After leaving the antique shop, Eleanor and Jackson followed Lilith down the street. Corrine remained a few steps behind them, but never far from Lilith’s side in the event that she was given a task or asked for something from her employer.
They turned into a quaint bookstore. Jackson immediately found a big comfortable chair and sat down with a magazine. Eleanor wondered if his am as bothering him more than he was letting on. He sat with his magazine in his lap and sipped at his coffee. Corrine took up watch by the front door, busily typing on her phone.
Eleanor decided to look around. She wandered through the narrow aisles and nearly tripped over a stack of books that had been left in the middle of an aisle. Eleanor looked up to see the teenager behind the counter reading a magazine and popping her gum obnoxiously.
She turned down another aisle, and stopped. At the end of the aisle was Lilith. She was standing in front of a large book display. It wasn’t until Eleanor got closer that she noticed that the book was written by L.M. Quinn. Lilith was looking at copies of her own book.
Eleanor stood beside Lilith, examining the book display. There were hundreds of copies of the latest book by L.M. Quinn.
“Does it feel weird?” Eleanor asked. “To be in a book store, seeing your own work on the shelf?”
Lilith nodded. “It’s not something I think I will ever get used to. It feels very surreal.”
“I can imagine.” Eleanor mused.
“I’m glad that the publisher went with my choice of cover, though. The ones they picked were hideous.” Lilith mused. She picked up the book and turned it over in her hands.
“Why did you choose to write under a pseudonym?” Eleanor asked.
Lilith shrugged. “I don’t know. The initials are mine, but the last name is not. It just made sense to me. I liked the mystery and the anonymity. But in the beginning, I think there was also a very real sense that I could completely fail at this. And in the beginning, I think I put up a wall between who I was and who this L.M. Quinn person was. And that made it easier to think that if L.M. Quinn failed, then I can still pick up the pieces and continue on.”
“But you didn’t fail. You’re world-renowned for your writing abilities.” Eleanor pointed out.
“Like I said before, I got lucky with this whole book writing thing. I could have been a colossal failure or I could have been a success. It was a fifty-fifty shot. I had no idea at the time how my writing career was going to turn out…” Lilith carefully placed the book back on the shelf.
“So why don’t you do any publicity? You could have done book tours, and autographs… you could get yourself out there and make more money…” Eleanor suggested.
The corner of Lilith’s mouth turned up in a slight smile. “I’m not interested in money… it has never been about the money. I like my anonymity. I like my privacy, and I like being able to go out in public without being swarmed like a celebrity.”
Eleanor nodded, understanding.
“Have you given any thought about what we talked about?” Lilith asked suddenly.
Eleanor took her time answering, slightly taken aback by the abruptness of her question. “I have been thinking about it a lot, actually. I still haven’t made a decision yet… It’s a huge, life changing decision. And I don’t want to take it lightly.”
“What does Jackson think you should do?” Lilith asked.
Eleanor drew in a deep breath. “He’ll support me in whatever I decided to do.” She said hesitantly. “But he thinks it’s a great idea. I’m not sure if he’s just thinking about money or what… but… it’s a hard choice for me. I can’t make the wrong choice here.”
“It would drastically change your life, I understand that.” Lilith nodded.
“I just… I want to make sure that I do the right thing here. You’re asking me to fill some very big shoes… and I’m just… not sure that I can do it.”
“I have every faith in you.” Lilith said. “I think you can do it. But I’ll give you all of my contacts. Send my publisher your manuscript and I’ll make sure that it is published.”
“I can’t ask you to do that.” Eleanor said.
“Its no inconvenience,” Lilith insisted. “I don’t mind at all. I’m just happy to help you in any way I can.”
“That’s very generous of you. But you’ve done so much already. You’ve flown us out here, you’ve given us money already. You’ve fed us and put us up in a beautiful little cottage…”
“You make it seem like I’ve done a lot for you, but I really haven’t.”
Lilith walked away from the book display. She wandered down an aisle, walking with purpose.
