The Art of Discipline: Dani’s Discovery (The Mockingbird Chronicles) (3 page)

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 4
^th
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 she 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.

If this is too much for you, then leave and allow her to buy you out. But I hope that you will not run away from this opportunity. I think if you give it a chance, you’ll be surprised. After the year, if you still wish to leave, then I would understand. I would be proud of you for trying. It was never my intention to trap or weigh you down, only to give you a system of support to help you continue your own life journey.

I’ll leave you with this final thought: behave and be brave, for life is full of hard choices. I’m no longer there to guide you, Dani, but remember, I didn’t leave you alone.

All my love,

Uncle Sean

“He’s kidding, he must be kidding,” she mumbled. All bravado was gone as she looked toward Emma, who was reading one of the old books piled on the end table. Shaking her head once more, she pushed the thought aside as she worked up courage to face the little dynamo once again.

“It’s not like I’m clueless with the store. I did work here when I visited in the summers,” Dani announced, entering the living area and taking a seat across from Emma.

Emma closed her book. “So you keep saying, but I know he wanted to make sure that everything continued to run smoothly.” She then moved over so she was next to Dani and placed her hand gently on Dani knee before continuing. “We’ll be fine working together, Dani. You and I will work out what needs to be done. Just remember that I have the final say.”

“I’m not used to collaborating with anyone in my work. Not like this.”

“Well, this isn’t your work. It’s mine, and you need to figure out how you fit here.”

“I’ll fit just fine, thank you. I’m sure if I can plan an event for 500 guests, I can figure out what makes a bookstore run.”

A small smirk played at the corner of Emma’s mouth. “I’m sure you can. You’ll be family in no time.” She then stood up and walked to the door. “Oh, and Danielle, if you ever treat another customer the way you treated Mrs. Pemberton today, I’ll deal with you the same way Uncle Sean dealt with me the first and last time I did something like that.”

Standing, Dani frowned in confusion. “Oh, and what was that?”

Smirking outright this time, Emma kept Dani’s gaze. “I’ll take you over my knee and spank you.” Opening the door, Emma left as Dani’s chin dropped.

Grabbing a pillow off the sofa, Dani flung it across the room. “Just who does she think she is?” she shouted to no one in particular.

* * *

Emma sat with her feet tucked under her, one hand absently petting Atticus as she re-read Sean’s letter to her.

My Dear Emmy,

I know by now that you’ve met with Roger and are probably still in shock about my wishes regarding you and the bookstore. Believe me, I knew exactly what I was doing when I wrote my will.

I’m sure by now that you’ve also met my niece, Dani. As you can see, I think she’ll benefit from some loving guidance from you. She has potential, Emmy, not just for her role in the bookstore, but for so much more. Let her know this, and don’t let her get away with anything. She’ll try, believe me, but she’s a smart girl and needs to have someone help her find herself before she turns into a copy of her grandparents.

You’ve been a wonderful ‘niece’ to me, Emmy. Remember that I love you.

Love,

Uncle Sean

P.S. If you need a little help in working with Dani, remember what I put in the top left-hand drawer of your desk in the office. Use it wisely.

Folding the letter, Emma placed it back in the envelope and then rose to put it in her favorite book on the bookshelf next to her TV. Returning to the couch, she pulled Atticus onto her lap and cried silent tears into his fur.

Chapter Two

Dani groaned. It was her third day working in the bookstore, and she was already bored out of her mind. She tried working on her laptop, but even it wasn’t able to hold her attention. It wasn’t even 5:00 p.m. yet, and she felt as if her brain were slowly wasting away. Emma had told her that their employees were coming in after work, and for that distraction she was grateful. She had met them in passing during work and briefly at the funeral, but she hadn’t really had the chance to get to know anyone yet.

They seemed nice enough, but only time would tell. She only hoped that they turned out to be friendlier than Emma. Already Emma had found fault with the way Dani stacked books, ordered items, rang up customers, and closed up shop for the night. If it was anywhere but her uncle’s store, she’d probably have sold and hightailed it back to Chicago on the second day.

“Dani, have you gone over the invoices for the mysteries we ordered?”

Dani rolled her eyes and turned from her spot dusting the shelves to glare at Emma. The redhead was wearing a dark pair of jeans and a jade-green blouse that matched her eyes. Shaking her head at her co-owner’s rather casual appearance, Dani’s retort was stopped when the bell on the door jingled and their employees entered en masse. Stevie, the tall blonde, led the group, her arms carrying three pizza boxes. Behind her, the slightly shorter raven-haired woman, Anna, was carrying paper plates and napkins. She was followed by the teenager, Will, his short blond curls bouncing about and framing his face as he carried in the drinks.

“Dinner is served, ladies,” the young man announced as he set the drinks down on the checkout counter before turning and locking the door. Flipping the open sign to closed, he picked the drinks back up and headed up to the crow’s nest.