The Book Shop - Chapter Five
Title: The Book Shop
Author: bsgroxmysox
Rating: T
Word Count: 2200
Summary: Since the decommissioning of the Battlestar Galactica, Laura Roslin's life has changed dramatically. Now it's time for her to move to a new town and make another change. Will the support from a familiar face and a new friend help her get back on her feet?
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters just borrowing them for a little fun
Thank you bsg_aussiegirl for the beta!
*
The murmurs around the shop filled Laura’s heart with pride. She had done it. There were four of five people milling around the shop already this morning. One woman had already swapped a book in the Book Swap section and another man was holding at least three romance novels (which unfortunately made it difficult not to imagine him reading about heaving bosoms and well-hung stable boys).
She conceded she was still barely making ends meet with the shop, but it was a far sight better than when it had first opened. There was always at least one person in every day, even if they were just there for the free books just yet.
A squeal of excitement broke through her thoughts and she looked down at the young girl beside her. Abbie grinned up at her and held a sheet of paper she had been doing her homework on up to Laura.
“I finished. Did I get it right, Laura?”
Laura glanced at the page, running the figures over in her head until she beamed at the young girl in front of her, praising her for such good work.
“You can head home now and show your Mum how all the hard work paid off, okay?”
The young girl gave Laura a quick hug, climbed down from her chair and, with her bag dragging along the floor behind her, ran to the shop door.
She had been helping Abbie with her math homework after school as well as helping young Brian, the dry cleaners’ son, with his English work on the weekends.
Between running the shop and the extra time she spent helping the kids, she hadn’t spent much time with Bill since the beach cookout for the town’s anniversary. It had become a turning point in Laura’s life in Realta Coast. And the Mayor’s snide comments earned him a drop in the polls as his opponent, Jacob Cantrell, surged ahead.
Her relationship with Bill had changed that night. He had kissed her. She’d kissed him back. And it had been amazing.
She wanted to kiss him again. She couldn’t stop thinking about his taste, and the feel of his hand twisted in her hair.
The first time she had seen him since that night was at the launch of the Book Swap. He was positively beaming when the first person walked through the door, placed their tattered book on the shelf, and took one of the old novels Bill had supplied. There had been a steady flow of people into the shop that day, unfortunately not many buying books, but they were there and that was a start.
Bill sat beside her for most of the day and between customers she’d taken the opportunity to ask him questions about his life. He had learned so much about her, it was only fair that they level the playing field. She’d giggled at his stories of early parenthood, felt breathless at the tales of the young Viper pilot, and choked back tears when he talked about the devastating loss of his son.
Late in the day he’d reached out to hold her hand. Just as his fingers were about to wrap around hers, she caught a glimpse of gold on his ring finger.
She’d recoiled from his touch.
Their eyes met, hers wide and panicked, his swimming with confusion and hurt.
Finally, he’d pulled himself together, but his gaze became cold before he moved away and started a conversation with one of the customers at the far end of the shop.
Soon after he’d left, pausing briefly to glance over his shoulder at her once more. Her throat had felt dry as soon as he’d left. She found it difficult to talk to anyone for the rest of the day. Her mind raced; replaying the scene over and over in her head.
The gold band had been glinting up at her; mocking her. It reminded too much of her relationship with Richard. She closed her eyes now, remembering the feeling of cool metal against her skin when they made love.
Bill had been back to the shop twice since. Both times they’d managed to be polite but distant. They’d chatted about how her business was going. They’d discussed the campaign promises of Cantrell. Bill told her about his upcoming trip to Leonis to see his son.
Then, this morning, on her usual walk of the town, she had seen him putting his bags into a taxi. He had been glancing around, patting his pockets to check he had everything, when he saw her. She smiled self-consciously and raised her hand to wave. He nodded in response and slid into the backseat.
She knew now that when Bill returned from Leonis she was going to have to talk to him. She needed to make things right between them. She needed her friend back.
*
“Emily, it looks amazing.”
“Well, you helped.” Her friend blushed beside her, despite her modesty.
They were both staring at the newest cake invention of the Kowalski Bakery. It had a chocolate brownie center and delicious grey icing covering the entire surface. It was a miniature replica of the Battlestar Galactica. Emily had even managed to make smaller brownies in the shape of Vipers that surrounded the great ship.
