‘No, I don’t think so. Unfortunately, we have to satisfy the powers that be and that means there’s not much anyone can do about it. Sorry,’ he added without sounding it.
‘Okay, no problem, thanks.’ At least she’d asked. She’d make the best of it with Oliver. If she was honest, spending the evening with him was an attractive prospect and the thought of him in a suit or dinner jacket sent shivers down her spine. It wasn’t going to do anything to help her attempts to get over him but maybe she could allow herself that night and then start again afterwards.
‘Before the awards, we need to establish our party line. It would be very bad form to have to mention the fact that Croftwood Library is listed for closure so we will focus on the book club. After all, that’s why we’re in the Community Spirit award category.’
It annoyed Lois that he said ‘we’ as if it was anything to do with him or his colleagues. They were the ones trying to close the library; the very people she was trying to prove wrong.
‘Well, Linda wrote the application so I think she would be well-placed to explain how we’ve got this far. The judges must have liked it.’
‘Quite right, Lois,’ said Robert. ‘Linda seems to be a social media whizz these days. It’s a real feather in her cap.’
‘It is,’ agreed Lois. ‘Perhaps you could email her about it, David?’
‘Yes, will do,’ he blustered.
‘I must say, the book club choices are in high demand right across the county,’ said Robert. ‘The Croftwood effect is spreading.’
David looked less than pleased to hear that which filled Lois with glee. Robert was on her side.
‘Well, as I said before, there’s nothing we can do about saving Croftwood Library at this stage,’ David said.
‘Interesting though, isn’t it?’ Lois was feeling braver by the second. ‘That a library that was considered unworthy of existing any more can be making such a difference.’
‘All to do with the vision of the management, Lois,’ said Robert with a knowing look. ‘It’s a real tribute to you what you’ve managed to achieve at Croftwood, and I look forward to making more of your skills when we have you back at the Hive.’
Lois’s eyes filled with tears. ‘Thank you, Robert. That means a lot to hear you say that.’
‘So, good luck with the awards ceremony. It’s wonderful to have got this far, it’s further than we got in 2012 with this place, isn’t it, David?’
David nodded, his face like thunder and Lois suspected that Robert was just as pleased about that as she was.
Although the meeting didn’t resolve the problem of the awards dinner for Lois, she came out of the Hive feeling that she’d had a victory. If David even thought twice about what she’d said, it had been worth speaking up.
38
It was Steph’s last week on the mobile library before Christmas and her final stop was Hawthorn Lane. She hadn’t seen Eunice and Dottie since the book club and was looking forward to hearing whether the friendship Eunice and Bill had struck up had progressed.
She pulled up in the lay-by and got everything ready. She’d bought some non-alcoholic mulled wine for them in one of her tea flasks along with tubs of Twiglets and Cheeselets and a brand-new box of Victoria biscuits.
‘Morning Steph!’ Dottie was first, minus Bert. ‘Merry Christmas!’
‘Merry Christmas, Dottie! On your own today?’
‘My parents are visiting for Christmas, so I’ve left Bert with them. They love being in charge of him so it’s win-win.’ She took her coat off and sat down.
‘Have you seen Eunice since the book club evening?’ asked Steph.
‘Mmm,’ she nodded while she munched on a Twiglet. ‘I saw her at the village shop last week and she looked very spritely. She’d been out for afternoon tea with Bill the day before. It’s so funny how they hit it off, isn’t it?’
‘It’s great. I think they’re both lonely and stuck in the middle of nowhere. No offence.’
Dottie smiled. ‘You’re right. The village is lovely until you can’t get around as easily anymore, then it’s just isolating.’
‘Morning, girls!’ called Eunice from the door. Steph jumped up to help her but there was no need. Bill was right behind her.
‘Bill! This is a surprise,’ said Steph grinning.
‘I don’t think you’re due at the Red Lion Inn until after Christmas, so I decided to tag along with Eunice.’
