The Art of Discipline: Dani’s Discovery (The Mockingbird Chronicles) Read online

  * * *

  Dani sat in the lawyer’s office as the balding man in a wrinkled suit and Emma made small talk. She was still numb and only half paying attention to what they said. The service had been nice. Her uncle would have approved. By the amount of people who showed and shared, he was well-liked, and that had pleased Dani. Her own memories were just as fond.

  The night before, she’d had another nightmare and again had attributed it to stress, not that any of it mattered. In a few minutes, she’d find out the details of Uncle Sean’s will, and then she could deal with sorting out the store and his possessions before heading back to Chicago. All and all, she hoped to be home within a week.

  Turning her attention back to the conversation, she realized that the lawyer and Emma were both looking at her. “What?” she snapped.

  “Danielle, were you even listening?” Emma groaned.

  Dani shook her head. “No, sorry, what was it again?”

  Emma and the lawyer exchanged a look while the lawyer patiently read the first section of the will again. Dani sat for a moment, digesting the information. “You’re kidding right? Is this some kind of joke?”

  “I assure you, Ms. Ryan, your uncle was very clear on his wants and expectations, both for you and for the store.”

  She turned to look at Emma. “Did you know about this?” she demanded.

  “No,” Emma answered quietly, “but that’s the type of man Sean was, Dani.”

  “It’s Danielle,” Dani corrected again. “And don’t you think I know what kind of man he was?” she continued, narrowing her eyes at Emma. Not getting an answer, she huffed and threw herself back into her seat. Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm down. “Okay, tell me exactly what this means.”

  “It means that Emma is now the owner of her apartment free and clear, just as you now own Sean’s apartment. The two of you equally co-own the building the bookstore resides in and the bookstore itself,” the lawyer explained to Dani, watching as she slid lower into her chair before continuing.

  “There is a clause, however, that states if you do not want to stay and run the bookstore, that you may sell it to Emma for $1,000.00. If you choose to stay, then you may offer her your share after one year for a fair market price. There will be no outside sales of the bookstore for at least a year, and then, only if you both agree. Also, during the first year, Emma is to have the final say in the day to day operations of the bookstore itself.”

  Emma shook her head, “You’re sure about this, Roger? He really wanted me to have all this?”

  The lawyer nodded and handed the stunned woman a sealed envelope. “He said everything would be explained in here.” Smiling, he handed an identical envelope to Dani. “We can go over the deeds in a few days and get the ownership of the building and store transferred.”

  Emma stood, reaching out to shake the lawyer’s hand. “I’ll call you in the next few days. Thanks, Roger.”

  “My pleasure. I’m going to miss the old goat. He was a great friend.”

  Emma nodded in agreement before glancing at Dani who was still slouching in her chair. “Come on, Dani, we’d better get going. We need to discuss this new chain of events.”

  “I need to get back to my event and contact my attorney in Chicago.” Dani stood and tried to walk past Emma, but Emma put a hand on her arm, effectively stopping her.

  “I don’t want to keep you from your work, but you and I still need to talk, and we both need lunch. Your work and phone call can wait an hour or so.”

  Dani pulled her arm away and glared at the shorter woman, but Emma simply ignored her. Instead she addressed the lawyer. “You know how to reach me if anything comes up.”

  The man nodded. “Yes, Emma, I know how to reach you.”

  “Good,” Emma responded before turning back to meet a pair of steely-blue eyes. “Come on, Danielle. There is a little coffee shop around the corner, best sandwiches in town,” she explained, brushing by Dani and out the door.

  Dani blinked and then started after her. There was something about Emma that infuriated her, but there was something else that made her want to follow her to the very ends of the earth.

  * * *

  The women were sitting in a booth staring at each other. Dani was definitely on the defensive, with her arms folded across her chest. After a long moment, she leaned forward, resting her elbows on the edge of the table. “Despite the relationship you had with my uncle, that doesn’t give you the right to order me about like a child, Ms. Gray.”

