“Why don’t we have Mickey’s biography in here?” Lizzy asked absentmindedly.

“Mickey has a biography?” Rory laughed out loud.

“Yes. I checked online and we don’t have it in stock. What kind of bookstore are we?” Lizzy was miffed.

“The kind that does not stock garbage books,” Rory joked.

“That’s not funny. It is a shame that we do not stock the biography of the best singer the world has ever seen.”

“Best singer, Lizzy? Well, Frank Sinatra, Billy Joel, and Michael Jackson would like to chat. Not to mention Freddie Mercury.” Rory was cracking up now.

“Well Frank is dead but Mickey is not.” Lizzy was irritated, something she wasn’t very often.

“Lizzy—you don’t even read books.”

“Which makes it even more important, don’t you think? I need to know more about Mickey and I need to read this book.”

“Why? The man is shallow as a puddle. His biography is probably nothing but a story of sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll.”

“No, Rory, that is what you don’t understand. Mickey is a complex man who has never been loved and that is why he turns to all those… things. To fill the empty void within him. I read about this phenomenon in Cosmo once.”

“Okay, so now you’re a psychiatrist, Lizzy?”

“Don’t make fun of me, Rory, I’m serious. A talented, good-looking man like that needs true love in his life to turn it around.”

“And you think you are that true love?” Rory raised a brow.

“Why not? What’s wrong with me?” Lizzy asked angrily.

“Nothing. Nothing at all.” Rory smiled, warmly now. “But there are a lot of things wrong with that guy.”

“That is just a matter of personal perspective and on that, I do not agree with you at all. I have seen a side of him that maybe no one else has. He’s not what he seems.” The dazed smile was back on Lizzy’s face and Rory was sure that she had gone back to dreamland.

“Lizzy…” Rory was just going to start a lecture when the door of the shop rang open.

“Uncle Don!” Lizzy exclaimed and Rory wondered why she was calling Don “Uncle.”

“Mickey’s been telling you all the nicknames he has for me, eh?” Don asked Lizzy, who was blushing red with childish guilt. “But you are a sweet girl and it sounds much better coming from your pretty mouth than his,” Don laughed.

“Don. Nice to see you again. Looking for some books, are we?” Rory smiled.

“No, my dear. Not me, personally. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to lose myself in a good book as long as I’m the manager of that rowdy bunch.”

“I know what you mean.”

“Do ya?” And he broke into a big laugh again. Dressed in his casual clothes, Don could’ve passed off as an elderly tourist on the island, but Rory had no doubt that under that cool demeanor, he had a lot to worry about.

“I came to see if the wall was getting fixed and pay the guy.”

“Thanks, Don. I appreciate it.”

“No. Thank you, my dear. If it weren’t for you, Arsen probably would’ve gone to jail and the resulting media storm would’ve made matters much worse. I, personally, really appreciate you taking him in that night.”

There was no doubt in Rory’s mind that Don was genuinely grateful. Not just as the manager of the biggest rock band in the world, but as a personal friend of Arsen. What is it about Arsen that makes everyone take care of him? Why did I look out for him and take him in that night?

“On second thought, maybe I will take a look around the store. Maybe something will catch my fancy.” Don looked around thoughtfully, rubbing the scant stubble he wore, in a thoughtful fashion.

“Be my guest. We’re right here. Give us a shout if you need anything.”

After about twenty minutes Don was back at the counter with about fifteen books in a pile.

“Whoa! You surely did take a look around,” Rory exclaimed.

“Oh well. It’s not every day that I go to a bookstore. Might as well stock up.” He smiled and pulled the wallet out of his pocket.

As Rory put the books in the bag, she wondered if Don really was going to read all of them. They were on various obscure topics and were without a doubt some of the most expensive books in the store. Did he really want books or is he just trying to help me out?

There was no way Rory could bring that up with him without it being awkward. Don was a worldly guy, and perhaps he had realized that she had financial difficulties.

With every new book that Rory put in the bag, she grew more certain that he had picked them out solely based on their price tags. Her conscience tugged at her tongue to say something, but at the same time she did not want to insult the generosity of this kind old man. She was distracted out of her thoughts by Lizzy’s excited voice.

“How is Mickey, Uncle Don? I haven’t heard from him since yesterday.”

“Well, Lizzy my dear, why don’t you come and see for yourself?”

“Really?” Hope was sprinkled all over her voice, coupled with an ever-growing excitement.

