Bookworm Edwards Co Novels & Stories

"THANK you and have a nice day!" I smiled at the two high schoolers as I handed them the bag of comics they'd purchased in the bookstore. It was already my third day at work. Edward's Bookshop was a five-year-old bookstore located at Conrad Blvd. Aside from different types of books, the bookstore also sells comics, magazines, stationers, CDs, souvenirs, and collection items. Today, I was assigned behind the cash register. "Those teens looked smitten by you."

“He sounded like he was hiding something.” Dwight sighed again, pulling her into his arms. They stood there for a moment, wrapped in each other’s warmth as the cool morning breeze brushed against their skin. "Nothing would go wrong again, Mandy! not when I'm alive. I promise" Dwight said whispering to Mandy's ears. As they headed back into the mansion, Dwight stopped Mandy in front of a massive door, one she hadn’t noticed before. “My father was a lover of books,” Dwight said with a soft smile. “This is the Mendez library. There are over 50,000 books in here.”

Sniffing carefully to make sure he is not being followed, he pushes the door open. Behind the door is a large room with thousands of shelves lined in straight lines. Each shelf has over hundreds of books which are thick with dust and cobwebs. A strong scent of sewage and fungi is in the air but Eduard is not bothered by it. He holds the lamp higher and walks ahead. Mice scurry off as he approaches a shelf in the farthest corner. Scanning through the dusty shelves, he finally finds a thick leather bound book. He takes it out and dusts it well.

The walk to the bookstore was shorter than she expected. Nestled between two larger buildings, its faded sign read "Willow’s Nook.” A small bell chimed as they stepped inside, and the scent of old paper and polished wood greeted them. The librarian was a small lady with a bob cut and cat eyed glasses, probably in her fifties. The space was cozy, with narrow aisles lined with overflowing shelves and dim lamps casting a warm glow. It felt like stepping into another world, one untouched by time.

Here it comes, I am about to lose my job, she thought. Edwards face paled at the memory, he had paid one of the boys from Rugby to add sneezing powder to every one of those pompous ladies’ books, he had no idea that this poor angel of a woman would be getting the blame, much less locked in the cupboard for something that was entirely out of her control!

It should have felt comforting, safe, but instead I couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. An older man looked up from behind the counter when we entered. “Good morning, ladies. Welcome to Harrison’s. I’m Edward. How can I help you today?” “We’re looking for something related to pack history,” Mom said. “Historical journals, leadership documents, anything that might interest someone who studies Beta records from previous generations.” Edward’s eyes lit up. “Ah, a scholar of pack history. I have just the section for you. Follow me.” He led us to the back of the store where several shelves held leather-bound journals and carefully preserved documents. Mom and I started browsing together,

“Do you think the bookstore next to Wixon still has it?” Valencia leaned on the kitchen counter near the sink, tapping her fingers on the ceramic surface. “Yeah, trust me the last time I visited that bookstore down on 2nd street was 2 days ago. it was a recent visit so I’m sure they still have a few left in the Non-fiction section.” The voice on the phone said.

He didn't wait for him to answer and just read the files in his hand. "Some of their past neighbors had told me about what happened the night that your wife died, Sir. They said they were robbed, but the police say they weren't since everything in the house was intact." "If it wasn't robbery, then what was the motive?" He asked, his gaze still focused on the papers. "Nobody knows. But it took me a couple of months to find out who was responsible for ruining your family's life. A man named Alexander Edwards was the mastermind of all of this mess."

"Summer is almost here, and people will be getting their play areas in order. He's had these slumps before, right?" "He has. They just have never seemed so severe." "Well, if you two need anything just let me know, you hear?" She smiled as she said, "Thank you." "And how about Selby? How is the bookstore doing?" Faith's phone went off again, vibrating on the table. A quick glance revealed another text from Edwin. Faith fought the urge to read it. "Business is going pretty well. He's thinking of adding a magazine rack like the bigger brick and mortar stores as well as newspapers. He thinks he can pick up some more downtown business that way." Her phone vibrated again.

There is no mate bond, but having him close makes me feel more secure. “I can’t wait for you to see this.” He rubs his thumb on the top of my hand as he leads me to a store. It’s rare Bronx gets so excited about surprising me. We approach a bookstore with a dusty, old window display. In gold paint, there is a picture of a pan flute and a goat. The images are peeling and sundried as if they’ve been there forever. Over the pictures are the words ‘The Barded Goat Used & Collectible Books’.