Ever since the DEA came in and busted up the illegal drug business in White Pine Bay, and of course, Oregon legalized recreational pot in 2015, Alex found he had a little more time on his hands. Even fatherhood didn't really change that. Norma helped him with Amanda, and really, being completely honest, it was Norma who did the real heavy lifting of parenthood. Alex was always glad to lift whatever load he could. He loved being Amanda's father. He loved helping Norma. He wished she would allow him to do more! He fantasized about it being Norma on the other side of the "maybethistime" email, but he was afraid to hope. He rationalized that Norma was the least likely person to be MaybeThisTime. She was too busy.

"I feel like I'm cheating on Norma," he confessed to Deputy Jeffcoat.

"Dude, you and Norma don't even live together. And you're just writing emails." Jeffcoat arched his brow. "Right? Have you had cyber sex?"

"God no!"

Jeffcoat sighed. "Not that it would be a problem. I mean, you and Norma are separated. I doubt she expects you to be celibate."

Alex became very sad all of a sudden. He hadn't had sex with anyone other than himself in more than four years, nor with anyone other than Norma in more time than that. His marriage to Norma still felt real. Emailing MaybeThisTime felt like cheating even though he knew, rationally, that it was not.

"She revealed today that her business is right next to her house."

"Just like Norma?" said Jeffcoat, more as a statement of curious observation to himself than anything else.

"Yeah. Just like Norma."

"You don't think...?"

Alex shook his head, cutting off the idea. "Nah. Lots of people live above their business or next to it, or even have their business in the house. Right?"

"Sure," Jeffcoat agreed. "Lots of people do that."

"Her daughter is the same age as Amanda. Shit, speaking of Amanda, I gotta go."

"Daddy, it's the StoryBook Lady!" Amanda pointed at a sign in front of a bookstore that had been a favorite in White Pine Bay since Alex was a child.

Alex, still in sheriff uniform, had taken his daughter to the local fair where he won a goldfish for her. He now carried said goldfish, swimming around in a bag of water, in the hand not being held by Amanda.

The bookshop was owned today by Kathleen Novak, the daughter of founder Klara who had been the living owner in Alex's boyhood. Kathleen and Alex had graduated from White Pine Bay High School in the same year. They were never friends, never hung out, but they were always friendly to each other. She always had a smile, always called him Alex, and always asked how Norma and Amanda were doing. She was one of the nicest, most upbeat people in White Pine Bay. Alex didn't understand how someone like her stayed unmarried all these years. If Alex ever bothered to keep up with local gossip (which he never did) he'd have known that Kathleen had been dating for many years a guy who was a columnist at the Oregonian.

"Are we at the right time, sweetheart? Yeah, yeah, let's go." Amanda squealed and pulled her daddy into the bookshop.

The bookshop was so quiet, all that could be heard was Kathleen Novak, the owner, reading to a big group of children. Alex stifled a chuckle at Kathleen wearing a wizard hat and reading aloud The Great Mouse Plot by Roald Dahl. Amanda didn't understand much of what was being read, but she was delighted by Kathleen's demeanor and way of pronouncing the words. Alex was mesmerized as well. Kathleen was so passionate about books, especially ones for children. Her enthusiasm reminded him of Norma. Both women were sunshine in a cold universe.

After the storybook session, everyone went back to browsing the bookshop. Amanda wanted to find a book about princesses.

"Alex! So good to see you! Hi, Amanda!" Kathleen came over to talk to them.

"Hi!" said Amanda. "Look at my fish!"

Alex smirked as he gestured to the fish in his Amanda-free hand. Kathleen marveled over it. "Wow! A goldfish! You lucky girl! Do you want to find a book about fish?"

Amanda shook her head. "No. I want a book about princesses."

"Princesses huh?" Kathleen gushed. She bent down to the girl's level. "Well, I happen to know about a little girl called Betsy Ray, Amanda. She got into a lot of adventures."