“He’ll love it, Laura.”
“He better. This is the last time I’m apologising to him.”
Laura picked up the red icing tube and began to work on writing letters on the hull of the ship.
“You know before I moved here I would never have apologised, especially with something like this.”
“You’re maturing in your old age?”
“Watch who you call old!”
They heard a cry from the back of the bakery.
“Abbie! Susan! What’s going on?” Emily called, going to check on the girls.
“Damn!” Laura cursed as she stumbled a little on the ‘S’, making it appear a little wonky.
She slowed down, gliding in a circle to create the perfect ‘O’ on the cake’s surface. Now came the difficult part.
“Godsdammit! Why does the letter ‘R’ have to be so difficult,” she muttered to herself.
“I blame the Cylons.”
Laura jumped at the unexpected but not unfamiliar voice.
“Bill...” she whispered, astonished. “I wasn’t expecting you back until later today.”
“I have some guests coming tomorrow and I wanted to get a few things together. Maybe tidy up the house before they get here.”
“Oh.”
They stood staring at each other, not realising red icing dripped from the tube onto Laura’s shoes.
“Is Mrs. Kowalski around? Or...”
“No. I mean, yes. She’s just out back checking on the girls.” She gestured to the shelves of baked delights behind her. “Do you need something?”
“Just some bread rolls.” He shifted awkwardly on the balls of his feet and clasped his hands in front of him.
“Of course. Let me just...”
She placed the icing tube carefully on the counter, wiped her hands against her apron and grabbed a paper bag to put the fresh bread into for him.
“That’s a very nice looking cake.”
“It’s for you.”
“I don’t think so. It looks like it’s for “I’m Sor”?”
“No, I just hadn’t finished it.”
“Are you sure, because I don’t want the sloppy seconds. If it’s not good enough for “I’m Sor”, then it’s not good enough for me.”
“It’s an apology cake, Bill. Either you want it or you don’t.”
His teasing had brought a smile to her face and she felt any tension melt away as they fell back into an easy camaraderie.
“Well, if that’s the case then I’d love to take it. And, for the record, I’m Sor too.”
She handed him the bag of bread and frowned. “Bill, you have nothing to be sorry for.”
“I moved too fast. Pushed you too soon.”
“No.” She sighed. “If only it was that simple.”
She came around the counter and grasped his free hand in both of hers. Her fingers toyed with the gold band which had started this whole mess.
“I saw this, when you reached for my hand the other day, and I panicked. All I could think was that you were another Adar.”
She could see he was about to interrupt and her right hand moved to his lips, silencing him.
“Whatever happened between you and me, was nothing like what happened with him. And I don’t know why I thought of it, and I’m sorry I pulled away. Can we go back to that night outside your house? Pretend that day in the book shop never happened?”
He grinned. “Go back to that night, huh?”
Her hand slid to cup his cheek.
“Yeah.”
She stared at his lips. She could almost taste him and it was driving her mad.
Slowly, he lowered his head toward her.
“Thanks for that, Laura! They’re fine now, I just--”
Emily stopped in the doorway of the bakery shop.
Bill and Laura jumped apart but it was obvious that they had been caught. Or almost caught. They hadn’t managed to get to the good part yet.
“Oh, I’m interrupting. I can always go back and check on the girls again--”
“No, Mrs. Kowalski. It’s fine. I was just on my way home. Thank you for the fine cake.”
“You’re very welcome, Commander.”
“I’m afraid I can’t carry it back to the house with my bags.”
Bill pointed to the two duffel bags that sat at the entrance to the bakery.
“I can deliver it to you later. When I’ve closed the book shop,” Laura volunteered quickly.
“Thank you,” Bill replied softly, his eyes boring through her.
“It’ll be my pleasure.”
Bill smiled at both women and gathered his bags together. He thanked them both once more and left them alone. It wasn’t until he had passed the window and was certainly out of earshot before the silence was broken.
“If I interrupted what I think I interrupted it will most definitely be your pleasure tonight!”
Emily dodged the icing tube Laura threw at her.
*
Bill had dinner waiting that night when Laura arrived.
He served the meal on the deck which surrounded the beach side of the house. A light breeze played through the air as they dined, Laura’s hair rustling into what she could only imagine was a rebellious curly mess. Every now and then Bill’s hand would stretch across the table to brush strands away from her face and Laura could feel herself blush every time he did it.
