Her sister sent me pictures of the opening.
Karen stood beneath the sign wearing a green dress, smiling as customers filled the shop.
For three months, I stayed away from Karen Mercer.
I told myself it was the right thing to do. Daniel needed time. Karen needed space to rebuild her life without another complicated relationship pulling at her attention. And I needed to prove that my feelings for her were more than a reaction to the circumstances that had brought us together. But knowing why you are doing something does not make it hurt any less.
Sometimes, I drove past Second Chapter on my way home from work. I never stopped. I would glance at the red door, notice the warm light spilling through the tall windows, and wonder whether Karen was inside helping a customer find a book or sitting in her little reading corner with a cup of terrible coffee.
I wondered whether she ever thought about me.
