Chapter9
Damien
“I don’t know man. Do you think I’ll get the job? What if he finds out that I went to jail? Also, I have no training in this. What am I going to say if he asks me what I’ve been doing with my life? Let’s see – I stole wallets for over ten years and dabbled in a few other dodgy businesses, then I worked for a carpenter, after that I decided to rob a bank, oh and then I went to jail. He’s going to kick me right out.”
Damien was having a mild heart attack on his way to an interview. His brother had phoned him the day before to let him know that he had found him a job but that the guy wanted to meet him first. It was to be an assistant at a local bookstore. The whole thing had sounded like a wonderful idea at the time but now that he was almost there he was starting to reconsider it.
“Damien, take a deep breath. You’ve got this. And if he kicks you out – so what. But he’s not going to. Just be yourself. Be honest. You’re a hard working guy and you’re actually very likeable, you know, when you’re not stealing.”
That, at least, made Damien laugh. “Okay, okay. Sorry. I just haven’t been to an interview in a very long time. Okay, I’m almost there. I’ll call you afterwards.”
Damien knocked on the door of Curious Corner and then entered when he saw an older man beckoning for him to come in. Damien assessed him to be around seventy years old at least, with dark rimmed glasses and a long white beard. He was wearing shorts, a shirt and a dark blue tie with tiny white dots all over it. He was obviously very eccentric and Damien took an immediate liking to him.
“You must be Damien. Your brother speaks very highly of you. Come in, sit down. Let me lock the door so that we are not disturbed. This won’t take long.” The old man locked the door and then came and sat back down. “Oh, I’m Charles by the way.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Charles.”
“So,” Charles said peering over the top of his glasses, “let me tell you a bit about the job. As you can see, I’m an old man now, and I need a bit of help. To be honest, I really just want a bit of time off and my wife has been pressuring me to stop working so damn hard. It’s a tough one because I just love it here so much. But she’s right. I need someone to look after the shop while I’m not here. So I’m basically looking for someone to come in a few times a week so that I can take some time to stay home and be lazy.
"You’ll need to man the shop and help with the books and all of that. It’s a pretty simple job and half the time the place is empty which gives you plenty of time to read or do some writing of your own if you like. And if you don’t know if you’re a writer – well now is the time to figure it out. Now, I know it might sound all a bit too dull for someone as young and sprightly as you – but you’ll see, there’s something quite magical about this place. And, it keeps you out of trouble.”
“I think it sounds wonderful Charles. Just what I’m looking for.”
“You don’t even know the pay.”
“Well, let’s just say that some pay is better than no pay right now.”
“Ah… yes… the jail thing. I almost forgot.”
Damien was completely taken aback by his response. “What? Wesley told you that? Oh no.”
But Damien saw that Charles was chuckling, which was even more surprising. “Don’t you worry young man. I’ll have you know that I was very much like you once upon a time.”
“You went to jail?”
“Don’t look so surprised. I was a naughty little shit. I got myself into a bit of trouble and landed up in jail – just like you. But deep down I was not a bad guy. And I came right. And I was also lucky enough to have a wonderful woman to keep me on the straight and narrow. You remind me a lot of myself. I had a long chat with your brother – who is a great man by the way – and he spoke so highly of you. I trust your brother dearly. And I’m definitely going to give you a try.”
Damien was relieved that he didn’t have to lie. “Does that mean I have the job?”
“You most certainly do. Welcome to Curious Corner. Can you start tomorrow?”
“I can start right now if you like.”
“Ah, your brother was right. I like you Damien.”
***
And just like that Damien became part of the team and a week later he found himself falling in love with the place, just as Charles had said he would. And what surprised Damien even more was just how much he started to love the books. There was something special about being surrounded by pages and pages of history. The fact that every single book was written by someone who had poured their life and soul into creating that story. Only a week into working there and he was almost finished with his second book. Also, he had discovered that the shop had absolutely no online store facilities or social media presence and so he started dabbling with that when he was alone in the store. Charles had been happy that he had taken the initiative and said it was why he wanted to hire someone young in the first place.
“I’m just too old for things like that. Computers scare me a little. Oh I don’t mind sending the odd email if I have to, but I’ve always been a paper and pen type of person. But even I know that if this shop is going to go anywhere, I have to get with the times. By the looks of it you might end up taking this place over from me one day.”
Damien smiled at that. He actually quite liked the idea.
Another week went by and Damien was excited because he has asked Hazel to come in and see him at work. The two of them had not seen each other since the kiss but they had kept in touch over the phone or through messages. He hadn’t wanted to push her because he could tell that she had been freaked out after the kiss but two weeks was a decent enough break and he was glad that he had asked her to come. He couldn’t stop thinking about that kiss. The way that her lips had felt on his and in that moment he had thought that there may actually be a chance between them. Also, he was surprised to find that he quite missed Ben. He wanted to get to know him more, but again he didn’t want to push. He had spoken to his brother about it and Wesley had given him good advice.
