What just happened? Did I just gain a new friend? Unsure, I finish my meal, but it turns to ash on my tongue as I think about Paris as a young, grieving widow.
It’s more than that though. It’s the fact that an entire town shut down because her husband died and not one of them made Thanksgiving into a celebration again. It is, after all, my favorite food- filled holiday.
I glance outside at the street where people walk about, smiling at one another as they pass, their happiness radiating from them as they greet each other. What’s it like to have others to rely on?
If I had an entire town to support me when Gram died, when Eric died, would I have spiraled as I did? Would I have pulled out better for it in the long run?
This town doesn’t just offer a new beginning, it offers friendship and family. I once read that it takes a village to raise a child. I only had me, only myself, to rely on.
There are a thousand what-ifs I could stumble upon, but they’d only trip me and I’d end up face-planted in the mud, staring at a moose again.
Let them teach you.
Lark’s words haunt me again, her sweet voice ringing through my ears as I stare at the town spread out before me.
“There you are.” Ms. Aberdeen saunters into the break room, pulls out her lunch without question, and, as always, turns on her favorite show. “The flyers are out for Wednesday. You should pick out a book to read to those little ones.”
“Oh, I’ve already thought of it.” Gathering my food, I toss it into the trash I’ll empty at the end of the day.
“Nothing too wordy.” She winks at me. Again, it’s something I thought about already because I don’t know who will even show up at eleven. “The entire town is buzzing about story time, so I’d expect a full house.”
“What?” No way are there that many kids in this town.
“Oh, of course. The library reopening has the town buzzing with excitement. Even my son Arthur will be on the line to watch.”
On the line?
Shaking my head, I bat down the nerves that flare in my stomach. “How many people are we expecting?”
“Oh, the bakery is catering for the big event.” She shoos me from the room. “Now go, I think Arlo is at the front door waiting on you.”
“Arlo?” Just then, a cool draft of wind wraps around my legs. With one last look at the conniving woman, I head down the hall and to the front door, my boots thudding on the squeaky-clean floors I polished last week.
Swallowing down my nerves, I find Arlo tapping the bell on the front desk, so I swoop around and give him my very best manager smile. “How may I help you, sir?”
For a moment, he just stares at me, dumbstruck. Then, with a dimpled smile, he plays the role. “I hear the library is open for business.”
“We sure are. Have you been here before?” I’m already pulling up the system to print him a brand-new library card.
“Only once a long time ago.” He scratches his beard, and his smile breaks just a little as his eyes dart around the foyer, no doubt looking for a meddling twin of his.
“Well, here you are.” I tap dramatically on the keyboard, making a good show of it before printing out a new card. “Now,sir, we allow for a seven day borrow. If it’s any longer than that, just stop by and formally take out the book again.”
“Well, a certain birdie got me hooked on this author and this series that isn’t finished.” At that, he actually sounds annoyed.
“You read bothKingkillerbooks?” With a genuine smile on my face, I grab his hand and lead him into the adult side of the library—which just means more chapter books.
Though the romance section is perfect for those cold winter nights.
“I did.” He leans into me, his hot breath spilling over my neck. “The third book isn’t out.”
“Don’t worry, I know which series to introduce you to next.”
“Is it finished?” he mumbles as I lead him into the fantasy fiction section.
“Yep!” I avoid the question on his tongue about that series. No one knows when the author will finish it. After all, one simply does not rush greatness.
“All right, what magical land are you leading me to this time?”
