the paperwork to Molly. “I just can’t get my head around the fact that people really do swipe books. I mean, they’re books, for crumbs’ sake. Aren’t all readers honest people?”
    Molly patted her arm. “I’d like to think so, honey, but you never know what some people will do.” She looked around at the store walls. “It looks like we’re making good progress here. How about if I send you two across the street to the deli to pick up the lunch and drinks I’ve ordered? Then we’ll all take a much-deserved break.”
    By the time the girls arrived back, bags of food in hand, Molly had cleared off the worktable in the back room. They set the dishes of food out along with paper plates and plastic cutlery.
    “This is just like a picnic,” Andie exclaimed, spooning some pasta and artichoke salad onto her plate.
    Molly laughed. “Without the blanket and the ants. Just grab a seat anywhere and enjoy your meals. Sally-Jo, maybe while you are eating you could fill the boys in on our plans for the book fair.”
    “Happy to, Molly.” She filled her plate, grabbed a can of cranberry juice and sat on the wicker love seat in the rear of the store. “You do know it’s in the Picton Hall at the Eagles Center, which has a stage, a large floor space and a kitchen at the opposite end of the room. We’ll have chairs set up onstage for the morning panel portion of the day, along with theater seating for the audience. And it should be easy to switch it up to an intimate setting with two easy chairs, one for the author and one for the interviewer, for the afternoon program.”
    She scanned the faces of the members of the Ashton Corners Mystery Readers and Cheese Straws Society to make sure they were all in agreement.
    “What about someplace to sell the books?” asked Lizzie.
    “I’m thinking along the right-hand wall. There’s plenty of room for a few tables and chairs for Stephanie and Andie. They’ll want to sit down in between dealing with customers. And the signing tables can be on the opposite wall, the one with the entry door. We’ll also set up the registration desk along that wall, too. Does that sound about right?”
    “I think