“Don’t go too fast with her, Damien. Remember everything that she went through with you leaving. And by the sounds of things she also had a horrible time with her previous boyfriend. So tread carefully. Also remember she has a child now and I know it’s also your child but she’s going to be super protective of him. If you really love this girl then you’ll give it time. And if she really loves you then she’ll gradually find her way to you.”
And this was exactly what Damien had done. For the past two days he had been looking after the shop while Charles took some time to be with his wife. The two of them had decided to go on a little mini vacation and Charles had asked him to look after the shop the whole week without him. Damien was grateful that Charles trusted him so much. But the shop was quiet most of the day. The shop was only really busy on weekends or around lunch time during the week. The rest of the time Damien had the place to himself.
He’d gotten into the habit recently of writing down his thoughts. He had never thought about becoming a writer or even keeping a diary, but what Charles had said had stayed with him and one day he decided to give it go. And Damien was surprised at how much he enjoyed putting pen to paper – the old school way. There was something very releasing about writing down his thoughts and his experiences. He found that the more he wrote the better he started feeling about himself and the more he was looking forward to his future. He knew that he would still have a few hours before a customer walked in and so he got out his notebook and started writing.
He found that he especially liked writing about jail and the moments leading up to it – not what happened at the robbery – but how it felt to be the sort of person he was. The more he wrote about it the more he was actually able to deal with what had happened. He didn’t want to be the type of guy that didn’t admit to his faults. He had gotten himself into this situation and he had to deal with it and move on. His brother would probably say that he was maturing but Damien would prefer not to call it that.
He was so deep in thought that he jumped up in surprise when the door opened. He looked up at the clock above him. Strange time for a customer.
“Well hello, Damien.”
Damien’s head shot up in surprise as the man walked towards him. He’d know that voice anywhere. It was Tom.
“Tom, what are you doing here?” What Damien was really thinking was 'How did you find me?'
“Oh you know, I was just in the area and thought I would come past and say hello. You’ve got yourself a lovely little place here I see. Who would’ve thought that the great Damien Carson would be working at a bookstore? Not me, although you have changed a lot over the years. You’re not the same Damien that I knew years ago.”
Damien looked at Tom and wanted to say the same thing. Tom used to be a good looking guy when they had first met – someone easy on the eye. But the years had not been kind and he now looked like someone you would run away from if you saw him on the street. He looked like someone that would hurt you. It made Damien uncomfortable to look at him – especially since he knew what he looked like before.
“Tom, what do you want? You do realize that the last time I saw you I was getting dragged away by the police and you were hiding somewhere probably watching me.”
Tom laughed. “Oh come on. I was just lucky enough not to get caught. So how was jail?”
“How was jail? Are you really asking me that question? Shouldn’t you be saying sorry? I wasn’t even in that business anymore and yet I came out to help you. If I remember correctly, you were in a bad way and you needed my help and I stupidly dropped everything to come and find you. After everything that I did for you and you come here without an ounce of pity on your face for what happened. Seriously, Tom, what’s going on? Why are you acting this way?”
For as long as Damien had known Tom, he had never seen this sort of scowl on his face. He wasn’t sure if it was because Damien had moved away from that life and started new and he hadn’t but there was something that was making Tom very angry.
“What is this?” Tom grabbed the book that Damien had been writing in and started flipping through the pages. Damien could feel the anger building up inside of him as well as a deep sense of embarrassment that someone was reading what he wrote. It was personal. “Is this a diary? Is the great Damien Carson writing in a diary like a little teenage girl now? Oh you really are becoming something quite pathetic you know that. Wait until I tell the gang this.”
“It’s nothing. It’s just something to keep me busy.” Damien tried not to flinch at the word gang.
“My name better not be in here.”
“It’s not. I promise.”
Tom looked through a few more pages and then threw the book back at Damien. It missed and landed on the floor but Damien just left it there.
“Listen, Damien, you need to know something,” Tom said.
“What?”
“You will never fully be out of this business. That is just not possible. You may have a fancy new job and think you’re better than the rest of us – but you’re not. You will always be low life scum. At least we admit it. And anyway, you still owe me.”
“What? No I don’t. You said that the last time. I went to jail for two years because I owed you. I shouldn’t have even done that for you but I felt bad because I know that once upon a time you did save my life and once upon a time we really were friends. But I paid my dues. I owe you nothing now.”
“Well, you didn’t exactly help me that day, did you? You got caught.”
“Get out Tom. There’s no need for you to be here.”
“Oh, I’m going. This place stinks of old books anyway. I don’t know how you can even stand to be in here. Disgusting. But I’ll see you around Damien old friend.” Tom winked at him and then walked out, closing the door loudly behind him.
Damien picked up his book, placed it in the drawer and then got up and locked the door. He stood there for a while just catching his breath and trying to make sense of what had just happened. He hadn’t expected to see Tom again. He couldn’t afford for his past to come back to haunt him like this. He had too much at stake now. He wanted nothing to do with Tom and his gang ever again. He had already made that mistake once and he wouldn’t do it again. He opened the door and looked out but there was nobody around. Sitting back down, he found it impossible to read or write – he just sat there hoping that Tom wouldn’t come back. Hoping that his threats were not real.