“We’re throwing a goodbye party at the villa tomorrow and I’d like both of you to come.” Don looked at Rory. He wants us to come. But does the band want us to come? Besides, who knows what kind of wild parties they are throwing in there?

“And Arsen told me to extend the invitation on his behalf as well.” Don smiled a knowing smile at Rory.

“Well. You know I am not really a party sort of a…” Rory started then stopped. “Wait. A goodbye party?”

Then it sank in that Arsen was going to be leaving Montcove.

“Yeah. The band has to head to LA for an award show, and sadly our stint here is at an end. Given the fact that we are soon going to head on a world tour and probably won’t be back here for a long time, the boys decided to throw a goodbye party for all the new friends they’ve made here. You have to come. Have a couple of drinks, eat some lobster, some nice caviar, though I prefer a nice, juicy steak myself, and you dance and you make merry. What’s not to like about that?” He grinned.

As much as Rory wanted to see Arsen again, a party full of rockstars and their celebrity friends was not her idea of a great time. Besides, the idea of being around so many popular, successful people intimidated her. But worse still was the idea of not meeting Arsen again. It was not like she was expecting something out of it, but she felt that they both had built a connection the few times that they had met.

“I don’t know, Don.”

“Well, what I know is that all of us would really like it if you two lovely ladies would make an appearance. We think of you guys as friends of the band.”

“Really?” Lizzy exclaimed. “Rory, c’mon. You have to come. It’ll be so much fun.”

“You ladies let me know and I’ll send a car around to pick you up.” Don slid his card on the counter, picked up the bag of books, and waved them a quick goodbye. His generosity had eased things for Rory and for that, she was thankful to him. Don had no need to buy books but he still had. Rory only wished now that he would take the time to read through all of them.

“Oh my God, Rory, you gotta come. It’s not like we are invited to these kinds of parties every day.”

“Lizzy, you know I am not a party girl.”

“But I am and I want to party with you. Oh, please! Come along with me,” she begged.

“So you’d go without me, Lizzy?”

“Uh. I mean… I won’t… If you don’t…” Lizzy stammered.

“I’m just kidding, sweetie. You go have a ball.” Rory smiled.

“No, Rory, you have to come.”

“But I have nothing to wear.”

“Don’t worry about a thing. I will put together an outfit for you. I will even do your hair and makeup. You know how good I am at that. I even have six hundred subscribers on my YouTube beauty channel.”

Rory remained silent. There were reasons why she had run away from LA and she knew that this party would be the embodiment of everything she hated about that town. Now Lizzy wanted to drag her into the midst of a place where she would feel nothing but uncomfortable.

She wanted to see Arsen, there was no denying that. He was special to her and she had to say goodbye to him. Maybe I’ll just go say a quick hi. If it’s too much, then I can always leave. The thought of saying goodbye to Arsen was making her heart sink. They had just gotten to know each other, every moment with him was more beautiful than the last, and Rory hated to see it all end so soon. What else was I expecting? That he’d stay here forever for me?

“So will you come?” Lizzy made puppy eyes at her.

“Okay. But you will have to do all the legwork.”

“Yay! I will take care of everything—don’t you worry about that. I’ll be here first thing in the morning. We’re about the same size and you can borrow some clothes from me. I’ll have to carry all the makeup too and the shoes. Shit, there’s so much to do!”

Rory had no doubt that Lizzy was going to stay awake half the night thinking about the party and comparing outfit possibilities. Rory just didn’t want her to make a fool of herself because of her growing infatuation with Mickey. He was going to leave soon, and Rory was scared that Lizzy was going to be heartbroken if that pompous rockstar did anything stupid.

Later in the night, Rory sat alone doing her bills. Inspiration just hadn’t struck her that day and she had given up trying to sketch anything. She put the cash Don had spent at the shop in the money box, and while it did get her closer to her monthly target, she was still well short of paying all the dues.

Is there nothing I can do to fix this?

Every day, she spent a big part of her day thinking about ways to make money or ways to better her financial situation, and she felt claustrophobic at the thought of not being able to find a solution. Where thinking about losing the house brought her to the verge of tears, the idea of borrowing money from her parents made her furious.

Another day, the same struggle, she thought as she tried to drift off to sleep. At least she would get to see Arsen tomorrow. Arsen the garbage contractor. A smile spread on her face as she once again thought back to that charming afternoon they had spent together at Martha’s bakery. And with that smile, Rory was off to sleep.