Lizzy's Story: Paige's Pages, #1

By Jo Carey

Lizzy Tremont is one of the young entrepreneurs trying to breathe new life into her hometown.  She owns the Sip and Dip Coffee Shop and her BFF owns the bookstore down the block, Paige's Pages.

When Paige brings a French Chef to town for a week of culinary events to promote his cookbook, she never expected it would help her friend find the recipe for her happily-ever-after.
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jo Carey
• Release date: Apr 20, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393913269

Jo Carey

Jo Carey grew up in the Midwest but her curiosity and gypsy-spirit has kept her on the move. She's lived in eight US states and spent three years living in Ireland. She has always loved creature movies, so creatures and bugs often show up in her books. Jo, a former information security compliance guru, writes fast-paced, character-driven stories in a variety of genres from medical thrillers to space operas and cozy mysteries. Her novels are filled with humor, romance, and sometimes creatures or aliens, or maybe even all of the above. She often builds her stories around a strong female lead character surrounded by plenty of hunky male heroes. Jo's been under fire on a golf course and climbed out the roof of an elevator in the Netherlands. Life hasn't been boring. Now residing in Texas, setting often plays a huge role in her stories. Jo was intrigued by the League of Planetary Systems, a world her husband, Frank, created for his science fiction books, and she now writes mysteries and other types of tales sets in that world. Jo was bitten by a cat, a fire ant, and a snake, before succumbing to the bite of the writing bug.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Good morning, Paige Lizzy said as Paige slipped off her coat and put it over the back of the chair. I'll grab my coffee and then you can tell me all about your date with Roger the dentist.

Paige checked the time on her phone and took a sip of her cafe mocha. She licked the whipped cream off her lip just as Lizzy sat down at the table. You first, Paige said. How did you spend your Friday night?

Lizzy opened her laptop and opened a file before turning the screen to face Paige.

What am I looking at? Paige asked.

The new menu I'm working on for Plates. The page had headings for Starters, Soups, Salads, Entrees, Sandwiches, and Desserts. The rest of the document was blank.

It looks like you're making progress, Paige said. You decided to go with ‘Starters’ instead of ‘Appetizers.’

For now. So how was your date?

Paige picked up her go-cup and sipped. It wasn't, Paige said.

Wasn't what?

Wasn't a date. Dr. Roger Wyman made that quite clear when he spent the entire meal talking about how helpful it would be if he could expand his practice into the space currently occupied by Paige's Pages and then asked me to cover my half of the check.

Oh. Sorry.

Hey, at least he was honest. That means he wasn't the worst date I've had.

Is he still trying to convince you to relocate the bookstore to the old lodge on the edge of town?

Apparently, if I cared about the dental health of the citizens of Newlyn, I'd already be packing boxes.

Do you think he's taking Herb Bradley out to dinner and strong-arming him too? Lizzy asked.

Paige laughed. Herb Bradley is the retired Marine who owns Newlyn Hardware on the north side of the dental office. Maybe I should warn Herb.

Or at least tell him to let you know when and where they're having dinner so we can be there to watch the fireworks.

After making plans to get together later in the week, Paige took her large mocha with extra whipped cream and headed for her bookstore down the block, Paige's Pages.

She unlocked the door, ducked inside, and locked the door behind her. It was still almost an hour before the store opened. Paige walked through to the small office in the back and hung her purse and coat on the hook on the back of the door and opened her laptop on the desk. After checking inventory and placing a book order from her supplier, she opened the event calendar and saw that it was empty for the week. That was the area where she felt like she was missing an opportunity.

Paige loved books. When she was able to use a small inheritance from her grandmother's will to start Paige's Pages, it was a dream come true. Five years on, business was good but not great. Paige firmly believed that hard work would pay off, but she wasn't content to wait forever.

Her alarm sounded reminding her it was time to open the store. She unlocked the front door, turned the sign to Open, and headed for the business section. Maybe Roger was right. Maybe her success was being limited by the small amount of floor space. On the other hand, Paige had heard stories of business that folded because they tried to expand too quickly.

Hi, Charlotte. I like the purple, Paige said. Charlotte worked the late shift at the store. She came in at one most days so Paige could take a lunch break. Business usually picked up late in the afternoon on weekdays as mothers came in with their children or people stopped by on their way home from work.

I saw a recommendation for the new Cynthia Wade book in the Book Boyfriends series, if you're looking for something fun to read while you eat.

Cynthia Wade's current series of books was set in a small-town bookstore not so different from Paige's Pages. Both Paige and Charlotte enjoyed reading about the romantic challenges faced by Meredith Burton, the books' heroine. They often made comparisons between things that happened in the books and incidents and customers at Paige's Pages.

It's already waiting in my desk drawer, Paige said as she headed back to her office.

After spending her morning looking for information that might help her decide whether she should consider expansion, it was good to lose herself in the fictional world of Love between the Pages.

Who would have thought the answer to her expansion dilemma would be found in a romance novel. She read the passage a second time. That's it. That's what I've been looking for, Paige thought.

She picked up her phone and made a call before heading back out into the shop.

CHAPTER TWO

Want to grab dinner after? Lizzy asked as she reached around Paige to accept the glass of wine the bartender was holding out for her.

That would be good, Paige said. I have an idea I want to run past you.

Despite Lizzy prodding Paige for hints about her idea, they quickly got caught up in the discussion of ideas to improve business traffic in Newlyn. Like many small towns, the population had been in a steady decline for decades. Several young entrepreneurs like Lizzy, Paige, and their friend Mark had opened businesses along Newlyn's Main Street in the past few years, and they were actively involved in the community.

After the usual business of reading the minutes of the last meeting, various committee reports, and the introduction of new members, the chamber president opened up the discussion of ideas for the town's next big community celebration—July 4th. As expected, those in attendance quickly formed into two opposing sides—the older business owners who wanted to maintain the expected traditions from past celebrations, and the young entrepreneurs who wanted to introduce new ideas that would attract more people into Newlyn.

This is how things had gone with every civic event in recent years. Mark leaned over and whispered in Paige's ear. There's really no point in wasting our time on this. We all know this year's July 4th celebration will be just like last year's. Let's just agree so we can wrap this up.

When Mark capitulated to Stuart's suggestions for the 4th of July Picnic, the meeting adjourned, and Mark followed Paige and Lizzy out. Where are you two ladies headed? he asked.

My place for pizza, Paige said. Wanna come along?

Sure. The three friends grew up in Newlyn, and all three had returned when their families needed their help. Amazingly after nearly ten years of separation, the three fell right back into their friendship.

They talked about the meeting and voiced their frustration over the arguments that were replayed at every meeting. The long-term businesspeople said they needed new blood, but when they got some, like the three young entrepreneurs, they didn't want to let them have any input into how things were done.

They turned at the corner and walked down the alley that ran behind the businesses on Main Street. Paige unlocked the door and headed up the stairs that led to her apartment above the bookstore. The one-bedroom space was small but cozy. Paige had lived with her Mom when she first came back to Newlyn, but when she committed to building a life in town, she knew she needed a place of her own.

Paige went through to her bedroom, kicked off her shoes, and changed into a t-shirt that said, Bookmarks are for quitters. When she walked back into her living room, Mark was on his phone ordering pizza, and Lizzy was in the kitchen filling three glasses with red wine.

What's the big idea you've made me wait all day to hear about? Lizzy asked.

Let's wait until the pizza gets here. I don't want to be interrupted, Paige said. Did you make any progress on your new menu today?

Nope. Spent the day serving coffee and pastries before heading over to the council meeting. I do have a date Friday night though, she