The Bookstore Sisters Novels & Stories

Riley chipped in. "Come on.....we have to be on our way. The book store closes by 6pm." Eddie said and they both left the class. * * The two friends walked down the street, chatting noisily as they made their way to the book store to get their books. "Are you gonna get a copy of the book?" Eddie asked Riley as they trekked. "I've got to even though I hate chemistry like snakes." Riley grumbled and Eddie laughed. "It's not optional, princess. You have to get it." Eddie replied. He suddenly sighed and shook his head. "I wonder what Tanya in doing right time. It's been two months but I miss her so much already."

She already knew it's her brother She groaned " What is it again yaya? " " I want to return the book I borrowed " his faint voice said from outside " book? What book?" " just open the damn door already " Zainab glared at the door but still got up to open it " where is the book? " she asked instead, refusing to open the door wider for him to enter. " let me come in first " he demanded " but I thought you said you want to return a book right? So give it to me " she stretched out her hand

“Don’t make it dramatic.” “You just said somebody is watching you. That came dramatic.” “I said I think someone is watching me.” Sadie-Rae blinked. “You hear yourself, right?” Nova rubbed a hand across her forehead. The bookstore had belonged to women in her family for three generations, and apparently so had the inability to mind one’s own business. Sweetgum & Spine occupied the bottom floor of an old brick building squeezed between a florist and a bakery that closed far too early. The floors creaked, the shelves leaned in places they probably shouldn’t, and every winter the front window let in enough cold air to qualify as an architectural failure. Nova loved every inch of it.

-Eve- I’d heard of dark family secrets, twisted affairs, things best left unspoken. But a hidden sibling? That was something I never imagined. A sister. Suddenly, my world felt a little bigger. And I felt curious. Clueless. I shook my thoughts away and focused on the bookstore. My mother’s old books were stacked neatly at the counter, and I handed them over. “Miss,” the clerk said, snapping me back, “We can only exchange these for store credit at this time.”

"Let us go meet her." Chicago was a five hour drive. Liam drove. Anna sat in the back. I navigated. The rain followed us the whole way. Grey skies. Grey roads. Grey everything. The bookstore was called "Pages." It sat on a corner between a coffee shop and a flower store. The windows were full of bestsellers. A sign on the door said "Open." We walked in. Bells jingled. The smell of paper and old wood wrapped around me. Shelves stretched to the ceiling. A cat slept on a pile of romance novels.

It must be because she has her own kid. But she is so young...it was the first thing that came to my mind when she came with her five year old kid. The poor thing barely had time to grow up herself. "Are you sure this is okay for me to be here?" Emma said. She looked around and fidgeted. "Of course. I am glad you are here to keep me company." I smiled. The bookstore is nearly empty, so I can spend time getting to know my new sister-in-law. That's what I loved about owning a bookstore. I had free time to read or do what I wanted.

I’m trying to be patient, but it’s harder than I’d like to admit. Two months ago, I opened my bookstore, and it’s been incredible. Twice a week, we host book clubs, and I’ve made it a point to bring one of the guys with me to each session. It’s hilarious watching their faces as we dive into the discussions. The women seem to enjoy it too—something about discussing steamy romance scenes with a bit of eye candy in the room. The door finally creaks open, and I sit up straighter as they walk in.

It was the sound of a heavy, brass-bolt lock sliding into place from the outside of a small, cramped room hidden behind the kitchen pantry. "Having identical twins is a marketing disaster, Evelyn," my father’s sharp voice had drifted through the thick wooden door, muffled but perfectly clear to my small ears. "The high-society registries thrive on exclusivity. A single, pristine prodigy heiress commands a multi-billion-dollar merger. Two identical girls look like a common corporate redundancy. It dilutes the brand."

“You don’t get to twist that now. I hid it because I didn’t want to scare you. And I didn’t know you had our daughter.” “Whatever. My sister needs help. I’m helping her.” “Don’t even think about it.” I pointed at her. “You can’t stop me, Christian. You’d have to freeze my accounts or take my cards.” I scoffed. “You know I’d never do that.” She knew it, and that’s why she was pushing. Even if I tried, her bookstore brought in millions. “Then good luck trying.” She flung her arms up and turned toward the stairs.

Sydney and I went to New York on our honeymoon that first Christmas after Gus died where she took dance classes during the day at Broadway Dance Center, then saw many of her instructors performing in the shows we took in on Broadway at night. We were back in New York again just last month to accompany Martha to a book signing at Barnes & Noble for her new bestselling novel, Down in Flames. When she arrived, the line waiting for autographs stretched out the front door to the sidewalk. Everyone applauded when she arrived and walked in on crutches.