  “Well then, I suggest you not throw tantrums like a child anymore, Danielle.” Emma took a sip of her water. “That display in Roger’s office was ridiculous, and as I said, we do need to talk about the will and what it means for us.”

  Dani sat back and nodded slowly. “I agree. We do need to discuss this. I want to know exactly how the bookstore is run and if it might be profitable to add or change anything there.”

  “I’d be happy to go over the books with you, Dani,” Emma paused as the waitress delivered their food. “However, before deciding to make any major changes to the store, I do think you should get to know how it’s run, as well as the community we serve.”

  “I’m not a novice at this. I understand the store. I spent every summer of my childhood there,” Dani replied picking at her sandwich. “My clients are just going to love that I’m stuck here rather than easily accessible in Chicago for the next year.”

  Green eyes flashed. “You don’t have to stay. I’d be happy to buy you out.”

  “I don’t think you understand, Ms. Gray. That bookstore is more than just a business. It’s part of me. I’m not going to just give it up.”

  “I think I understand more than you think I do,” Emma managed, giving her darker haired companion a small smile. “But you need to be sure. Keeping the store may mean giving up your life in Chicago. Are you sure you’re ready to do that?” Emma challenged. Taking a bite of her sandwich, she studied Dani, who continued her pouting.

  “No, I’m not sure, but Uncle Sean didn’t give me much of a choice, did he?” Dani responded shortly, stabbing a pickle with her fork.

  “If you aren’t going to eat your lunch, at least stop playing with it,” Emma directed before leaning back in the booth. “I’m sure we’ll be able to work something out if you want to continue your event planning from here. There has got to be a happy medium, and after all, it’s not as if we’re that far from Chicago.”

  Dani took a bite of her sandwich. “I suppose,” she responded.

  “Emma!” a tall, blond man with dark brown eyes called as he approached their table and slid into the booth next to Emma. “I am so sorry about Sean.”

  “Thanks, Jake,” Emma smiled softly as she motioned to Dani. “Danielle Ryan, I’d like you to meet Jake Braun. He and Uncle Sean used to play cards together every Tuesday night down at the lodge. Jake, this is Dani, Sean’s niece from Chicago.”

  The man smiled and shook hands with Dani. “So, you’re Liam’s kid? Sean was always talking about how proud he was of you.” He reached across the table to pat Dani’s hand. “I am sorry about your uncle. We all miss him.”

  Taken aback by the man’s words and familiarity, Dani looked at the table, only able to mutter a quiet, “Thank you,” before the man excused himself and left.

  “Finished?”

  Tossing her half-eaten sandwich back on her plate, Dani threw a couple of bills on the table. “Yeah, I’m done.”

  Taking a deep breath, Emma took the check to the front counter. Paying the bill, she watched as Dani slowly made her way to the door, making a show, as if waiting for her was the worst thing possible. Wondering just what type of upbringing Dani had, Emma thanked the cashier before exiting the restaurant with her new business partner.

  * * *

  “You want me to do what?” Dani asked indignantly. She hadn’t spent four years of her life in college to ring up book sales or stock shelves.

  Emma regarded Dani’s outburst coolly. “Please sit
down and stop yelling at me, Danielle.”

  At the tone of the words, Dani stopped short. No one spoke to her like that, and they certainly didn’t boss her around. Feeling incensed once again, she rounded on Emma. “I do not like being spoken to in that manner. I am not a child.”

  Emma sat back in the chair as she watched Dani’s dark hair swing across her shoulders. “Then stop the tantrum and sit down.” Her tone was even, and she waited patiently for Dani to do as she asked. “Danielle, please sit down, and I’ll explain myself.”

  “Fine,” Dani huffed throwing herself into the chair across from Emma.

  “Have you ever worked in a bookstore before?”

  “Of course. I told you, I spent much of my childhood here. Every summer, I helped Uncle Sean.”

  Emma smirked. “Did you ring up customers, answer the phone? What did you do?”

