Chapter 340: Dragons' Lair
*The biggest problem that I’m going to have is not getting lost in the books. – Gertie*
Shiloh was proud of her friend. She liked a good book from time to time. Rainy afternoons were a great time to curl up with a good cozy book. But Gertie did not need a reason to read. Or even a specific type of book.
Walking into the new bookstore, Shiloh looked around and was thrilled with what Cookie and his crew had done with the old movie theater and the stores on either side. The walls were covered in floor to ceiling bookshelves. The old balcony had been extended to create a walkway that encircled the upper part of the store. The gradual slope of the theater had been changed into wide terraces with shelves five feet high.
The old concession area was now the check out area. While the small stage and screen had been was now a small coffee bar. Cookies and other baked goods from The Cookie Jar were available along with hot and cold coffees.
The children’s area was situated in the old store to the north of the theater. It was decorated with a brightly colored castle with small furniture and plush dragons everywhere. Along with the books, were also toys and puzzles. Blankets and pillows with favorite characters were available for sale. Along with a few shirts, bags and novelties.
The young adult area was set up in the opposite store in what looked like a cave with dragon egg-shaped chairs and bean bags. Bags and backpacks were stocked in the cave. Along with blankets, pillows and novelties.
Throughout the store, there were tables and chairs set up. There was an area on the balcony that was dedicated for story time and book readings. Opening weekend, Gertie had hosted a local author’s book fest. Nineteen authors from the area had tables set up in the store for autographs.
Shiloh didn’t even know that there were that many authors in the area.
Then again, she wasn’t really a reader either.
Walking through the store, Shiloh stopped and looked at the occasional signposts. About half the names she recognized. Hundred Acre Woods. Narnia. Andor. Forks, Washington. Hogsmeade. The Shire. Others she had no idea where they were. Prythian. Earth City. Navarre. Braavos. Opar.
Shiloh’s therapist had suggested reading for her. As a way to get away from her own issues and troubles. But so often, there was a trigger in the stories. The happy childhood that she only had with her grandparents. The abusive stepmother, but in her own story, it was her own mother that was abusive. Her stepfathers followed the lead of their wife and gave no comfort or kindness.
Too often they tried to take their own comfort from the daughters.
She even suggested that Shiloh write her own story. That had been good therapy. The three-ring binder was in her home safe. Those secrets were more precious to her than any of the money or heirlooms that her grandfather gave her.
And he gave her a lot of both.
Enough to buy the funeral home and make two stores and a five-bedroom house in it. And then to buy the old theater and a store on either side. The apartments above the stores had been joined together to make a large apartment.
Since it was finished, and Pagan and the girls moved in with Shiloh, she noticed that Cookie and Karan were spending more time away from their little carriage house. If she didn’t see their cars in the old paver look driveway, Shiloh could usually find them behind the theater.
She never asked Gertie about it. As far as Shiloh was concerned, it wasn’t her business. But before Gertie had dated *him*, she had dated Elsbeth. But Elsbeth saw her lesbian lover as a college fling and never looked back at the heartbroken woman she left behind.
Although Gertie had dated both men and women, it was always one at a time. Never before had she dated more than one person. She just wasn’t made that way. But she had also recently taken with a new trope of books. Why choose? And when she had told Shiloh that she was attracted to both Cookie and Karan, the only thing that Shiloh had asked, was if it was reciprocated.
She did not want her friend to get hurt again. From what she knew of Cookie, he was an honorable man and would not do anything to hurt anyone he cared for. Just by the way he looked at Gertie, Shiloh knew that he cared for her. The same with Karan.
It was an odd arrangement, but if it worked for them, who was she to judge?
She had enough on her mind. Which was why she was here. What do you get two little girls for Christmas?
“Shiloh.”
She turned towards her friend at the sound of the voice calling her name. Gerties red hair had grown back out and was now shoulder length. She was back in her Victorian style dresses with the bustle in the back, but the deep purple and black skirts ended before her knees in the front. Her loose-fitting high collar button up purple shirt was sheer with a black corset underneath.
Like Shiloh, she wore black leggings and platform boots. Over her leggings, Shiloh wore a black long sleeved 1950’s day dress with a hot pink sash belt and skulls around the bottom. The hot pink petticoat underneath the skirt barely peaked out.
Gertie’s hair was in gentle waves down to her shoulders. She had a black rose clip on the side of her head, and it showed off her cameo earrings that matched her necklace.
Shiloh had her dark hair wrapped around a hot pink bandana with black print. It was tied up in a small bow just behind her black betty bangs.
“You look good, Gertie.”
“So do you, Shy.” Gertie smiled at her, and they exchanged a quick hug.
“I love what you’ve done here. Opening weekend, I really didn’t get to see it.”
“It was pretty busy in here.” Gertie admitted as she slipped an arm around her friend and guided her to the children’s area. “I’m going to assume that you’re here to do some Christmas shopping.”
“Yes, I don’t know what to get the girls.” Shiloh admitted as they crossed the drawbridge.
“What are you getting their dad? And it can’t be a sex toy or lingerie.”
Shiloh froze where she was causing Gertie to laugh. Shiloh had bought both for Pagan.
“Shy, you have to give him something that the girls can see. Something that shows how you feel about him.”
“I like him.” Shiloh admitted quietly.
“I know you do.” Gertie took her friends’ hands and squeezed them. “You haven’t tossed him aside like most of your toys. Instead, you brought him closer. My lovely friend, maybe you need to think about why.”
Shiloh shook her head and looked away as she fought back her tears.
“Shy.” Gertie said quietly. “That life is behind you. You need to fully commit to this life or go back to the other. You can’t keep one foot in each.”
