Key Of Knowledge by Nora Roberts Read Free Book Online Page A

“I’m smarter than you are, and I’m younger, stronger, and better-looking. The regular patrons know and like me—most of them don’t know you, and the ones who’ve gotten to know you don’t like you. Those are some of the reasons you’ve been on my ass since you took over. I’m out of here, Joan, but I’m walking out of my own accord. I lay odds that you’ll be on your way out before much longer, too—only you’ll be booted out by the board.”
    â€œIf you expect any sort of reference or referral—”
    Dana stopped at the door. “Joan, Joan, do you want to end our relationship with me telling you what you can do with your reference?”
    Her anger carried her straight down to the employee lounge, where she gathered her jacket and a handful of personal belongings. She didn’t stop to speak to any of her coworkers. If she didn’t get out, and get out fast, she feared she would either burst into hysterical sobs or punch her fist through the wall.
    Either option would give Joan too much power.
    So she walked out without a backward glance. And kept walking. She refused to let herself think that this was the last time she would make this trip from work to home. It wasn’t the end of her life; it was just a corner turned.
    When she felt the angry tears stinging her eyes, she dug out her sunglasses. She wasn’t about to humiliate herself by crying on the damn sidewalk.
    But her breath was hitching by the time she reached her apartment door. She fumbled out her keys, stumbled inside, then simply sank down on the floor.
    â€œOh, God, oh, God, what have I done?”
    She’d cut her ties. She had no job. And it would beweeks before she could reasonably open the bookstore. And why did she think she could run a bookstore? Knowing and loving books didn’t make her a merchant. She’d never worked in retail in her life, and suddenly she was going to run a retail business?
    She’d thought she was prepared for the step. Now, faced with stark reality, Dana realized she wasn’t even close to prepared.
    Panicked, she leaped up, all but fell onto the phone. “Zoe? Zoe . . . I just—I’ve got to . . . Christ. Can you meet me at the place, the house?”
    â€œOkay. Dana, what’s wrong? What’s the matter?”
    â€œI just—I quit my job. I think I’m having an anxiety attack. I need . . . Can you get the keys? Can you get Malory and meet me there?”
    â€œAll right, honey. Take a deep breath. Come on, suck one in. Breathe easy. That’s it. Twenty minutes. We’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
    â€œThanks. Okay, thanks. Zoe—”
    â€œYou just keep breathing. Want me to swing by and get you?”
    â€œNo.” She rubbed the temper tears away. “No, I’ll meet you.”
    â€œTwenty minutes,” Zoe repeated and rang off.
    SHE was calmer, at least on the surface, when she pulled into the double drive in front of the pretty frame house she’d bought with her friends. In a matter of weeks, they’d be signing papers at settlement. Then they would begin, well, whatever it was that they were going to begin.
    It was Zoe and Malory who had the big ideas as far as ambience, color schemes, paints, and posies. They’d already had their heads together over paint chips for the color of the porch, the entrance hall. And she knew Zoehad been scouring flea markets and yard sales for the trash that she miraculously turned into treasure.
    It wasn’t that she didn’t have ideas herself. She did.
    She could envision in general how her section of the main floor would look when it had been transformed into a little bookstore/café. Comfortable and cozy. Maybe some good sink-into-me chairs, a few tables.
    But she couldn’t see the details. What should the chairs look like? What kind of tables should she use?
    And there were dozens of