“You might be a little bit of a troublemaker.” I keep my tone light and teasing, but I can’t help but remember the reaction Jasper had to seeing him. So even though my dad isn’t with him, I haven’t let my walls down around Connor Walsh. “But since you seem to be on your best behavior for now, would you like a tour of the store?”

“I’d love that.” He catches me off guard with the intensity of his smile. “I really only saw the nook section last time, but I’m interested to learn more about it. Unfortunately, Andrew didn’t know much about the store.”

Shocker.

“He wouldn’t. It’s hard to know about a place you’ve almost never stepped foot in.” I stop and take a deep breath, not wanting to let my dad get me worked up and ruin what was shaping up to be a fantastic day. “But enough about him. Let me give you the grand tour.”

The store isn’t very big, so the grand tour only takes about twenty minutes, with me pointing out all the projects Gran and I did together on top of the ones I’ve done since she’s been gone. I tell him about all the trips to the flea market to nail the aesthetic of boho shabby realness that Gran was going for and how I struggled to keep the vibe cohesive when I created the kids’ nook.

“And this is where the coffee/wine bar is going to be.” I gesture to the space to the side of the cash register. “We’ll get rid of these display tables to make space for the bar and add a few freestanding tables so customers can sit with their coffee. It’s too small in here for a lot of tables, but we’ll put a few more out front and then drop some poufs around the store so people can plop down and read.”

I haven’t been back to the flea market since Gran passed, but with the coffee bar coming, I’m going to have to get over that particular obstacle. It’s the only place I can go to get tables and chairs for the space. Unfortunately for me, IKEA doesn’t carry the same charm that Rosalie’s booth does. It’s going to suck, but I’ve been thinking of inviting Jasper with me. Maybe holding his hand while walking the grounds will help to ease the pain I can no longer avoid.

“And you’re sure a coffee bar is the best investment for the Book Nook?” Connor’s question knocks me off-balance. Throughout our little tour, he’s listened intently and doled out an appropriate amount of compliments. He asked a few questions, but they were more about how I came up with the story time idea or how long it took Gran and me to complete our DIY projects.