Thanks for the reviews everyone! I really do enjoy seeing all the feedback!
I will continue to do the "Coming Soon" part, as long as I have the next
chapter written, because you all seem to like that. Hope you like this
chapter! -K
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Chapter Six
The day had passed too quickly and soon, Eli and Grace were driving back to the restaurant/bookstore. Their conversation was pleasant and friendly. Before they pulled into the parking lot, Grace looked out the window.
"Spencer is here!" she said, with a sudden smile on her face.
"Yeah, I called him this morning about an interview," Eli explained, placing the Jeep in park.
"I hope it goes well!" she said, getting out of the vehicle and running towards Spencer.
He gave her a big smile when he saw her. Spencer couldn't believe how Grace had changed since high school graduation. He was hoping he would get the job, if anything, to continue his friendship with Grace.
Eli walked up to them, "Give me a few minutes to get settled, then could you show Spencer to my office, please, Grace?" he asked, realizing how formal he sounded.
Grace rolled her eyes at Eli, "Yes sir!" She commented, saluting and laughing.
Eli just shook his head and continued into Book Lover's.
"I don't think he cares much for me," Spencer said, nodding his head in Eli's direction.
"Oh, he's fine. Believe me, we spent all morning together and I continued to sing you praises!"
"Thanks, Grace," he said, grabbing her left hand. "I really do appreciate all of this."
She squeezed his hand back. "No problem. But, I have to get inside and clock in, or you may be the one replacing ME!" The two entered the storefront.
All this time, Eli was watching them from his office, frowning as he saw the guy Grace once liked hold her hand.
**Eli - "It's too late. They have a history. We just had a moment." - he frowned.** ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Eli turned towards his computer and opened up an email. It read:
Dear Eli,
I know it's been so long since we have last spoken. I got your email address from the school's alumni site - hope you don't mind me writing to you. I have heard that you are now a manager at a bookstore downtown. I would love to stop in and see you sometime.
I just recently moved back to town after spending the last seven years in L.A. I hope you will try and contact me soon. All my heart, Carla
PS - How is Grace? I haven't heard from her in years. I hope all is well with her, too!
Eli sighed, running his hand through his hair. Carla was in town? And she wanted to see him? What was he going to do? He knew if she wanted to see him badly enough, she would, so he couldn't hide from her. He looked out his office window and saw Grace and Spencer having a very animated discussion, and then she reached up and hugged him again.
**Eli - "Something is happening. Grace is never this physical with someone that's just a friend."**
He looked back at the email, rereading it. Then, he clicked the 'Respond To' button.
**Eli - "Maybe if I saw Carla again, it would be like old times? I mean, I did care for her. And maybe if I had my mind on someone like Carla. it would take my mind of." He sighs, "Other things."**
Carla,
It was nice hearing from you. Yes, I am an assistant manager of a combination bookstore and restaurant. I actually am enjoying every minute of it. It's called Book Lover's. Actually, it's at Grace's family's old restaurant. Her father and aunt are the managers. They took me under their wing once I graduated. Anyway, I would love to see you. Maybe you can stop in sometime and we could have some coffee. I look forward to hearing back from you.
- Eli
Eli frowned as he clicked the 'Send' button. He wasn't sure if he should open such a serious can of worms as Carla, but he knew he had to try. He had to get his mind off Grace somehow.
All of his thoughts were set aside when Grace knocked on his office door, giving him a huge smile, "Ready for the interview?" she asked.
Eli nodded, taking a large sip from his bottled water. Grace escorted Spencer into the room, motioning to the straight back chair that faced Eli's desk. Before she closed the door, she looked at Eli and mouthed, "Be Nice!" then gave him another smile.
Eli nodded at Spencer, and then looked down at the application. He always hated interviewing people, but it was part of his job.
"I feel like I don't need to ask you the basic questions, as Grace as filled me in a lot about you," Eli started.
Spencer cleared his throat, "She is such a great person. It's been great seeing her again after all these years."
"You two sort of dated once, right?" Eli asked, deciding he could just throw out the required questions and get some dirt on this guy.
Spencer nodded, smiling. "Yes, we did, when we were juniors. It didn't turn too serious because I had to take some time off and figure out my life."
"What do you mean? You were in high school. what was there to figure out?" Eli asked, enjoying his role. He actually liked putting Spencer on the spot.
"Well, I was with Grace when this place. well, Phil's was held hostage. After that, Grace and I spent some time together, trying to comfort each other. Let's just say it was easier for her to get over the ordeal than it was for me."
Eli nodded. It sounded like a legitimate reason, knowing how hard the hostage situation was for Grace. "What about now? If, say, you were hired and something serious happened, how would you be able to handle it?"
