Dear Rory,
I'm sorry about what I said.
I'm leaving for LA in two days.
Can we talk before then, please?
We can just drive around as usual.
I don't know how to do this if
you're upset with me.
Call me please. I'm staying at my
parents' house...
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Dear Rory, The cats are driving me crazy but I'm enjoying every second of it. It's like kitten heaven at my house. Am I on my way to becoming the next Mrs. Paxton...? Probably. Maybe. Most likely. I love my cats so much dude. Love, Taylor
————
December 2022
Willow's Bookshop & Café is located in Greenwich Village and it is possibly one of my favourite spots in all of Manhattan. When I first met Cas, the store was still run by their parents but we would often hang out in the back after our college classes. Sometimes to read, other times, I'm not super proud of it but, smoke a joint. I'm not exactly sure how their parents never caught on. They must have known and simply chose to ignore it. We weren't all that subtle, to be honest.
I stand on the corner of the street as Cas and Wyatt, the acting store manager when Cas is too busy, greet the children at the door. Wyatt's crouched down to their level, holding his palm up so they could all high-five him as they make their way inside where the cold Manhattan air won't nip at their skin.
It's a nice day today. The sun's shining through the glass windows, illuminating the books on display at the very front of the store: the latest releases and the best sellers. I know my book is on that shelf. Cas keeps it there even when I tell them they should make room for other rising authors who deserve the spotlight more.
I wait another five minutes outside, checking my phone for any new messages. Nothing. I can't be late though, so I stop leaning against my car and walk over to Willow's.
It feels like I've just walked into a toaster oven. Immediately, I'm hit by a whiff of vanilla and sandalwood, mixed with the warm smell of old books. The shop is kept extra warm with rugs all over the floors. It keeps the wooden panels underneath from creaking too loudly when walking around the place and makes the atmosphere homey. I remember that time Cas and I helped their parents deep clean the store and when we removed all the carpets, it felt wrong and uncomfortable.
It looks different. Cas had to get new shelves and carpets and a lot of the little knickknacks Cas and their parents before them had decorated the store with are missing. It still needs some work done but it is more than ready to open back up and get the sales going. Cas can't afford to stay closed any longer either.
"Hey, Cas, where do you want this?" I ask then, holding up the little framed poster with a Dr. Seuss quote I got it for them as "bookstore warming" present.
"Uhhh, I'm not sure yet," they reply, barely giving me their attention as they were busy talking to one of the moms with a five-year-old clinging to her leg.
