By C.O. Bonham
“What were we looking for again?” Harvey asked.
“I already told you. I can’t remember the title, but I do remember the book had a bright blue cover.” Shelly picked up a book and showed it to him. “Like this one. Actually, that’s exactly the right shade.” She popped open the cover and began skimming the contents.
Harvey sighed in relief and dropped the used book he held back into the rummage box. Could it be true? Was this obsessive search finally at an end?
“This isn’t it,” she said, snapping it shut.
Harvey sighed. “Look, if the last time you read this book was when you were a child, then maybe you’ve already seen it a hundred times and just haven’t recognized it?”
She vehemently shook her head. Strawberry blond hair flying out around her. Tears began to pool in the corners of her eyes.
“Books do change covers, you know. You might have held it in your hands and discarded it because the cover simply wasn’t blue anymore.”
“No, not this book. If you had read it, you’d know. It’s like it was written just for me. As if my entire being had been put on paper and given back to me.”
“Every reader feels like that.”
“Not like this. If I can find this book, all of the questions I’ve ever had about my past will be answered.”
“That’s a lot of hope to place in a book you don’t even remember the title of.”
Shelly discarded another blue book from her hand. “Trust me, I know.”
Harvey reached out and pushed a strand of hair away from Shelly’s smooth forehead and heart shaped face. He looked right in her beautiful, deep blue eyes. “Tell me everything you remember about this book. If we can’t find it. I’m going to write it.”
She seemed caught off guard. “I don’t know. What if the original author sues you for plagiarism?”
“Then we’ll finally know the title of the darned book and this endless quest can be over. It sounds like a win either way.” He held out his hand, palm up.
Shelly shoved aside her stack of blue books and rested her hand in his. “Okay, let’s do it.”
The book was a smash hit. A self-publishing Cinderella story. Many people felt the same way Shelly did—lost, questioning, looking for a home. Harvey, with Shelly’s blessing, began book signings. Everywhere he went young girls and boys lined up to meet their favorite author.
A young girl stood before him now. Strawberry blond pigtails framed blue eyes that stared at him with expectation. “I think you might be my father,” she said.
“I’m sorry, sweetie, but I only have a son.”
“But you dedicated this book to me.” She opened the book and pointed to the line, For Shelly. “That’s me. Shelly.”
Harvey chuckled. “No, the book is dedicated to my wife.”
“Oh,” she said. Her head drooped and the sparkle left her eyes.
Harvey took her book and scrawled an inscription. To young Shelly, my other blue-eyed girl. “Here you go. Just remember that you are special.”
She read the inscription and some of the light returned to her eyes. “Thanks, mister. I’m going to marry you when I grow up.”
He chuckled again. “I’m already married, remember?”
That night when he came home, Harvey found his wife rocking their son and crying into a faded and well-worn blue book. “This came in the mail today, Harvey. My first foster mother found it and thought I might want it. Look, it’s the same book.”
And she was right. Beneath the grime and wear, he could tell it was indeed the same book. His name was on the cover, last year was the copyright. And beneath the dedication was an inscription, To young Shelly.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ooh, fun! Now I have so many questions!
Thank you Laura. Sometimes the answers we seek lead to bigger questions. Ask wisely.
Loved the ending! Well done!
Thank you. Funnily enough the ending is one of the few things that stayed the same through the editing process.
I didn’t expect that ending. Love it!
Thanks I’m glad you enjoyed it.
How intriguing! That ending definitely makes for a good mystery.
Thank you, I was surprised when it was picked for mystery Monday. I saw it more as sci-fi. But after hearing the feedback. I see that mystery is indeed a better fit.
Glad you liked it.
Fabulous! Started with a trope and ended with a twist. I didn’t see that coming, and I love it. Well done!!
Thank you Grace, it means a lot to me that you enjoyed it.
OK. That ending just gave me the chills. Good ones, I think. :-)
What an enjoyable tidbit.
Thanks I’m so glad you liked it.
And is there such a thing as bad chills?
That is an amazing twist, and it works fantastically.
Thank you. The hardest part of writing twist endings is wondering how the readers will react.
I LOVED this story. You packed so much into such a small space. So beautiful! <3
Thank you, I confess the great editors at HAVOK helped with the trimming.
Great story. Gave me chills.