Chapter 14 - The Bookstore Shift
Thursday morning brought a return to our normal routines, providing a welcome anchor after the emotional whirlwind of my father’s visit. I dropped Iris off at *Page Turner Books*, the independent bookstore downtown where she had worked part-time throughout her senior year, before heading to my own logistics office. The shop was a warm, inviting haven filled with towering shelves of vintage paperbacks, the rich aroma of roasted coffee beans, and the quiet hum of classical music playing softly overhead. As Iris tied her green canvas apron around her waist behind the front counter, her manager, Sarah—a kind-hearted woman in her late forties who had become a surrogate mentor—walked out from the back office carrying a stack of new arrivals. “Morning, star student,” Sarah greeted with a warm smile, handing Iris the box of books. “How are the college preparations going? Did you sort out your dorm housing yet?” Iris smiled brightly, carefully unboxing the first stack of paperbacks and organizing them neatly on the display table. “All sorted, Sarah! I got the double room in Elm Hall, right near the quad. And my financial aid package cleared yesterday afternoon.” “That’s wonderful, sweetie,” Sarah said, leaning against the counter. “You know, your dad came by last week to pick up that book on academic scholarship strategies for you. He looked so proud, even if he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.” Iris paused, her hands resting on the spine of a biography. “He’s been carrying that weight for ten years,” she murmured softly. “Ever since Mom passed away. Everyone in our family always acted like we were just... surviving in the background while Sterling and Mason were the main event.” Sarah reached across the counter, placing her hand gently over Iris’s fingers. “Well, look around you, kiddo. You graduated with a 3.6 GPA, you earned your own scholarship, and you walked away from people who couldn't see your worth. Your dad didn't just save you from that terrible dinner; he showed you that your dignity isn't negotiable.” A soft, emotional smile touched Iris’s lips as she nodded in agreement. The bell above the front door chimed gently, signaling the arrival of the morning’s first customers—a group of regular readers looking for summer fiction. Iris squared her shoulders, stepped up to the cash register with effortless grace, and greeted them with a radiant, confident smile. She wasn't hiding anymore. She wasn't shrinking herself to make room for others. She was simply stepping into her own light, fully embracing every hard-earned victory along the way.
