Page 80 of Thick

“TD Reynolds. He’s an author. He wrote this book called The Jeweler. It made me cry like a baby.”

“Never heard of it.”

“I’d tell you to read it, but…”

“I can read,” I said. “Road signs and stuff.”

“I didn’t mean...”

“I was joking,” I said.

She handed me my card and smiled. “The Jeweler is better than wonderful. I’m on my third read of it now.”

“You know, they say that’s the sign of a great book. If people read it more than once.”

“This one is remarkable.” She looked to her left, the right, and then at me. “You want to hear something funny?”

“Funnier than me reading a book?” I asked, my tone flat.

She sighed, and then gave me a cross look. “His book is number one on the New York Times and everywhere else. It has been for a month. And guess what?”

“What?”

“There’s nothing about him on the internet. Nothing at all. I think it’s a ruse. I think he’s Nora Roberts.”

I put my card and the ID in my wallet. “Maybe he’s that Sparks guy. Nicholas Sparks.”

“Oh!” she gasped. “He might be.”

“Where do I write down the delivery address?” I asked.

She handed me a sheet of paper. “On this form.”

As I filled it out, she handed me a card. “And, if you want to give her a special note, you can write it on here.”

I filled out the form, handed it to her, and then wrote a note on the card. I hesiTated to give it to her, but realized I didn’t have another choice.

I handed her the card with the written side down. “Is that it?”

“Your phone number is on the form?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“That’s all we need.”

“Have a nice day,” I said with a smile.

She looked at the card and then turned it over.

I pushed the door open.

“TD?” she shouted. “TD Reynolds?”

I turned around. “In the flesh and blood.”

She stood behind the counter holding the card with a shaking hand.

I’d written the last line of the book on the card, and signed it TD Reynolds. I’d hoped to get away before she read it.