Stella looked at Crusoe and then at Darcy. “What if you didn’t have to say anything? No one’s going to force you into small talk, Mr. Darcy, but you might enjoy being out in the sunshine for a while.”
“I do enjoy a promenade,” Darcy said.
“To feel the wind on my face,” Crusoe added.
“You both must promise to be on your best behavior and come back at the end of the day. Can I trust you?”
Darcy smiled so widely that the sight momentarily stunned her. Had he ever looked so happy in his life? He practically radiated with pleasure. Then he reached out and clasped Stella’s hand between both of his. “On my honor I will return at the closing of the festival.”
Crusoe agreed. “You have my word. I am grateful for your faith in me.”
“One more requirement,” Stella said. “You can’t tell anyone who you really are. If anyone asks, can you pretend to be impersonators hired by the library?” Both men nodded. “You’ve both done so much to help me with the mess I made. Get out there and have fun. You deserve it.”
Her phone beeped in her pocket, so she excused herself. It was a text from Ariel.Heading your way. Any word from Percy? How are you holding up?
Stella replied:Haven’t seen Percy. I’m doing okay for being knee-deep in a festival and trying to accept I can’t keep Jack. Arnie said it’s not possible.
Ariel texted back a frowning emoji followed by a shooting star and prayer hands. Stella slipped the phone back into her pocket.
“That was kind of you,” Jack said. “Letting those two go free to enjoy the festival.”
She leaned into his arm and wrapped her hands around his biceps. “Maybe it’s irresponsible, but I’m going with my gut. I think I’ll be able to tell which characters can be trusted and which ones can’t handle that kind of freedom.”
Jack’s eyebrows lifted. “You sound like you want to be a part of this long term.”
“I’ve been here for four years just doing a job, not knowing where I belonged. Just passing time. But now I think thisiswhere I belong.” She slipped her hand into Jack’s. “I love it here. I love the books and helping people and being with Arnie.
“Now that I can use my gift to be of even greater service and I know about the magic, all of this feels like my purpose. I could start helping people find the right books since I can call on the words. And maybe—Arnie might completely reject this idea—but maybe we could bring out fictional characters and share them with the library patrons, just like I’m doing today. Say they’re impersonators. Think how much fun the patrons would have being able to interact with their favorite characters. Who better to play them than the actual characters from the books?”
“And the new words? The purple ones?” Jack asked. “How do they fit in?”
“Another layer,” Stella answered. “Rather than filling notebooks with my words and shoving them in my trunk or in a box to collect dust like I’ve done for years, it’s time to do more with my writing. The new words are telling me a story or encouraging me to write one, to put something of my own out into the world.” She glanced around the library. “Can you imagine seeing one ofmybooks in here one day?”
“I’d memorize it like you’ve done mine,” Jack said, and Stellalaughed. “It’ll only increase my obsession.” He kissed her cheek. “I mean that in the least creepy way possible.”
“You”—she poked her finger into his chest—“could never be creepy. You have too much of a Captain America vibe. Too much good guy plus the handsome hero.”
“That’s an honorable comparison. And you prefer the good guy to the rogue pirate?”
Stella scoffed. “Any day, all day.” She leaned into him and sighed. “I’m going to miss you.”
“Hey,” he said, lifting her chin so she looked at him. “I’m still here.”
Arnie believed Jack would want to stay permanently, even though that wasn’t an option, but Stella was curious. “Would you stay longer than two weeks if you could?”
Jack’s smile slipped. “That’s not possible, unless...” Hope flashed through his eyes.
Stella shook her head. “No, according to Arnie it’s not. I asked.”
“You did?” Jack questioned. “You want me to stay longer?”
“Of course I do.”
Jack wrapped his arms around her and pressed his face into her neck. “I’d stay for a hundred more years if I could. What I wouldn’t give for a life with you.”
“I wish there was a way,” Stella admitted. “But I’ll enjoy these last days with you, and then next year... next year you can come back.” Did it sound pitiful that she was willing to wait an entire year to see someone she adored again?
“It won’t get here fast enough,” Jack said.