Spencer cleared his throat again and thought for a moment. "I'd like to think I have grown since then. Having seen how Grace's father handled the situation, I would like to think that I would handle it similar to what he did."
**Eli -"I know, I know. I'm being cruel. How many times is this guy asked these questions, making him relive that night, during job interviews? I'm mean."**
"Me, too," Eli acknowledged. He looked back down at the application. "I told Grace that I thought you were over-qualified for this job. Then, I remembered how over-qualified she is for the job."
Spencer gave him a smile. Eli thought how confident the man sitting in front of him was. Just like Grace.
"Well, it's done. We would like to hire you, Spencer," Eli said, standing up and offering his hand. Spencer took it and gave a firm handshake. Eli went over to the filing cabinet and looked out the window of the office, which overlooked Book Lover's. He saw Grace watching them intently. She didn't even try to look occupied; she just shrugged her shoulders at him and mouthed, "Well?" Eli just gave a quick smile and nodded his head. Grace suddenly shrieked and gave Eli the thumbs up sign. Eli just shook his head, smiling at her. He pulled the forms from the cabinet and walked back over to the desk, handing the paperwork to Spencer.
"I need you to fill this entire stack out before you leave. How soon can you start?" he asked.
"I could start tomorrow, if you needed me, too!" Spencer answered.
Eli shook his head, "How about Monday? We won't be as busy and so it will be easier to get acclimated."
"Great," Spencer started on his paperwork while Eli turned his attention on paperwork of his own that Jake had left on the desk earlier that day. When Spencer had finished the forms, he handed them to Eli, thanked him again for the work opportunity, and left. Eli watched as he walked over to Grace at the magazine stacks and they hugged. Eli frowned yet again, and then went back to work.
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The evening past quickly as Eli worked in his office. Occasionally, he would leave to go out to see how things were running, but then would return to more paperwork.
Around eight o'clock, he heard a knock at his door and saw Grace standing there, giving him an apprehensive look.
"What is it, Grace? Is something wrong?" he asked, standing from his desk and quickly walking over to her.
"No. You just have. a guest." She moved out of the doorway and, standing there right in front of him was Carla.
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COMING SOON TO PERSPECTIVE
"Then why am I alone?" he asked, challenging her.
She placed her hands on his shoulders. "I don't know, Eli. I ask myself that same question all the time. We deserve to by happy. We deserve to be loved. We deserve to have someone to hold at night."
Eli looked deeply into her eyes, hoping that she would sense his feelings.
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Chapter Six
The day had passed too quickly and soon, Eli and Grace were driving back to the restaurant/bookstore. Their conversation was pleasant and friendly. Before they pulled into the parking lot, Grace looked out the window.
"Spencer is here!" she said, with a sudden smile on her face.
"Yeah, I called him this morning about an interview," Eli explained, placing the Jeep in park.
"I hope it goes well!" she said, getting out of the vehicle and running towards Spencer.
He gave her a big smile when he saw her. Spencer couldn't believe how Grace had changed since high school graduation. He was hoping he would get the job, if anything, to continue his friendship with Grace.
Eli walked up to them, "Give me a few minutes to get settled, then could you show Spencer to my office, please, Grace?" he asked, realizing how formal he sounded.
Grace rolled her eyes at Eli, "Yes sir!" She commented, saluting and laughing.
Eli just shook his head and continued into Book Lover's.
"I don't think he cares much for me," Spencer said, nodding his head in Eli's direction.
"Oh, he's fine. Believe me, we spent all morning together and I continued to sing you praises!"
"Thanks, Grace," he said, grabbing her left hand. "I really do appreciate all of this."
She squeezed his hand back. "No problem. But, I have to get inside and clock in, or you may be the one replacing ME!" The two entered the storefront.
All this time, Eli was watching them from his office, frowning as he saw the guy Grace once liked hold her hand.
**Eli - "It's too late. They have a history. We just had a moment." - he frowned.** ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Eli turned towards his computer and opened up an email. It read:
Dear Eli,
I know it's been so long since we have last spoken. I got your email address from the school's alumni site - hope you don't mind me writing to you. I have heard that you are now a manager at a bookstore downtown. I would love to stop in and see you sometime.
I just recently moved back to town after spending the last seven years in L.A. I hope you will try and contact me soon. All my heart, Carla
PS - How is Grace? I haven't heard from her in years. I hope all is well with her, too!
Eli sighed, running his hand through his hair. Carla was in town? And she wanted to see him? What was he going to do? He knew if she wanted to see him badly enough, she would, so he couldn't hide from her. He looked out his office window and saw Grace and Spencer having a very animated discussion, and then she reached up and hugged him again.