“When did you decide to become a teacher?” he asked.
“My mother was a teacher. I remember how much she loved it; how much the students loved her.”
“So you followed in her footsteps.”
“Yes I suppose I did. Not so dissimilar to your boys going into the military.”
“Hmm...I suppose. Although Lee and I had a long talk while I was visiting him. He wants to muster out.”
“Really? What will he do?”
“Law school.” He almost spat the words out and she had to force herself not to smile at his petty tone.
“Your father was a lawyer, wasn’t he?”
“Yes, but I already told you we didn’t get along.”
“Like grandfather, like son, perhaps?”
“Perhaps,” he grumbled, using his fork to push what remained of his food around the plate.
He wore an adorable pout and Laura tried to hold back a smirk at his petulant childlike behaviour.
“Why did you not go back to teaching? Why come here and open the shop?”
Laura smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
“A former drug addict and adulterer is not exactly the best role model for kids. No Board of Education on any of the Colonies would have approved my appointment as a teacher anywhere.”
“So you moved on to your next love--books.”
“Exactly.”
She smiled again, this time it was genuine.
Another gentle breeze blew past and Laura couldn’t resist standing up and walking to edge of the deck. Leaning gently on the railing, she left the light wind brush the hair from her face and stir the hem of her dress around her knees. Behind her she could hear Bill moving about, gathering the dishes to take inside.
When the first few notes of the music he had turned on reached her ears she smiled, closing her eyes and swaying in time with the beat of the song and the breeze surrounding her. Next, two strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind, coming to rest on her stomach and Bill hummed along with the music.
“You are quite the charmer, Commander.”
“Only when I want to be, Madam Secretary.”
“You read great books, cook a great meal, and you apparently work out,” she mused as her fingers delicately traced the skin of the arms around her.
“And I can dance.”
Bill’s hand caught one of hers midway on its exploration and twirled her around to face him. He brought them closer together; chest to chest, cheek to cheek; and began to sway them in time to music, all the while humming, and occasionally singing, along.
“Definitely a charmer,” she muttered, allowing herself to be swept away in the feelings this man evoked in her.
* Next Chapter >
< Previous Chapter
Author: bsgroxmysox
Rating: T
Word Count: 2200
Summary: Since the decommissioning of the Battlestar Galactica, Laura Roslin's life has changed dramatically. Now it's time for her to move to a new town and make another change. Will the support from a familiar face and a new friend help her get back on her feet?
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters just borrowing them for a little fun
Thank you bsg_aussiegirl for the beta!
*
The murmurs around the shop filled Laura’s heart with pride. She had done it. There were four of five people milling around the shop already this morning. One woman had already swapped a book in the Book Swap section and another man was holding at least three romance novels (which unfortunately made it difficult not to imagine him reading about heaving bosoms and well-hung stable boys).
She conceded she was still barely making ends meet with the shop, but it was a far sight better than when it had first opened. There was always at least one person in every day, even if they were just there for the free books just yet.
A squeal of excitement broke through her thoughts and she looked down at the young girl beside her. Abbie grinned up at her and held a sheet of paper she had been doing her homework on up to Laura.
“I finished. Did I get it right, Laura?”
Laura glanced at the page, running the figures over in her head until she beamed at the young girl in front of her, praising her for such good work.
“You can head home now and show your Mum how all the hard work paid off, okay?”
The young girl gave Laura a quick hug, climbed down from her chair and, with her bag dragging along the floor behind her, ran to the shop door.
She had been helping Abbie with her math homework after school as well as helping young Brian, the dry cleaners’ son, with his English work on the weekends.
Between running the shop and the extra time she spent helping the kids, she hadn’t spent much time with Bill since the beach cookout for the town’s anniversary. It had become a turning point in Laura’s life in Realta Coast. And the Mayor’s snide comments earned him a drop in the polls as his opponent, Jacob Cantrell, surged ahead.
Her relationship with Bill had changed that night. He had kissed her. She’d kissed him back. And it had been amazing.
She wanted to kiss him again. She couldn’t stop thinking about his taste, and the feel of his hand twisted in her hair.
The first time she had seen him since that night was at the launch of the Book Swap. He was positively beaming when the first person walked through the door, placed their tattered book on the shelf, and took one of the old novels Bill had supplied. There had been a steady flow of people into the shop that day, unfortunately not many buying books, but they were there and that was a start.
