Rick stood in front of the small bookstore, feeling warmth. This place had been his grandmother Carol’s haven, a spot where he’d spent countless hours as a child.
Now, with her passing, the bookstore was his. Since high school, he’d rarely visited.
His life was in another city, where he had a well-paying job and a girlfriend, Meredith, who had zero interest in moving to a small town. She’d been pushing him to sell the place, saying it was a burden he didn’t need.
With a deep breath, Rick pushed open the door. Dust coated every shelf, table, and chair. He looked around and sighed, knowing he had a long day of cleaning ahead.
He set down his bag, rolled up his sleeves, and got to work. Hours passed in silence as he wiped down shelves, swept the floor, and dusted off books.
As the sun dipped low in the sky, Rick reached the last bookshelf. Exhausted, with sore arms and an aching back, something caught his eye. A slim book sat wedged between two large novels, titled *Ask Carol*.
Rick frowned, not remembering any book by that name. Curious, he pulled it out and flipped it open. To his surprise, the pages were filled with handwritten notes—messages from strangers who had shared their problems and sought advice. Each page held his grandmother’s gentle, thoughtful replies. From recipes to serious, heartfelt questions, Carol had offered her wisdom to anyone in need.
Rick sat on the floor, reading, lost in the quiet, surprising world his grandmother had left behind. He noticed the second half of the book was blank, waiting for new people who might need help. He tucked *Ask Carol* into his bag and, feeling its weight, left the bookstore and returned to his parents’ home.
“Mom, did you know Grandma was helping people? Like, giving them advice?” Rick asked, holding the book out to his mother, Sarah.
Sarah’s eyes widened as she took the book from him, looking at the handwritten pages. “Really? I had no idea. She never told me,” she said, flipping through the book slowly.
“I found it in the bookstore,” Rick explained.
“Maybe she hoped you’d take over for her, keep helping people,” she suggested gently.
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