**Eli - "Something is happening. Grace is never this physical with someone that's just a friend."**
He looked back at the email, rereading it. Then, he clicked the 'Respond To' button.
**Eli - "Maybe if I saw Carla again, it would be like old times? I mean, I did care for her. And maybe if I had my mind on someone like Carla. it would take my mind of." He sighs, "Other things."**
Carla,
It was nice hearing from you. Yes, I am an assistant manager of a combination bookstore and restaurant. I actually am enjoying every minute of it. It's called Book Lover's. Actually, it's at Grace's family's old restaurant. Her father and aunt are the managers. They took me under their wing once I graduated. Anyway, I would love to see you. Maybe you can stop in sometime and we could have some coffee. I look forward to hearing back from you.
- Eli
Eli frowned as he clicked the 'Send' button. He wasn't sure if he should open such a serious can of worms as Carla, but he knew he had to try. He had to get his mind off Grace somehow.
All of his thoughts were set aside when Grace knocked on his office door, giving him a huge smile, "Ready for the interview?" she asked.
Eli nodded, taking a large sip from his bottled water. Grace escorted Spencer into the room, motioning to the straight back chair that faced Eli's desk. Before she closed the door, she looked at Eli and mouthed, "Be Nice!" then gave him another smile.
Eli nodded at Spencer, and then looked down at the application. He always hated interviewing people, but it was part of his job.
"I feel like I don't need to ask you the basic questions, as Grace as filled me in a lot about you," Eli started.
Spencer cleared his throat, "She is such a great person. It's been great seeing her again after all these years."
"You two sort of dated once, right?" Eli asked, deciding he could just throw out the required questions and get some dirt on this guy.
Spencer nodded, smiling. "Yes, we did, when we were juniors. It didn't turn too serious because I had to take some time off and figure out my life."
"What do you mean? You were in high school. what was there to figure out?" Eli asked, enjoying his role. He actually liked putting Spencer on the spot.
"Well, I was with Grace when this place. well, Phil's was held hostage. After that, Grace and I spent some time together, trying to comfort each other. Let's just say it was easier for her to get over the ordeal than it was for me."
Eli nodded. It sounded like a legitimate reason, knowing how hard the hostage situation was for Grace. "What about now? If, say, you were hired and something serious happened, how would you be able to handle it?"
Spencer cleared his throat again and thought for a moment. "I'd like to think I have grown since then. Having seen how Grace's father handled the situation, I would like to think that I would handle it similar to what he did."
**Eli -"I know, I know. I'm being cruel. How many times is this guy asked these questions, making him relive that night, during job interviews? I'm mean."**
"Me, too," Eli acknowledged. He looked back down at the application. "I told Grace that I thought you were over-qualified for this job. Then, I remembered how over-qualified she is for the job."
Spencer gave him a smile. Eli thought how confident the man sitting in front of him was. Just like Grace.
"Well, it's done. We would like to hire you, Spencer," Eli said, standing up and offering his hand. Spencer took it and gave a firm handshake. Eli went over to the filing cabinet and looked out the window of the office, which overlooked Book Lover's. He saw Grace watching them intently. She didn't even try to look occupied; she just shrugged her shoulders at him and mouthed, "Well?" Eli just gave a quick smile and nodded his head. Grace suddenly shrieked and gave Eli the thumbs up sign. Eli just shook his head, smiling at her. He pulled the forms from the cabinet and walked back over to the desk, handing the paperwork to Spencer.
"I need you to fill this entire stack out before you leave. How soon can you start?" he asked.
"I could start tomorrow, if you needed me, too!" Spencer answered.
Eli shook his head, "How about Monday? We won't be as busy and so it will be easier to get acclimated."
"Great," Spencer started on his paperwork while Eli turned his attention on paperwork of his own that Jake had left on the desk earlier that day. When Spencer had finished the forms, he handed them to Eli, thanked him again for the work opportunity, and left. Eli watched as he walked over to Grace at the magazine stacks and they hugged. Eli frowned yet again, and then went back to work.
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The evening past quickly as Eli worked in his office. Occasionally, he would leave to go out to see how things were running, but then would return to more paperwork.
Around eight o'clock, he heard a knock at his door and saw Grace standing there, giving him an apprehensive look.
"What is it, Grace? Is something wrong?" he asked, standing from his desk and quickly walking over to her.
"No. You just have. a guest." She moved out of the doorway and, standing there right in front of him was Carla.
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COMING SOON TO PERSPECTIVE
"Then why am I alone?" he asked, challenging her.
She placed her hands on his shoulders. "I don't know, Eli. I ask myself that same question all the time. We deserve to by happy. We deserve to be loved. We deserve to have someone to hold at night."
Eli looked deeply into her eyes, hoping that she would sense his feelings.