I walk to the table and run my hands over the smooth wood, almost seeing the ghost of my younger self sitting here lost in a book. I glance at Wraith over my shoulder and give him a rueful grin. “I never had the heart to tell Mrs. Decker I hate milk.”
Wraith’s hands settle on my hips, and he gives them a gentle squeeze. “You have a kind heart.”
I shrug. “Sometimes.”
“Not a compliment.”
I laugh and turn to face him. I lift up on my tiptoes and give him a quick kiss. “You’re such an ass, Unholy.” I lead him to Adult Fiction. To F, where Ken Follett’sThe Pillars of the Earthsits neglected on the shelf. “It’s still here.”
He takes the book from me and inspects the cover, before flipping it to read the back copy. “You read this thick-ass thing?”
“Three times.”
He rolls his eyes and puts the book back on the shelf. “Nerd.”
“Whatever,” I snap. “It’s all about survival, betrayal, war, and revenge. That’s not nerdy.”
He gives me a once-over then shrugs. “You’re a lot like Aliena. Like her, you never stayed down, no matter what life threw at you.”
I point an accusatory finger at him. “You read it, too.”
“You forget, you’re not the only smart one, Jamie.”
I gasp, recalling a forgotten memory. “That’s right, you were always studying.”
He gives me a cocky grin. “Graduated with honors and everything.”
And by the tone in his voice, he’s rightly proud of that fact.
“I wish I would have graduated with you.”
“Me too, runt.” He kisses the top of my head.
Mrs. Decker comes peeking out from her office. “Hello? May I help you?” She stops dead, her eyes wide as she takes me in. “Jamie Ellis, is that you?”
I give her a little wave. “Hello, Mrs. Decker.”
“Oh, my goodness, look at you, all grown up.” She gasps and runs over, her sturdy black shoes muffled by the dusty carpet strewn over scuffed wooden floorboards. “How long have you been home?”
Her embrace feels like a homecoming. “Not long.”
When she sets me at arm’s length, inspects me with a maternal eye. “You haven’t changed at all.”
“Neither have you,” I lie.
She hasn’t aged badly, but she does look like one gust of wind will knock her over. Her graying hair is secured in a low ponytail and a dull floral dress hangs from her thin frame. In many ways, Mrs. Decker was my inspiration, having taught me to blend into the woodwork. Ironically, her daughters had a knack for standing out in a crowd and caught the attention of almost every boy in school. Especially Faith, who was everything I wished I was—vivacious and beautiful.
“Are you visiting, or did you move back?”
I glance at Wraith. “I’m staying, yes.”
“Thank goodness.” She gives my hands a gentle squeeze before releasing them. “Please say you’ll be a regular face around here. Lord knows few people pass through our library these days.”
Few people passed through the library when I was a kid.
“I’ll be here so much you’ll beg me to leave.”
“Oh, I doubt that.” She passes a miserable look around the deteriorating room. “With Mr. Decker gone now three years from cancer and the girls in Brighton, it will be nice to finally have some company.”