"Was she a princess?"

"She was! All girls are princesses, Amanda!"

Kathleen showed them the Betsy-Tacy books and Amanda was intrigued. "I want all of them. Can we buy them, Daddy?"

Kathleen tried to help Alex by suggesting that it was a lot of books to buy at once.

"Daddy buys me all the books I want, right, Daddy?"

Alex laughed. "That's right, Monkey. We'll buy two books today. That'll keep us busy for the weekend. We'll buy more on our next visit."

At the cash register, employee George winked and smiled at Kathleen. "You see? This is why we're not gonna go under, because our customers are loyal."

"They're opening up a Barnes & Noble off the bypass," Kathleen said to Alex, rolling her eyes. "You know, the world is not driven by profits. I used to help my mother in the store, since I was six years old, and it wasn't just that she was selling books. She was helping people find who they wanted to be."

Alex was struck. Quite hard. It hit him how much like Norma this woman was. This woman he had known in high school. Always finding the sun, always finding the light in a world of darkness.

"Because when you read a book as a child it becomes part of your identity in a way no other reading does..." Kathleen laughed. "I've gotten carried away."

"Yeah," said Alex, nodding. "You have. You've made me feel enchanted. Your mother was enchanting."

"Yes, she was," agreed Kathleen, impressed by his recognition of so obvious a fact. "You remember her, Alex?"

"I do. A little." He pointed at the framed photograph of mother and daughter behind her. "Is that you in the photograph? It's you and your mother, right?"

Kathleen beamed. "Oh, yes. My mother and I, twirling. I remember your mother too. She was so kind to me. My mother said she would always bring you here for books. I think she said you particularly liked The Very Hungry Caterpillar."

Alex laughed. "I made my mom read it to me every night for a little while. Speaking of which, do you have that? I'd like to buy it for this little monkey."

Amanda, in her daddy's arms, busied herself with flipping through one of the two books her father had just bought for her. Kathleen beamed at the task of finding The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. She found it quickly and Alex paid for it and left with Amanda, both father and daughter feeling excited. Alex could hardly believe he had never thought to read his childhood favorite book to his daughter, but he was grateful to Kathleen for reminding him of it and he could hardly wait to read it to Amanda.

They were crossing the street when Amanda suddenly pointed and shouted, "Mommy!"

Alex's eyes followed Amanda's direction. Norma was just then emerging from the "In a Wink" dry cleaners. She halted mid step and had to adjust her balance as she noticed them too. Her face broke out into absolute delight on seeing her daughter and Alex.

"Baby!" She waved before adjusting the freshly cleaned shirts that she was carrying. She stepped toward them.

"Mommy, look at my new books Daddy bought for me!"

"Baby, that's so great."

"He won me a fish too at the fair."

"A fish? Oh my goodness!" Norma gave Alex a questioning look.

"Don't worry, Norma," said Alex. "The fish stays at my house."

"Oh, I don't mind about that. I think it's wonderful, and of course Amanda will be in charge of the fish. You have to take care of it, honey. It's a living thing. Are you going to remember to feed your fish everyday?"

Amanda nodded emphatically. "Yes, Mommy. We got fish food at the pet store."

"Well, then you're all set, aren't you?"

"Almost. Daddy ordered the fish tank but it won't be here until next week."

"Oh."

"It was backordered," Alex explained. "The store gave us a bowl for the meantime." (He held up the bag from the pet store, containing, the round fish bowl.)

"His name is Joe!"

"Joe!" Norma laughed. "You're naming your fish Joe?"

"Yeah!" Amanda giggled.

"We're going to grab a bite to eat, will you join us?" Alex asked Norma hopefully.

"Yeah, Mom, come on! Tacos!"

Norma was surprised at Alex's invitation. She gladly accepted it. While Norma went to put her clothes in her car, Alex and Amanda went to put their stuff in his SUV, and then the three met up again in front of Todo Taco.