“Seems that way, and I’m sorry for my part in it.” Joanna felt nerves hop around in her stomach. She kept waiting for people to tell her they didn’t need this. “Is it too much for you?”

“What?”

“Having me here. Attracting attention.”

“Nothing wrong with attention. It never hurts to have the spotlight shone on our little corner of the world. If it brings in business, we’ll all be thanking you.” Mary-Lou narrowed her eyes. “Why would you think it’s too much for me? You think I can’t handle myself if I need to?”

“I know you can, but—”

“But why would I want to? Is that what you’re asking?” Mary-Lou’s mouth tightened. “Let me ask you something, Joanna Rafferty. Why are you here today?”

“Because you needed help. Because Vivian was always so kind to me when I was young, because you’re a friend and because I love books and this bookstore in particular and frankly I don’t need an excuse to work here.”

Mary-Lou nodded. “We needed help. And here you are. That’s what friends do. And that goes both ways, Joanna.” She picked up her purse. “If one of those photographers sticks their camera inside this store, they’d better buy a book is all I can say. And you can tell Nate from me that if I’d known he kissed as well as it seemed he did in that photo, I would have snatched him away from you when I was sixteen.”

Joanna laughed, ignoring the tug of emotion. She couldn’t tell Nate anything because he hadn’t been in touch.

But despite that, she felt better. “Thank you, Mary-Lou. How is Vivian?”

“Bruised and aching, but well enough to make sure I know how much pain she’s in. She loved the flowers. That was thoughtful. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. You should go. She’ll be waiting for you.”

“Are you sure?” Mary-Lou hesitated. “You’re not going to change your mind about helping? You’ll be sticking around? No matter what?”

Joanna understood the question. Mary-Lou had seen the photos, along with everyone else. She was probably wondering what happened next. She knew that last time Joanna’s relationship with Nate had ended, she’d left town.

“I took this job, Mary-Lou. I won’t let you down.” She was relieved when the door opened, and the bell rang. “Customers.”

The “customer” turned out to be Mel. She exchanged a few words with Mary-Lou as she walked through the door, and then joined Joanna.

“I finished the book I was reading.”

“Was it good?”

“Thriller. Quite the body count. Might need something a bit more uplifting this time around.” Mel leaned on the counter. “I was thinking maybe a romance.”

“You? A romance? You don’t read anything that doesn’t include blood and gore.”