Living Happily After

9: The bookshop

Although Gilbert would've liked to stay with Violet for the day, he couldn't because Lt. Colonel Keelan is out for the day. After Gilbert left, Violet read one of the books she bought a month ago, she remembered when she bought it.

"Violet!" Yelled Iris across the street.

Violet and Iris coincidentally has the same off day.

Violet walked over to Iris. "Hi."

"You doing something after this?" Iris asked, eager to find out.

"No, I'm free." Violet replied.

"Okay, good, we should hang out, just us girls, maybe invite Cattleya." Iris said, wrapping her arm around Violet's shoulder, walking towards a bookshop.

"To be honest, we don't 'hang-out' on ocassion anyway, but carry on." Violet said, eyeing the bookshop. "Why'd we stop here?"

"Well, we're going to suprised someone we both know." Iris said, with a mischievous grin.

Violet looked confused but followed Iris anyway.

Violet was suprised and quite amused when she saw someone very familiar working as the clerk.

"Cattleya?" Violet thought out loud.

Cattleya looked at Iris then at Violet briefly, then she suddenly ducked down.

"Umm, Cattleya?" Violet said, walking around the counter.

Cattleya looked meek, she bit her lip and looked at Violet.

"Can...I help...you?" Cattleya asked rhetorically.

"Yes please, but before that can you stand up?" Violet asked, sort of confused.

When Cattleya stood up Violet asked, "May I ask what are you doing working as a store clerk?"

"Yes, you...may." Cattleya replied.

"Okay then, what are you doing working as a store clerk?" Violet asked again.

Cattleya honestly felt like a child again, not in a good way though. She felt like a child being scolded by her parents. But she a child anymore, she can stand up for herself.

"What's your business with my business?" Cattleya said, standing tall.

She IS taller than Violet.

"I am going to tell your husband business. You know Mr. Hodgins gets worried about you when he wakes up and you aren't there. He told so himself when I visited him this morning." Violet said, her softening but the scolding mother face is still there.

"Is that so?" Cattleya said, looking down in shame. "Well, maybe I should tell him why I work here."

"Yes, you should. And are you going to tell us why you are working here?" Violet questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"You see, last year Claudia was having a rough time keeping the CH Post Company up and running, and I wanted to help him. I worked part-time jobs here. But when the debt was settled, I realized how comfortable this bookstore is, so I volunteer  twice every month." Cattleya explained.

The atmosphere was quite awkward until Iris broke it, reminding everyone she was there.

"Wow, Violet you're awesome at that scolding mother face, maybe you should become a real mother..." Iris chuckled at her own joked, until she noticed Violet looking at her with narrow eyes.

"Listen to me." Violet said, looking at bothe Cattleya and Iris. "I am not ready enough to do anything like that, you should say something like that to Cattleya, she looks ready."

"What?" Iris said.

"Look, she's been reading children's books and motherhood books." Violet said nonchalantly, until she noticed something. "Unless you are already-"

Cattleya covered her mouth, then slowly removed it. "I haven't told Claudia yet so you have to keep this a secret, just for a month at the most. I just found out this week."

This time, Violet looked meek, then she snapped out of it.

"Congratulations." She said, hugging Cattleya. "You both wanted this right?"

Cattleya smiled then hugged back. "Yeah."

Iris jumped and hugged both of them. "Group hug!"

They all fell down.

'Just when was Iris so childish?'

She bought a children's book. She felt nostalgic when ever she read them. She remembered what Gilbert told her about it.

"Remember, these books may have been made for children, but adults made it. Read these well."

Oh, how true it really is. These stories were just so heart-warming, especially now that she knew more of it when she grew older.

"Yet again, thank you Gilbert."

"You too, Iris."

"And to the future Hodgins family, thank you."