“This library is just as much yours as it is ours,” Candy promised Peppermint. “This castle is your home.” Candy slowly began to explore the library, walking further away from Peppermint as she talked. “My goodness...it's so beautiful.”
Peppermint unfolded his arms. It was time to get to work. “I'll go bring the coffee and donuts and then get the snow cleared.”
“We'll want to see the other outside buildings.” Betty nodded.
“I have a powerful snowblower that can clear snow before you can blink. I call the snowblowerAvalanche. Why? Because she growls like an avalanche!”
Betty rolled her eyes. “No matter how old a man gets, he still turns into a boy who likes to play with his toys when it comes to a silly machine.”
“Silly? Avalanche is a powerhouse!” Peppermint looked at Chris. “We're talking some serious horsepower. Avalanche can cut through a three-foot snowbank in three seconds!”
Chris wanted to share in Peppermint's enthusiasm but couldn't. He wasn't a man who drooled over power tools and high-powered snow blowers. Chris wrote books, designed buildings and houses, and enjoyed playing the piano and building wooden toys. Sure, he liked to fish and go camping, but he didn't care for monster trucks and hunting innocent deer. “The snow blower sounds impressive.”
“Oh, Avalanche is more than impressive!” Peppermint dropped into aman zoneand went into a tirade about how powerful his snow blower was. Chris had no choice but to listen.
As Peppermint filled Chris' ear, Candy wandered further into the library. She felt like she was walking through a doorway that led into an eternal Christmas day that would never end—into a world filled with jolly snowmen, bright Christmas trees, merry presents, joyful songs, soft snow, baking cookies and cakes, happy reindeer, sleigh bells, cozy gingerbread houses, delicious candy canes...oh, a world that whispered to Candy's heart in a way that could not be explained. Before Candy knew it, she began to humFrosty the Snowman.
The north wall was the first section of the library Candy explored. She dreamily approached the wall and stopped. It was filled with cherry wood bookshelves that stretched from the bottom floor all the way up to the third floor. Countless books danced on the bookshelves like sugar plums dancing with little gingerbread men. Candy studied the books with excited eyes. To her shock, she spottedA Christmas Carol. The book appeared very old—very, very old. Chance? Coincidence? Design? Fate? Candy wasn't sure why the book appeared before her eyes. But there it was. “My favorite book in the world.” Candy carefully pulled the book from its resting spot...like asking a jolly old dancer for a spin around the Christmas tree.
“That book is very rare,” Betty's voice appeared from behind Candy. “That is one of the first published copies.” Betty made her way to Candy's side and stopped. “This library is full of rare books.”
“This book is my—”
“Favorite. Yes, I know, dear.” Betty smiled. “I have a feeling you will be spending a good deal of time inside this library.”
“This library is a dream...three stories worth of...dreams,” Candy spoke in a way that couldn't put justice to how she was feeling deep inside of her heart. “Betty, why didn't your cousin take all of these books?”
“I'm not sure. Maybe he's looking for absolution?” Betty shrugged her shoulders. “All I know is that now we own every book inside this library. There must be over—”
“A million.”
“Well, not a million.” Betty laughed.
“Seven hundred and ninety-four thousand,” Peppermint called out. “I counted. Took me a full week and a lot of paper, but I counted every last book in this library.”
“Wow,” Candy whispered. “Imagine all the stories waiting to be read.”
Peppermint walked over to Candy and Betty. Chris followed. “Most of the books, believe it or not, are Christmas-themed. Not sure why. My old boss always came across as an old Scrooge to me.” Peppermint scanned the bookshelf Candy was standing in front of with steady eyes—the eyes of a man whoknewthe ways of the heart more than he knew his own snow blower. “I guess deep down, the guy was searching for something he could never find...peace.”
Betty had to admit that Peppermint had a way of talking that was wise and inviting. “I suppose you could be right,” she told him.
Peppermint turned his focus back to Chris. “There are tons of mystery books. All these books are from the years 1940 and earlier. Some of the books date back to the late eighteenth century. A good majority of them come from the 1920s and 1930s. But you've been here before...you know the layout.”
“I've been here before, sure...but...I don't ever remember the library being like this,” Chris admitted.
Peppermint studied Chris' eyes. He needed to see something—and he did. Chris was a man who could be trusted. That's all Peppermint needed to see. “Well, I'll go get the coffee and donuts and then get out to the snow. If you will all excuse me.”
Candy turned and watched Peppermint leave the library. “I like him,” she told Betty and Chris.
“Me, too.” Chris nodded. “He's a decent sort.”
“I suppose you two are right.” Betty reluctantly joined in and gave her approval. “My cousin was always a good judge of character...except for his wife. But I won't gossip or speak badly of anyone. All I will say is that life is too short and too beautiful to live bitterly and hatefully.”
Candy agreed and then opened the book she was holding. The pages of the book were held inside a green leather book cover, and they seemed to be made of old parchment paper. The ink appeared like black gold that had been refined over and over again. Candy felt like she was holding...yes...a dream. “We'll keep the library just the way it is. The children will love it.”
“I knew you were going to say that!” Betty forced energy back into her voice. It was time to get to work. The cozy atmosphere of the library was trying to force Betty into a sleepy, relaxed mood. “Now listen, after we have some coffee and donuts, we'll go explore some more and then go investigate the outside buildings. We also have to start calling people and setting up interviews. We have lots of work to do.”
“Yes, we do.” Candy closed the book in her hands like she was carefully tucking a sleepy child under a warm blanket. She put the book back to bed and then looked straight up. “All these books...this library is a dream. I can't believe your cousin left all these books.”