About an hour later he saw a figure at the door and he jumped. But thankfully it wasn’t Tom. It was Hazel. Just seeing her made him feel better and he tried to put the day’s events out of his mind.
“Curious Corner. Cool name. Cool place.” She had walked in and was peering around the shop in amazement. She was a huge book lover so this place was just up her alley.
“It’s wonderful. I really love it here. Let me show you around.”
The place wasn’t big but he showed her where every book went – the new ones and the old ones and he showed her where Charles kept his special collection. She loved those the most.
“Oh wow, Charles sounds like someone I’d like. He has great taste in books.”
“He’s a whole lot of crazy and a whole lot of wonderful. You’d love him.”
“So, do you get to read the books?” she asked. She was standing close to him and he could smell her. She smelt like strawberries.
“I do. I’m almost finished my fourth book and already trying to decide which one to read next. I actually didn’t know how much I enjoyed reading up until now.” He wanted to tell her about his diary, too, but then he thought about Tom and decided against it.
“So, let me get this straight, you’re getting paid to read books all day?”
“Well, I sell books too, but yeah – I get paid to read. I think I may have just found the perfect job. Oh and… look here.”
“What? Oh Damien… you have found the perfect job.” He had taken her to the small kitchen area which consisted of a fridge, a microwave and a giant coffee machine.
“I almost died when I saw that machine. Charles is a man after my own heart. He is hilarious – he refuses to have anything to do with technology and yet when it comes to coffee he has one of the fanciest machines ever. Would you like a cup? This thing makes a mean cappuccino.”
“I’d love one. You know I can’t resist.”
Damien made the two of them coffees and brought them back to his desk. He had pulled one of the other chairs over so that she could take a seat, too. As they sat and drank the coffee, he couldn’t help but feel extremely proud of himself. He had always been one of those people that were embarrassed about their lives, who shied away from any personal questions. He always felt ashamed at how little he had accomplished compared to everyone else his age. But now he felt like showing off for the first time ever. He never knew how good it would feel to finally be doing something he loved. He knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that he wanted to work at Curious Corner forever. And he had a feeling that Charles might just let him. He looked at Hazel and smiled. She was smiling right back at him.
“The coffee is great Damien. And so is the place. It’s more than great – it’s kind of perfect. You know… I’m proud of you.”
Damien was surprised at how uncomfortable he felt at those words even though they were wonderful to hear. He wasn’t sure if anyone had ever said them to him and he wasn’t sure how to react.
“Well, I mean, it was actually my brother who found me this job. I’m not sure I would have found it on my own.”
“Nah, you would’ve. And anyway, just because your brother found you this job doesn’t mean that you didn’t do the rest yourself. I mean, the guy obviously liked you enough to hire you. And he liked you enough to give you free reign of the place while he’s away. That means he trusts you. You know, this place suits you Damien. I never would’ve pegged you as someone that would work well in a bookshop. And yet… it suits you.”
“I think so too. I’m just a regular book nerd now. And I quite like it. So… uh… I’m closing up now. Would you like to go out for a bite to eat? Or are you in a hurry to get somewhere?”
“I’m in no hurry and I could definitely do with a bite to eat. I’d love that, Damien.”
Damien spent the next ten minutes putting everything away. Sometimes he got his first customer early in the morning before they had to be at work and he liked the place to look neat for them when they came in. He washed the cups, rearranged some of the books and did a general walk around the place. He saw Hazel watching him with a smile playing on her face.
“What’s so funny?” he asked.
“Nothings funny. It’s just so strange to see you like this. You’ve got this place completely under control. I like it.”
“Ah, you see, I’m not just a pretty face.”
“Well, I wouldn’t exactly call your face pretty.”
Damien laughed at that. He had a scar running over his eyebrow and he looked like someone who had been in a few fights. He had looked that way even before he his life had turned to trouble, but it had only gotten worse over the years.
“Actually, if I remember correctly – you once called me cute.”
He was glad when she laughed.
“That’s true. I did. You are certainly handsome. But you are not pretty. But cute?” She was looking at him up and down. “Yeah, you’re still cute.”
“Come on, you cheeky bugger. Let’s go eat.”
He locked the door and they walked out. Then as they turned the corner he was surprised to find her hand reaching up for his. He felt so happy in that moment and didn’t say a word in case he ruined it. Instead he just held her hand back as the two of them walked out in happy silence.
As they crossed the road, he noticed a man watching him from behind a newspaper. It was obvious even from afar that it was Tom. The newspaper came down and his suspicions were confirmed. But with Hazel on his arm, he could do nothing but keep walking and pretend that he hadn’t seen him. He tried to put it out of his mind and to concentrate on Hazel but Tom’s dark eyes kept coming back to haunt him.