Unwoven Ties

2. Sean

Two

Sean

The smell of coffee filled the air, reminding me I’d not yet had a cup today, so I wove through the stacks of books toward the coffee bar in the back of the store. Escape in a Book had been Kelly’s dream, and over the last five years it had become a thriving reality.

Bookstores were becoming extinct in the age of eBooks and tablets, but we’d managed to stay alive in our tourist-filled coastal town.

The counter offered pastries in the morning, and soups and sandwiches at lunch, along with assorted high-end coffees and teas. And there was a small, bistro-style seating area for those who wanted to partake.

In the corner of the shop we had a wonderful, vibrant children’s section, with children’s furniture and a few stationary toys to keep the kids amused while the parents shopped.

The store itself was styled with quotes in script on the walls, stacks of every sort of book, and large oversized chairs for those who wanted to take a moment to relax.

When Kelly’d been hurt, she’d only been in the planning stages of the store, but after a few months of not knowing whether or not she’d wake up, I’d taken over the plans with a gusto, needing to occupy myself with something other than worrying.

An accountant by trade, I’d never imagined I’d enjoy running the bookstore as much as I did, and I had to admit, living inside Kelly’s dream kept her closer to me than visiting her in that hospital room.

“Can I have a tall coffee, Carl?” I asked the barista when he had a free moment.

“Sure thing, boss.”

Having a great staff was another key to our success. In the beginning it seemed like I’d spent every breathing moment here. I’d bring Jake along and he’d sit in the corner playing his hand-held video games while I worked. I can’t even recall how many meals had been spent between the stacks, but in my mind, it was all worth it.

Unfortunately, I’d been getting the feeling lately that it wasn’t the case for Jake. He’d become more and more distant over the last couple years, spending all of his time with his girlfriend and strumming on his guitar.

I’m afraid I’d allowed the distance, even though I could have done something about it … But he was so much like Kelly, it sometimes hurt to look at him.

“Here you go, Sean,” Carl said, handing me a ceramic mug full of steaming black coffee.

“Thanks.”

I was walking toward the front of the store to check on my cashiers, when a petite blonde stopped in front of me with a serene smile.

“Good morning,” she said, leaning in and offering me her cheek.

I appeased her by kissing it, even though I thought the ritual to be terribly old-fashioned. That was Madeline though, prim, proper, and old-fashioned.

“Good morning,” I returned when I righted myself. I looked over her head to make sure there was no one else around, then back down at her when I was satisfied there was no pressing business to attend.

“I wanted to stop by and pick up a book on azaleas and check to see if we were on for tonight,” she said as she smoothed her unwrinkled skirt with her palms.

It was a nervous gesture I’d always found endearing.

“I have to see what Jake’s plans are, but I’ll let you know, all right?”

I didn’t want to rush her along, but we’d been seeing each other for two years, and she knew I didn’t like her stopping by unannounced at the store. I worked very hard to keep that part of my life separate from my life with Jake and Kelly, and always found myself frustrated when Maddy went against my wishes.

Sometimes I thought it was a play on her part, trying to force my hand and introduce her as a part of my life, but then I realized that Madeline would never be that underhanded. It wouldn’t be dignified.

And if Madeline was anything, she was dignified.

“Of course,” she said smoothly. “I’ll just go find that book.”

“Let me help you,” I offered, hoping to take some of the sting out of my obvious disapproval of her presence.

Maybe it was time for me to let Kelly go and give Madeline more than just the occasional night together. It had taken me years to get to the point where I could imagine being with another woman but, eventually, loneliness won out and I’d met Madeline.

Still, my heart wrenched at the thought of moving on, even if there was little to no hope of Kelly waking up, so I pushed it to the side and gave her a false smile.

We walked back to the gardening shelf, making small talk, just as I would with any other patron, when my phone rang. Normally, I wouldn’t answer the phone when I was helping someone, but I found myself eager for the distraction.

I looked at the time when I saw it was Jake and realized he should be in class. He never called me from school.

“I have to take this, it’s Jake,” I told Madeline apologetically, not waiting for her response before answering. “Hey, son, is everything all right?”

“Mom’s awake,” he said, his voice sounding strange and distant as he uttered the two words I’d lost hope of ever hearing.

My body swayed with shock and I clutched the phone tightly to my ear.

“When?” I barely got the word out; my throat felt like it was closing in.

“Grandma just called, I’m on my way to the hospital now,” my teenaged son answered.

“I’ll meet you there,” I said, immediately hanging up and rushing toward the exit.

“Sean,” Madeline called loudly from behind me. “What is it? Is Jake okay?”

I turned and said, “Kelly’s awake,” too caught up in the myriad of emotions running through me to notice the utter devastation on her face.

I had to get to my wife.