Christmas at Charming Books

By Violet Waverly from Prose and Cons  by Amanda Flower

“Violet, this is going to be awesome. You’ll see,” Grandma Daisy cried as she wheeled an over-full cart of books in front of Charming Books’ front window.

In my experience any time my seventy-something grandmother says, “This is going to be awesome!” I was in some serious trouble.

Faulkner, the shop crow, seemed to agree with me because he leaped from the sale counter and flew to the very top of the birch tree that grew in the middle of the shop. My tuxedo cat Emerson, however, sat at my grandmother’s feet with his thin black tail swishing across the hardwood floor. If Emerson and Grandma Daisy teamed up on this “project,” I was really in trouble.

“Grandma, what is going to be awesome?” I asked, trying my best to sound supportive and upbeat. I failed miserably.

“We, my dearest grandchild, are going to build a book tree!” She proclaimed as if she were announcing the President of the United States.

“I’m your only grandchild,” I said automatically.

She smiled. “Good. Then, I don’t have to pretend like I don’t have a favorite like other grandmothers do.”

I sighed. “A book tree? Are you sure that’s a good idea? There isn’t much room is in here as it is.”

She waved away my concern. “Of course, it’s a good idea. A book tree will be just the thing to draw in holiday shoppers.” She started taking the largest volumes from her book cart and placed them in a circle that was five feet in diameter on the floor. She looked up at me. “Are you going to help or what?”

I shrugged. “I’ll help.” I didn’t have a choice, not really. Grandma Daisy was going to build a book tree whether I went along with the idea or not, and it was best that I helped so that the tree would be stable and didn’t crush any unsuspecting customers while they shopped.

Hours later, Grandma Daisy and I went outside of the shop. I carried Emerson in my arms, and Faulkner perched on her shoulder. Together, we admired our book tree. Grandma Daisy had been right. It was a good idea, and it could be seen all way from the street. Our little family of four stood there admiring the tree and the shop. It would be a very happy Christmas now that I was back where I belonged in Cascade Springs.

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Buy a mystery and help feed a community! Purchase any edition of Prose and Cons book, between now and Tuesday, December 20, 2016, and Amanda will donate $1 for every book sold to a food pantry, The Landing, located in Akron, Ohio. The Learned Owl is also making a $1 donation to the Landing for every copy the bookstore sells and is selling PERSONALIZED AND SIGNED copies of the novel. They can ship anywhere.

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Amanda Flower, a national bestselling and Agatha Award winning mystery author. She also writes mysteries as USA Today bestselling author Isabella Alan. In addition to being an author, Amanda is librarian in Northeast Ohio. Follow Amanda on Social Media at: Facebook Twitter Instagram