Free Book Lover, The by Maryann McFadden Page B

was five weeks since she’d gone to the prison and Thomas wasn’t there. Not a night went by that she didn’t wonder what had happened to him.
    Just then, the lights in the store went out. Ruth groaned. Was it Hazel, their ghost? Or the circuit breaker again? She walked back to the bathroom/storage room, and Sam got up and followed her. Opening the electrical panel, she saw the main breaker had tripped. She flipped it once and the lights flickered on, then went out again. She flipped the switch once more, the lights came on, and she stood there waiting. They stayed on. But this situation wasn’t good. And it was the third time this month.
    Her landlord, Jeff, knew about the problem but had yet to send an electrician over, hoping that if he waited long enough she’d just take care of it herself, as she usually did. But then there would be the battle when she deducted it from his ridiculous rent. The phone began to ring and though she wasn’t open yet, she ran to the front counter, grabbing it on the fifth ring.
    “Good morning, this is The Book Lover. How may I help you?”
    “Ruth?”
    Her breath stopped.
    “Ruth? It’s Thomas.”
    Her hand went to her throat. It was so odd, actually hearing his voice on the phone.
    “Thomas. I…I heard you’d called.”
    She could hear him let out a long breath. As if he’d been holding it until she spoke.
    “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to call back. You know how it is here.” And then he gave a rueful little chuckle.
    “Oh yes, I understand,” she said, with what she hoped was a light tone, as well.
    “I’m sorry I wasn’t at the book meeting.”
    “I was worried.”
    “Things…” he paused, and again she could hear him pull in a long breath. “I was wondering if I could talk to you.”
    “Of course. I’ve got all the time you need, we haven’t even opened yet.”
    “No, not on the phone. I need to see you. Can you come here? I’ve got scheduled visiting hours Monday.”
    “I…” She didn’t know what to say.
    “Ruth, I’d like to speak with you in private.”
    She hesitated again. Going to the prison to sell books was one thing. Fantasizing about an inmate as if he were a character was another. But going to visit him, one on one? What would her children think?
    “All right, I’ll come.”
    She hung up, staring out the front window across Main Street in a daze. What could he possibly have to tell her? Perhaps he would no longer be her book liaison. That would be awful. Or perhaps it was something more personal. She couldn’t help thinking of how their hands had nearly touched the last time she saw him. Even now that memory ignited a thrill of anticipation, which was quickly dispelled by a rap on the door. Megan peered through the glass.
    Get a grip, Ruthie, she cautioned herself as she went to unlock the door. It’s not like you’re going on a date.
    * * *
     
    “THIS FECKIN’ COMPUTER IS SLOWER THAN MOLASSES,” Megan hissed later that morning as she sat with Ruth, showing her the Facebook page she had created for the store. “No way you can manage a new computer?”
    Ruth shook her head.
    Ever since her trip to Ireland last year, Megan was into Irish slang, peppering conversations with it whenever possible. Feck wasn’t as bad as fuck, Ruth knew, but still, it was essentially the same thing. She said nothing now. Megan was right about the old desktop, though.
    “What about on a payment plan, you know, a little each month. Or maybe, leasing?”
    “I’ll think about it.” No matter how much Megan understood about the bookselling business, there were some things Ruth preferred to keep to herself. She didn’t bother reminding Megan about the hours she’d cut last month.
    Finally the page loaded, a picture of the outside of The Book Lover prominently displayed, and under it the store’s goal: To be your destination bookstore. Find your favorite read, or experience the joys of a “hand sold” book, one personally recommended to suit your