Eleanor frowned, and jogged to catch up with her. “Can I ask you something?”
“You can ask me anything.” Lilith answered.
“Why me? Why did you choose me? You could have had any ghostwriter in the country take over your legacy. And yet you asked me? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I am grateful that you asked me. But I’ve never even published a book. I’ve been writing the same book for five years now, and I’ve written nothing publishable ever. Just some silly stories that I don’t even let Jackson read…”
“I chose you because I know that you can do it. I know that you have the potential to be a great writer.” Lilith paused, and stopped walking. She turned to Eleanor. “I also chose you because you were the closest thing to a friend I ever had. I think you were the only friend I ever had. And that meant everything to me. It still means a lot to me. You and your friendship played a big part in shaping who I am, and who I became as a person. And I am grateful.”
Eleanor gaped at her. She had no idea what to say next. She was in shock.
Lilith continued walking, rounding a corner and disappearing out of sight. Eleanor could still hear the soft click of her heels on the carpet of the shop.
Eleanor frowned and followed Lilith. She found that Lilith had already made her way to the front of the store. She was talking to Jackson and Corrine. Jackson was nodding.
“Ellie, we were just discussing lunch, what do you think?” Jackson asked.
“Sounds good to me. Are we going back to the manor or are we going to find a place here to have lunch?” Eleanor asked.
“I know a great local place.” Lilith answered. “Just a few shops down.”
“Great.” Jackson said. “I’m starving.”
“So what else is new?” Eleanor teased, rolling her eyes.
The four of them left the bookstore and started down the street. Eleanor watched the people who past, noticing that a few people would turn to look at Lilith. Even without being a celebrity, she had a certain presence around her. Eleanor noted that with her designer clothes, handbags and high heels Lilith stood out, and people noticed. It didn’t hurt that Lilith was tall and beautiful.
Corrine walked ahead quickly and reached the restaurant first. She held open the door for Lilith, who stepped inside without missing a step. Eleanor went inside second and Jackson followed.
The restaurant was small, but quaint. It was nicely decorated. The tables were covered in crisp white table cloths.
“Hello, Miss Grey!” a man approached with both his hands out.
Lilith extended her hand to him, and he clasped it tightly between his two hands. “Zeke, how are you?”
“I am well, Miss Grey! Are you here for lunch?” He asked. “I have my best table in the house for you.” He spoke in a thick accent that Eleanor was unable to place.
“We are, thank you, Zeke.” She said, dropping her hand.
“Right this way!” the man announced. “Welcome to my restaurant. Here you will receive the best service. Any friend of Miss Grey is a friend of mine.” He led them to a private table near the back of the restaurant.
Zeke pulled out a chair for Lilith, who politely sat and thanked him. Seeing this, Jackson pulled out a chair for Eleanor. He sat next to Eleanor. Corrine and Lilith were sitting directly across from them.
Once the owner of the restaurant had finished fussing over Lilith, he left them alone with menus. Eleanor opened her menu and could hardly focus on the menu items, she could only see the prices. The prices were outlandish for such a small restaurant in such a small town.
“Excuse me, please. I’m just going to wash my hands.” Lilith sighed, standing from the table.
Jackson let out a low whistle. “Forty bucks for a hamburger?”
“Seventeen dollars for a side salad.” Eleanor pointed out.
Corrine looked up from her own menu. “Don’t worry about the price. Lilith always pays for meals.” She assured them. “Order whatever you wish.”
Eleanor looked at Jackson who shrugged and grinned. “Overly expensive hamburger it is then.” He mused.
Eleanor looked back down at her menu again, trying to decide on something to eat.
Lilith returned and sat down at her place at the table. The restaurant owner immediately arrived with a bottle of white wine for the table.
“Will you be having the usual, Miss Grey?” The restaurant owner asked.
Eleanor noticed that Lilith had not opened her menu.
Lilith nodded. “I will, thank you.” She handed her menu back to the restaurant owner.
The owner went around the table and poured glasses of wine, and took everyone’s order before he disappeared with a promise to return very shortly.