Tara Jeffrey/The Independent

For Lisa Matlovich, growing up, reading was everything.

“I can’t even tell you how important it was to our family; every Christmas and birthday, we got books,” Matlovich recalled, noting her late mother, Ruth Dawson, was a lifelong collector of books — about 3,000, to be exact.

Prior to her death in 2012, Ruth began hiding money in her book collection — slipping $20 bills into the binding of the pages, knowing her children would eventually find them.

“I never forgot my mom’s words — to check the books — knowing she had a fortune in them,” Matlovich said. “She was a remarkable person.”

After her mother’s death, Matlovich packed some 400 of the books into boxes and tucked them away in the basement, not quite ready to go through them.

Fast forward to today, when, amid some difficult challenges, Matlovich has been left to sell her mother’s books, save for a few first editions and special copies.

“So, I’m forced to face all of these family memories, going through the boxes of books,” she said. “I found some notes from her, some old stamps and clippings, things she would have tucked in there as she was reading them.”

And of course, the money.

On a particularly hard day this month, Matlovich sold another box of her mother’s books. The buyer, Svetlana Alekseeva — who just opened a new cafe in Sarnia — wanted to put them on display, for a cozy, vintage vibe in her space.

“When I saw [the ad] for the books, I thought they would fit perfectly in my place,” Alekseeva said of the Cakebook Cafe on Lambton Mall Road. “To my surprise, Lisa came with her family and brought the books to me.

“I showed her the book shelf and said thank you so much,” Alekseeva recalled. “Then she offered to sell me a second box of books, for even cheaper.”

Alekseeva was so delighted to have the books; later that day she began unpacking and dusting them off.

“When I opened the books, I found money,” she said. “I was so surprised, I called Lisa right away.”
Matlovich had forgotten to check the books.

“I got a text from Svetlana, with a picture of the money,” Matlovich said, fighting back tears. It was six, old $20 bills. “That’s a lot of money, and, a person starting a new business might not always be so honest. I know it sounds sappy, but, I feel like it was my mom reaching out to me.”
Matlovich returned to the Cafe that weekend to get the money.

“I took some friends, and we spent some time there; we revered in the amazing cafe that it is, and bought a bunch of stuff for Christmas gifts,” she said. “We went through some of the books and I showed her my mom’s initials in them.

“Svetlana turned out to be such an amazing person.”

What began as a simple book sale has budded into a wonderful friendship.

“[Lisa] encouraged me get creative; to add gluten free to my menu — I never thought of that,” Alekseeva said, adding that she’s also hoping to start a book exchange, inviting community members to drop off old books of their own, browse, and borrow.

“It’s just a nice place for people to go, and feel comfortable,” Matlovich said. “I’ve only known [Svetlana] for a week but I feel like I’ve known her for a lifetime.”

The holidays haven’t been the same since losing her mom, but Matlovich says this might just be her most memorable Christmas yet.

“I know, it’s silly — they’re just books,” she explained. “But for me, this has been a very emotional journey.

“I’m at the time of my life where I really need my mom here; I feel like she is here with me now, and it came through a stranger.

“My mom would be happy.”