Chapter 7 Mrs. O'Connell

Slender fingers brushed across the spines of the books like a long-lost lover as she passed them, picking out the ones that she found interesting and skipping over books that weren't. But all good things must come to an end and after what felt like mere minutes of being lost in the world of books, Alexa finally left the fictional world to find her equally book-loving cousin so that they could pick up Gabriella from her dance class.

She had to almost literally pull Jayden away from the shelves so engrossed by the magic of the words. The old lady who owned and ran the bookstore was not behind the desk as she normally was, so Alexa had to ring the cute silver bell that sat on the desk.

"I'll be with you in a minute dear," she called from somewhere in the back, and if you listened carefully enough you could hear her humming a soft melody. Eventually, she popped her head out to look at her two awaiting customers, she smiled warmly, her wrinkled face scrunched up due to her smile, showing the wrinkles around her eyes which would have suggested that she had laughed a lot in her youth.

She had strange eyes, the color of lavender, which sparkled as her small hands came up to try and smooth back the pieces of silvery hair that were just too stubborn to stay where she had put them. The rest of her hair was pulled back in an elaborate bun at the back of her head.

"Oh, why if it isn't the young Miss Winters, how nice to see you again my dear, I hope all is well. You are so sweet coming in to visit an old coot like me as often as you do. How is the family doing? Where is that marvelous baby sister of yours? What about your handsome brother? Oh, how nice it is to have a twin. Tell me, have you found out about that internship that you wanted? Oh, where are my manners, who is this beautiful young lady?" The woman rattled off questions and didn't seem to mind that she never gave the redhead a chance to answer any of them, as she rounded the desk to stand right in front of the poor brunette.

"My, you are absolutely a vision, are you two related? Your eyes are so magnificent. Has anyone told you they look the deepest shade of golden brown that I have ever seen? I love your curls, I once had hair just like this, although it may have been a shade or two lighter than these wonderful chocolate curls. You two must be related as I have only ever seen such distinctive and unique colors on this young woman right here and her family, it's absolutely extraordinary," The kind old lady went on and on without a care in the world.

"You haven't answered my question and I must say I am highly curious, who are you?" The silver-haired woman asked as she finally let go of Jayden's face, having grabbed a hold of it at some point during her rambling, in order to get a better look at her eyes.

"My name is Jayden Montgomery Ma'am; I am Alexa's cousin Ma'am." The flushed brunette stated respectfully, a blush decorating her cheeks at all the compliments Mrs. O'Connell had given her.

Alexa couldn't help but smile thinking of her first meeting with the very same woman. She had peppered her with questions and observations just as much as she had with Jayden.

"Oh, what a pleasure, you're just as well-mannered as your cousin, how splendid. People could learn a thing or two from you young ladies," she laughed lightly, her eyes twinkling with joy.

The woman too agile for someone her age moved away from them and nimbly began to wrap up the books they had chosen.

"Thank you, Mrs. O'Connell, that is a very nice thing for you to say," Alexa said with a smile on her lips.

"Oh please, it's Charlene, my dear. I stopped being Mrs. O'Connell a very long time ago." She said sadly, a small smile on her lips, but if you looked close enough you could see the depth of the pain in her lavender eyes. It was the same look Alexa would see on her mother's face when she thought no one was looking like they had lost a part of themselves along with their partner, it was a kind of love Alexa secretly wished for herself.

To be loved by someone so deeply that they became engraved into your very soul, oh what a wondrous love that must be. Yes, Alexa thought, there may be some drawbacks like that fathomless agony you love through should you lose that loved one, but wasn't it better to have loved rather than not loved at all?

"Well, then I must insist you call me Jayden." Jayden nodded her head as if agreeing with herself, trying to cheer the old woman up and snapping the redheaded teenager out of her thoughts, she would have to think about love some other time.

"That'll be all, enjoy your books my darlings," and then she started to push the girls toward the door after handing them a brown paper bag, one that held their books inside.

"But, we haven't -" Alexa tried to protest but was silenced.

"No, no. It's on the house, my sweet, for your birthday. Please enjoy your purchases and do give my regards to your mother my dear," she said and pushed the girls out of the store, waved, and then closed the door, flipping the sign over to show the word closed and locked the door. Leaving the cousins staring wide-eyed at the glass door.

"Purchases? But we didn't buy anything," Jayden mumbled.