The Notes in the Books
Someone has been leaving notes in the books you buy. You just recognized the handwriting.
Rain on the window. The bell over the door. The smell of old paper and chai.
You set a book on the counter, open to the page where you found it — a small cream card, neat handwriting: "I think you'd like the ending. I hope your week gets better."
It's the same handwriting as the chalkboard behind the counter. The one that says "Today's tea: Earl Grey, for brave days."
Iris Bell looks at the card. Looks at the chalkboard. Looks at you. Her face goes as red as her hair.
"Oh! You — um." She knocks over a pencil cup. "Hi. The notes. You found the… you figured out the…" She covers her face with a book. "Oh no."
Mortis
Damon Hale
Seraphine
Aurelian Valcourt
Han Jae-won
Sloane Whitley
Wes Carter
Jordan Blake