Split Love

CHAPTER 19

MONDAY, March 4, 2019

- No, Herman, you're crazy.

- Wait, Jamie, you haven't seen the others on your list yet.

All Jasmine needed was to acquire new books for the Library, and she was committed to getting good prices, after all, the budget that Mayor Lockwood had set aside for the library that year was very low. But Herman, the owner and sole employee of the Willow Creek bookstore, seemed to wanna extort the city.

This was Jasmine's thought as she put Colleen Hoover's green-covered book on the counter and walked out the glass door of the bookstore. Herman held the door and hurried after the girl.

- I asked you for 10 books Herman and you told me you would get a good price for them.

- But I did it, Jamie! You were the one who gave up in the second book you looked at.

- Herman, you want me to pay for 10 books more than the budget Mayor Lockwood gave me.

- What? - The almost 50-year-old man stopped on his heels.

Jamie walked briskly along the Maple Street sidewalk - where the vast majority of Willow Creek's stores were - but also stopped when she realized the man had fallen behind. She felt her chest heavy at the thought that in addition to rejecting the books Herman had arranged for her, she would leave him standing alone on the sidewalk.

- Heman. - Jamie approached the man, who seemed to be lost. - I have a budget to follow. I can't spend the library's entire year's budget in the third month.

- What if I get a discount?

- I need a great discount. I wanna put the books that were released at the end of the last year in the Library, but this way I can't reach the middle of the year without leaving the library short.

- Okay, okay! - Herman took a few steps back towards the bookstore and brought his hand close to his ear, making a telephone sign with his fingers. - I'll make it, Jamie!

- I hope so!

Jamie felt her cell phone vibrate in her jacket pocket. She picked it up and saw Micah's name on the display. A small smile grew on her face and feeling excited, Jamie put her cell phone away again and walked another block until she reached the River Fall Diner.

The sound of the bell above the door was drowned out by the small crowd inside. Toddy looked stressed, taking some orders, while Lynn waited on a few tables with a big smile on her face.

- Excuse me.

Jamie held her bag close to her body to make room for a couple who were leaving the diner. She saw Kate cleaning a table near the window and tried to squeeze through the tables and people standing to get there.

- I'm going to sit there, Kate! - Jamie shouted.

- We don't reserve tables, Jamie. - Toddy shouted from the other side of the counter.

Kate, ignoring her boss, sat down in one of the chairs at the table and continued cleaning. She began to clean every last inch slowly.

- I am here! I got it! -Jamie threw her body into the chair and sighed loudly looking at the entire line in front of the counter. - What is happening?

- Lunch with a 50% discount for those who order the new dish.

- What is the new dish?

- You don't wanna know.

- I imagined.

Jamie took her cell phone out of her pocket before removing his burgundy jacket and hanging it over the back of the chair.