Thursday, February 22, 2024 

Month of Love:  Rachel's Next Chapter

For February, the Pen Dames are each taking a week to highlight one of our books. Of course, the theme for this month is love.

    Rachel's Next Chapter                                                              by  Barbara Cairns

                         

     

    When Rachel Phillips, a a thirty-nine-year-old divorcee learns about the death of her best friend, she also discovers that Mary Beth has willed her bookstore to Rachel. But The Next Chapter bookstore in in Lobster Bay, Maine and Rachel lives in Homosassa, Florida.

    Rachel, who has a fear of flying, is quite willing to drive herself and her constant companion, Hercules, an English Mastiff, from Florida to New England. But, can she bear to leave her beloved aunt, her only living relative behind, and what about her ex-husband who is trying to win her back? What will she do when Matt, her best friend's brother wants the bookstore for someone else?

So many decisions for a county librarian who has no business sense whatsoever.

"The phone rang . . . I knew it would be Ted. Aunt Emma motioned for me to answer it, even though she could easily reach it without using her crutches. I rolled my eyes at her, but she just smiled her impish grin. After four rings, I finally picked it up.

His voice, as always when he's sober, was modulated but honeyed. It had taken me a few years to figure that out. "Rach, how was your trip?    . . . "

" . . . Because I still had feelings for this man I was married to for ten years, I asked, " And how are you doing? Classes all lined up for the summer session?" 

". . .  Not bad. I'll find time for the beach this summer." He paused. "Do you think you'd like to join me for a day at Cedar Key?" He quickly added, " I know how much you love the antique stores and art galleries there."

". . .  I'm going back to Maine to run Mary Beth's bookstore." My body stiffened. Relax, Rachel, I told myself. There's no longer any need to be defensive. He's your ex, remember? Nevertheless, I waited for the explosion.

But it never came. Instead, in a calm voice I didn't recognize, he said,    "That's just like you, Rach, to help out until they find someone. What does your Aunt Emma think about you being away all summer?"  

I hesitated but just for a moment. "I'm moving to Maine, Ted. Mary Beth left her bookstore to me in her will." 

Barbara Cairns, Multi-Genre Author

barbaracairns.com