Chapters - Episode 1 (The one where Meg meets her new neighbor)

Meg Landry wiped her brow with the back of her hand. A typical gesture of someone who'd put in a hard day's work and and was feeling fatigued down to her very bones.

She took a long, hard look around the room in which she'd spent the last six hours. Every wall was lined with thick blonde-wood book shelves that now held the fruits of her labors - a few thousand books, cataloged, alphabetized by author and categorized by genre. All were used. The second-hand bookstore she was preparing to open was well on it's way to being a fully-functioning store. New books were part of her long-term plan but for the time being, she would get acclimated to her new business by offering only twice-loved versions.

Books had been a big part of Meg's life since she was a little girl. She consistently participated in school-sponsored summer reading programs and done so voluntarily. No one had to coax, bribe or talk her into them. In fact, Meg's reading list as a child was so extensive her parents had to divvy it up amongst paydays in order to pay for all the books she wanted and needed. Meg Landry had also loved the library as a girl but she preferred to purchase books so they could become a permanent part of the personal library that was housed in her bedroom.

It was that inbred love of books and reading that molded Meg's future and fueled her dreams. At thirty years of age, she still felt a little thrill each time she accumulated a new book. A new trade paperback or best seller was as much of a treat for her today as it was when she was a child.

Books were her escape from a reality that was at times unrewarding, unproductive and sometimes downright boring. At this stage in her life they were also going to provide her with a much-needed livelihood after she'd finally mustered up the courage to quit her job as a department store retail manager. Meg had watched - no, stood idly by - as Carrington's Department Store pulled in buckets full of money from the efforts of her customer service and sales savvy. And what did Carrington's give to her in return? A five percent raise each year and a hefty cut in her medical benefits. A fine thanks that was. Actually, she earned more money than her rasies amounted to just by excelling in their credit card program. Each employee would rack up five dollars for each new credit account they could persuade their customers to open. Meg was a very likable people-person and she had little trouble adding these little bonuses to her paycheck every week.

According to her "life calendar," it was now time for her to branch out on her own and try her hand at her own store but instead of selling designer handbags and shoes that cost a small fortune, she'd dug deep into her heart and instantly knew that her future and happiness depended on books.

Philosophically speaking, she'd come full circle.

As she approached her new checkout desk, a large counter-height carved workspace carved out of the same blonde wood as her shelves, she spotted a small stack of books she hadn't noticed earlier. She eyed them briefly and upon seeing her trademark price sticker, she remembered dropping them there when she'd answered the phone earlier. Apparently she'd simply forgotten them and as she looked at their organizational codes she realized that they belonged on a high shelf that she needed the step ladder to access. With a heavy sigh, she tucked them under her arm and proceeded to climb the ladder and insert the books neatly in their places. Step ladders and coding and lifting and tracking were all the reasons she felt so exhausted and she looked forward to a quiet evening of a bath and dinner to unwind after her laborous day.

Just as she stepped onto the highest rung of her ladder the front door to the store opened, letting a cool breeze swirl in as it did. She looked down from where she stood balanced on the ladder with a surprised expression. She mentally chastised herself for leaving the door unlocked while she was there alone.

A handsome man around thirty five years of age leaned into the store without completely entering.

"Hello," he said called out with a friendly smile and then looked up. "You must be my new neighbor."

Meg brushed the dust from her hands and proceeded to descend the ladder.

"Hi," she replied, "please, come in. I was just putting away the last of my books."

"Wow," he said, looking around. "Look at what you've done with this place. It looks amazing."

Meg smiled, proud of the hard work she'd poured into her latest venture. The commercial space she now possessed had been extremely out-dated and in much need of a makeover. She knew she'd have her work cut out for her by turning the former tax office into a bookstore but as always, she was up for the challenge. The finished product was all that more rewarding given the "bones" she'd had to work with.

"Thank you," she replied as she reached over to shake the man's hand.

"I'm Daniel Keagan," he said, taking her hand. "But you can call me Dan."

"Hello, Dan Keagan," Meg said with a friendly smile. "I'm Megan Landry but you can call me Meg."

Dan handed her a finely-woven wicker basket covered with a checkered dish towel. "This is for you," he said, handing it over. "It's just muffins and jam from next door."

"Oh," Meg said, "thank you. So you must own...or work at...Premiere Catering?"

"Owner," Dan said. "Guilty as charged. Sandy, my wife, and I run the place. Those muffins were left over from a party last week but they should still be fairly fresh."

Meg peeked under the towel, her eyebrows a bit furrowed. "Well, thank you," she said. "I'm sure they're delicious."

Dan then broke out into laughter. "I'm joking!" he exclaimed. "They were just baked this morning. I was just teasing."

Meg laughed, too. "You had me," she said, shrugging. "But hey, a gift is a gift so I wasn't going to say anything."

"Anyway," Dan said, "I just wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and welcome you to the neighborhood. I'm glad to see that a private business owner got this space instead of some corporation, you know?"

Meg nodded. "I know exactly what you mean. And I feel very lucky to have been able to secure this space. There were a lot of interested people."

"Well," Dan said, "the owner of this plaza is very particular about who his tenants are. You must have impressed him."

"I don't know about that," Meg said, "but it all worked out and I'm excited to finally be opening this weekend."

"I have to say," Dan started, "when I first heard there was a second-hand bookstore going in here, I wasn't sure what to think. You know how second-hand stores are usually...messy, disorganized. But this place is gorgeous. Very first rate."

"Thanks," Meg said, "I had a pretty distinct vision for what I wanted and I wanted to quash the old ideas of used books and give the place that new-store feeling."

"Then mission accomplished," Dan said, taking one last look around. "I've got to run but it was great to meet you," he said, shaking her hand one more time.

"Likewise," Meg said, "please tell your wife I said thank you for the muffins and if you two have a chance, please drop by this weekend for the grand opening."

"Will do," Dan said.

Meg watched Dan walk back to Premiere Catering through her large store front window and felt relieved and happy to have such congenial neighbors.

The sun was dimming and she was starved. She lifted the dish towel and took a hard look at the muffins and then covered them back up. Determined to lose ten pounds, muffins were not on her list of acceptable dinner foods. She'd make a quick trip past her parent's house on her way home and drop them off there instead.

Meg grabbed her keys, the binder that held her plans and various business papers and the basket of muffins and locked the front door. She then walked through the back of the store toward the rear that lead to the employee parking area. Just as she opened the door, she noticed Dan Keagan standing behind his store talking to another man. It looked as though they were arguing but as soon as Dan spotted her a friendly smile spread across his face as he waved.

She gave a little wave back before getting into her car. Something about their conversation didn't seem right but for all she knew it was maybe a simple argument amongst boss and employee.

Whatever, she thought. Her motto was to be friendly but not too friendly. She had no intentions on getting chummy with the Premiere Caterting Company or any of her other commercial neighbors. Whatever their heated discussion about was their business and she wanted to keep it that way.

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