At Brown's Bookshop
Life felt fine and mind-numbingly boring to Elsa.
Perched on her stool behind the worn wooden counter, she stared past the towering rows of books and imagined a life far beyond these four walls. Sure, she had a job—that was something. But it wasn't like she could strike up a conversation with a customer about her late-night flings at the club with an only man named Jordin.
She was in her early twenties. Young, vibrant, and with plenty of time for fun. Yet, uninvited, the thought of a boyfriend drifted into her head. That classic, almost cliché dream of a prince charming, of living happily ever after, wrapped in a love so genuine, blissful, and pure that they cherished each other for good. It used to feel like a silly dream. And while she knew logically that a woman didn't depend on a man to be independently happy and sustainable, that wasn't the point. It was the warmth, the care, and that irreplaceable, special bond—the kind that made just thinking of someone bring an effortless, fulfilling smile to your face.
After Jordin… well, if she want to fall in love, she wanted someone genuinely good-natured, comforting, affectionate, loyal, and deeply caring. That was what truly mattered. Her ideal partner would be good natured, wise, devoted, clever, and committed.
Well, rich? Sure, that helped. But wealth wasn't the core of it. She wanted a man who could love her truly, deeply, and unconditionally—someone attractive in all the ways that counted. Someone easygoing, just like her. Someone deeply understanding. Relationships shouldn't be the exhausting, complicated mess people made them out to be.
Her mind flicked back to the orphanage. She had grown up there, and God, it had been stifling. Stuck in one place, every single day same things into the next. She and Lucy needed to travel. See something—anything outside of this routine. She would bring it up the next time they had a quiet moment alone.
Then, her thoughts drifted to the money. The money she had received from that secret fling. Elsa knew she could finally afford to go to college now, but a heavy pang squeezed her heart. With the money in hand, what would I actually do? She knew the answer, and it only brought a bitter wave of sadness. Where were my morals? She felt so stupid for ever letting it happen, sleeping with Jordin.
Elsa silently berated herself. Where did all those strict, wholesome morals from the orphanage go? She had grown up in one of the nicest institutions around, yet she had compromised herself in a way that made her stomach turn. Stupid, stupid, stupid, she muttered under her breath, resting her forehead against her cool hand.
And now, she was going to forget it. She was going to pretend what happened between her and Jordin was nothing more than a bad dream, a closed chapter. She was secretly glad Jordin hadn't shown up looking for her. Let him find someone else to entertain him and warm his bed; she was completely done with that life.
To be honest, she told herself, she was fine. Patience was the one virtue the orphanage had drilled into her bones. Even if remembering her agreement to take Jordin's money still made her face burn with humiliation, she was ready to move on. She had been foolish to say yes to a stranger, foolish to sleep with Jordin and let things spiral out of her control.
But it wasn't entirely her fault. Not really.
Taking a steadying breath, she let the thought go.
The bookshop around her was peaceful. Quiet, but not in a heavy, suffocating way. The calm didn't feel like boredom. It felt like sanctuary.
Aaron sat back in his office high chair, letting out a long, contented breath. Thinking of Natalia, a profound wave of gratitude washed over him. He was so damn lucky to have Natalia. She wasn't just a good woman; she was the anchor of his world, the absolute best thing in his life, and a daily blessing he cherished with every fiber of his being.
Whenever he was with her, the chaotic noise of the world simply faded away. She brought a quiet, unshakable peace to his soul that left him completely satisfied. Looking at the papers and document infront of him, he thought of listening to the soft, joyful noise of his kids made him know he should spend a lot of time with his family, he made a silent, effortless decision. The office can wait. He was going to spend his time with his wife and kids, completely off the grid, simply resting, laughing, and soaking in the warmth of the family he loved more than life itself.
Silas stepped through the front door of his house, exhaling deeply after spending two long, grounding weeks at his family home. As much as he loved his parents, there was a quiet comfort in being back in his own space.
He walked down the familiar hallway toward the parlor, his car keys jingling in his hand. Tossing them expertly onto the wicker basket on the entryway table where they always lived, he loosened his collar. His stomach rumbled faintly, reminding him that the journey home had been long. Changing direction, he headed straight for the kitchen to hunt down some food and snacks, eager to grab a quick bite before finally settling down to unwind in the parlor.