Bill sat beside her for most of the day and between customers she’d taken the opportunity to ask him questions about his life. He had learned so much about her, it was only fair that they level the playing field. She’d giggled at his stories of early parenthood, felt breathless at the tales of the young Viper pilot, and choked back tears when he talked about the devastating loss of his son.
Late in the day he’d reached out to hold her hand. Just as his fingers were about to wrap around hers, she caught a glimpse of gold on his ring finger.
She’d recoiled from his touch.
Their eyes met, hers wide and panicked, his swimming with confusion and hurt.
Finally, he’d pulled himself together, but his gaze became cold before he moved away and started a conversation with one of the customers at the far end of the shop.
Soon after he’d left, pausing briefly to glance over his shoulder at her once more. Her throat had felt dry as soon as he’d left. She found it difficult to talk to anyone for the rest of the day. Her mind raced; replaying the scene over and over in her head.
The gold band had been glinting up at her; mocking her. It reminded too much of her relationship with Richard. She closed her eyes now, remembering the feeling of cool metal against her skin when they made love.
Bill had been back to the shop twice since. Both times they’d managed to be polite but distant. They’d chatted about how her business was going. They’d discussed the campaign promises of Cantrell. Bill told her about his upcoming trip to Leonis to see his son.
Then, this morning, on her usual walk of the town, she had seen him putting his bags into a taxi. He had been glancing around, patting his pockets to check he had everything, when he saw her. She smiled self-consciously and raised her hand to wave. He nodded in response and slid into the backseat.
She knew now that when Bill returned from Leonis she was going to have to talk to him. She needed to make things right between them. She needed her friend back.
*
“Emily, it looks amazing.”
“Well, you helped.” Her friend blushed beside her, despite her modesty.
They were both staring at the newest cake invention of the Kowalski Bakery. It had a chocolate brownie center and delicious grey icing covering the entire surface. It was a miniature replica of the Battlestar Galactica. Emily had even managed to make smaller brownies in the shape of Vipers that surrounded the great ship.
“He’ll love it, Laura.”
“He better. This is the last time I’m apologising to him.”
Laura picked up the red icing tube and began to work on writing letters on the hull of the ship.
“You know before I moved here I would never have apologised, especially with something like this.”
“You’re maturing in your old age?”
“Watch who you call old!”
They heard a cry from the back of the bakery.
“Abbie! Susan! What’s going on?” Emily called, going to check on the girls.
“Damn!” Laura cursed as she stumbled a little on the ‘S’, making it appear a little wonky.
She slowed down, gliding in a circle to create the perfect ‘O’ on the cake’s surface. Now came the difficult part.
“Godsdammit! Why does the letter ‘R’ have to be so difficult,” she muttered to herself.
“I blame the Cylons.”
Laura jumped at the unexpected but not unfamiliar voice.
“Bill...” she whispered, astonished. “I wasn’t expecting you back until later today.”
“I have some guests coming tomorrow and I wanted to get a few things together. Maybe tidy up the house before they get here.”
“Oh.”
They stood staring at each other, not realising red icing dripped from the tube onto Laura’s shoes.
“Is Mrs. Kowalski around? Or...”
“No. I mean, yes. She’s just out back checking on the girls.” She gestured to the shelves of baked delights behind her. “Do you need something?”
“Just some bread rolls.” He shifted awkwardly on the balls of his feet and clasped his hands in front of him.
“Of course. Let me just...”
She placed the icing tube carefully on the counter, wiped her hands against her apron and grabbed a paper bag to put the fresh bread into for him.
“That’s a very nice looking cake.”
“It’s for you.”
“I don’t think so. It looks like it’s for “I’m Sor”?”
“No, I just hadn’t finished it.”
“Are you sure, because I don’t want the sloppy seconds. If it’s not good enough for “I’m Sor”, then it’s not good enough for me.”
“It’s an apology cake, Bill. Either you want it or you don’t.”
His teasing had brought a smile to her face and she felt any tension melt away as they fell back into an easy camaraderie.
“Well, if that’s the case then I’d love to take it. And, for the record, I’m Sor too.”
She handed him the bag of bread and frowned. “Bill, you have nothing to be sorry for.”