  Dani frowned. It had been a long time. Yes, she did help the customers, but she also was underfoot a lot. “I did a little of everything.”

  “Perfect,” Emma relayed. “Then this should be a good refresher for you.” Dani ground her teeth as Emma continued. “I know you think you know what’s going on, but ultimately it’s up to me to make sure that the store still running and being profitable. I’ve been doing this full time for many years now. A lot has changed in the last few years. If nothing else, you need to re-familiarize yourself with the store. Working here and doing the everyday tasks of making it run will allow you do that. Once you are more comfortable, then we can adjust things and see what works for us.”

  Blue eyes locked into green before Dani stood and walked across the office, pausing briefly to study a framed photo of her uncle and Emma at some sort of birthday party. “I suppose you have a point, but I still need to be able to work the events I am planning. I suppose I can do most things remotely, but it’s going to take some time to adjust.”

  “Of course,” Emma agreed. “We have Wi-Fi here in the store, and when we aren’t busy, you’re welcome work on them. That is, if you think you won’t be distracted.”

  “I’m sure I’ll be fine. Just show me what to do, and I’ll do it.”

  Emma smiled at the tall figure who was once again looking at her. “I’d be happy to show you what to do, Dani. If you’d follow me please…”

  * * *

  Dani sat behind the counter on a tall stool with her laptop on, but she was lost in thought as she stared at the old-fashioned register. Smiling, she remembered her uncle showing her how to use it when she was around seven or eight. Shaking the thoughts from her head quickly, she returned to the laptop, ignoring the customer at the other end of the counter.

  “Excuse me, miss,” the older lady by the newer register called in an attempt to get Dani’s attention. Having no luck, she smiled with relief when she noticed Emma come out from behind the stacks. “Emma, dear, I need to check out. Time to get to my yoga class, you know.”

  Emma quickly came to the counter and smiled. “Of course, Mrs. Pemberton. Didn’t Dani help you?”

  “Who, that girl on the computer? I tried to get her attention… repeatedly. She didn’t even notice me,” the woman explained.

  “I’m sorry, Mrs. Pemberton,” Emma said as she closed the laptop and pulled Dani from her stool. “This young woman is Danielle Ryan, Sean’s niece,” Emma continued to explain as she took Mrs. Pemberton’s credit card and rung her up.

  The older woman’s expression softened as she addressed Dani. “Oh, you poor dear, no wonder you didn’t see me, burying yourself in your work, I bet. We all loved Sean,” she paused as her brown eyes bored into Dani’s blue, “but next time, dear, please try to remember that some of us do have other places to be when you’re working the register.”

  “She’ll remember,” Emma reassured her, handing her the receipt as Mrs. Pemberton turned to leave the store.

  The moment the customer left, Dani glared at Emma. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? I was in the middle of something on my computer.”

  “I suggest you watch that tone with me, Danielle,” Emma began. “You were ignoring one of our best and nicest customers. That is not acceptable, and you will apologize to her the next time she comes into the store.”

  Cheeks flushing, Dani shook her head. “I will do no such thing. I was in the middle of something, and it wasn’t like she couldn’t wait a few more minutes…” she suddenly stopped her tirade as she noticed Emma’s green eyes flashing at her.

  “You do not make customers wait like that, Danielle.” Emma’s tone was even and controlled, but something about it made Dani uneasy. “I think you should go. Go on upstairs where you can finish whatever you were in the middle of. I’ll bring dinner, and we’ll discuss this tonight.”

  “We have nothing to discuss, Emma,” Dani said, picking up her laptop and quickly walking to the back of the store and up the stairs.

  “Oh yes we do,” Emma mumbled under her breath. Turning, she looked at a photo of herself and Sean taken during the town’s July 4th picnic the previous year. “Just what were you thinking, Sean? What were you thinking?”

