A teen girl tried to steal a book from our store

understand,” I admit.

She looks at me for a moment, then glances toward the bookstore.

“You helped me,” she says. “That mattered.”

“You needed help,” I reply. “Anyone would have done the same.”

She shakes her head. “No. Not anyone.”

Silence settles between us again.

“Did it… work?” she asks suddenly.

“What?”

“The brooch,” she says. “Did it save you?”

I think continue reading …