“I moved too fast. Pushed you too soon.”
“No.” She sighed. “If only it was that simple.”
She came around the counter and grasped his free hand in both of hers. Her fingers toyed with the gold band which had started this whole mess.
“I saw this, when you reached for my hand the other day, and I panicked. All I could think was that you were another Adar.”
She could see he was about to interrupt and her right hand moved to his lips, silencing him.
“Whatever happened between you and me, was nothing like what happened with him. And I don’t know why I thought of it, and I’m sorry I pulled away. Can we go back to that night outside your house? Pretend that day in the book shop never happened?”
He grinned. “Go back to that night, huh?”
Her hand slid to cup his cheek.
“Yeah.”
She stared at his lips. She could almost taste him and it was driving her mad.
Slowly, he lowered his head toward her.
“Thanks for that, Laura! They’re fine now, I just--”
Emily stopped in the doorway of the bakery shop.
Bill and Laura jumped apart but it was obvious that they had been caught. Or almost caught. They hadn’t managed to get to the good part yet.
“Oh, I’m interrupting. I can always go back and check on the girls again--”
“No, Mrs. Kowalski. It’s fine. I was just on my way home. Thank you for the fine cake.”
“You’re very welcome, Commander.”
“I’m afraid I can’t carry it back to the house with my bags.”
Bill pointed to the two duffel bags that sat at the entrance to the bakery.
“I can deliver it to you later. When I’ve closed the book shop,” Laura volunteered quickly.
“Thank you,” Bill replied softly, his eyes boring through her.
“It’ll be my pleasure.”
Bill smiled at both women and gathered his bags together. He thanked them both once more and left them alone. It wasn’t until he had passed the window and was certainly out of earshot before the silence was broken.
“If I interrupted what I think I interrupted it will most definitely be your pleasure tonight!”
Emily dodged the icing tube Laura threw at her.
*
Bill had dinner waiting that night when Laura arrived.
He served the meal on the deck which surrounded the beach side of the house. A light breeze played through the air as they dined, Laura’s hair rustling into what she could only imagine was a rebellious curly mess. Every now and then Bill’s hand would stretch across the table to brush strands away from her face and Laura could feel herself blush every time he did it.
“When did you decide to become a teacher?” he asked.
“My mother was a teacher. I remember how much she loved it; how much the students loved her.”
“So you followed in her footsteps.”
“Yes I suppose I did. Not so dissimilar to your boys going into the military.”
“Hmm...I suppose. Although Lee and I had a long talk while I was visiting him. He wants to muster out.”
“Really? What will he do?”
“Law school.” He almost spat the words out and she had to force herself not to smile at his petty tone.
“Your father was a lawyer, wasn’t he?”
“Yes, but I already told you we didn’t get along.”
“Like grandfather, like son, perhaps?”
“Perhaps,” he grumbled, using his fork to push what remained of his food around the plate.
He wore an adorable pout and Laura tried to hold back a smirk at his petulant childlike behaviour.
“Why did you not go back to teaching? Why come here and open the shop?”
Laura smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
“A former drug addict and adulterer is not exactly the best role model for kids. No Board of Education on any of the Colonies would have approved my appointment as a teacher anywhere.”
“So you moved on to your next love--books.”
“Exactly.”
She smiled again, this time it was genuine.
Another gentle breeze blew past and Laura couldn’t resist standing up and walking to edge of the deck. Leaning gently on the railing, she left the light wind brush the hair from her face and stir the hem of her dress around her knees. Behind her she could hear Bill moving about, gathering the dishes to take inside.
When the first few notes of the music he had turned on reached her ears she smiled, closing her eyes and swaying in time with the beat of the song and the breeze surrounding her. Next, two strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind, coming to rest on her stomach and Bill hummed along with the music.
“You are quite the charmer, Commander.”
“Only when I want to be, Madam Secretary.”
“You read great books, cook a great meal, and you apparently work out,” she mused as her fingers delicately traced the skin of the arms around her.
“And I can dance.”
Bill’s hand caught one of hers midway on its exploration and twirled her around to face him. He brought them closer together; chest to chest, cheek to cheek; and began to sway them in time to music, all the while humming, and occasionally singing, along.
“Definitely a charmer,” she muttered, allowing herself to be swept away in the feelings this man evoked in her.
* Next Chapter >
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