  * * *

  Dani was on her third diet soda when she heard the knock on her door. Glancing up, she noticed the clock already read 6:30 p.m. “Damn,” she mumbled, “must be Emma with dinner.” Leaving her laptop on the kitchen table, she rose to open the door. Emma entered, placing a pizza on the kitchen counter. “I’ll get the plates. You can put the computer away and get the drinks tonight.”

  Temper flaring, Dani turned on her heel and quickly walked back to the kitchen. “I told you, we have nothing to discuss. Now take your dinner and go.”

  It was only then that Dani noticed the spark of anger in Emma’s eyes. “Turn off the computer and sit down, Danielle,” Emma repeated, placing a slice of pizza on each plate before setting them on the table. Tossing napkins in the middle of the table, she removed Dani’s soda and grabbed two bottled waters from the refrigerator and placing them on the table before she sat down.

  Emma said nothing as she waited for Dani to sit. Blue eyes met green but lowered before Dani sat back down at the table—without her computer.

  “Thank you.” Emma took a sip of her water before pulling her opened envelope from her pocket. “Have you read your letter from Uncle Sean yet?”

  Shaking her head, Dani took a small bite of pizza and resumed glaring at Emma.

  “Please get it and read it. I think we have more to discuss than I first thought.”

  “I’ll read it when I’m ready to; later, in private,” Dani emphasized the last word as she crossed her arms in front of her and continued to shoot dagger through her eyes at Emma.

  The redhead leaned across the table. “You’re acting like a child again. Now stop this and go get your letter,” Emma countered evenly.

  Dani tried to resist, but her eyes quickly darted to her purse, before fixating again on Emma. Dani stayed seated as Emma exhaled deeply, stood, and walked toward Dani’s purse. She didn’t ask permission before opening the purse and removing the letter. Placing it on the table, she slid it over to Dani, who looked at it like it was a snake that would strike her at any moment.

  “Stop being a brat and read the letter, Danielle,” Emma directed, “and maybe you should remember what Uncle Sean would have done to you if you were to act this way to him.”

  “I’m sure I have no idea what you’re talking about, Emma.” Long fingers pushed the letter back across the table. “Besides how would you know how Uncle Sean treated me?”

  Green eyes regarded her coolly. “I would know because I’ve been here with him on a daily basis for the last five, almost six years. The bookstore staff was like family to him, and he was like family to us as well.” Emma rose again and pushed the letter back toward Dani. “You and I are going to talk, but you need to read your letter first. I’ll be in the living room when you are ready.”

  Huffing, Dani sat for a long time before she succumbed to the need to rid herself of Emma and opened the envelope. As s
he read the letter, her eyes went wide at what it contained.

  My Dani,

  If you are reading this, you’ve met with my lawyer as well as Emma, and so you are aware of my wishes. I know you are probably a jumble of emotions right now, and I’m sure you’re confused and perhaps a little frightened, but don’t be. Although I’m gone and can no longer be with you, I was only thinking of you when I wrote my will.

  There have been two things in my life for which I have been the most proud: my store and you, Dani-girl. The store is just a thing, but you… you are my pride and joy, and there is nothing I wouldn’t have done for you. My only regret was that I couldn’t keep you with me full time when you were younger. When you were little and you’d ask me why, I’d tell you that it was complicated, and to be honest that is still the best answer. And so, why did I set things up this way? It’s complicated, but I hope in time you’ll understand.

  This brings me to Emma. Know first of all, that the bookstore is as much a part of her as it is a part of you. She may not have grown up in the store or with me, but she’s become an important part of my life. Give her a chance to become family to you the way that she has to me. You need someone in your life, Dani, and I’m giving you the gift of friendship with Emma.

  I know it won’t be easy for you, but I need you to try. I know your life in Chicago is important for you, but it’s also left something missing from your life. You need family, Dani, and you need to come home. I tried so many times to get you to come, but perhaps in death I can succeed where I failed in life. So, it is with that hope that I leave you with this: listen to Emma and allow her into your life. You are to follow her directives, at least within the confines of the store. She knows what she is doing, and I expect you to honor her wishes as if they were mine.