Stella covered her mouth with her hand. Jack Mathis continued closing the distance between them, then stopped a few feet away. His silvery eyes sparkled before shifting into the hazel she knew. She lowered her hand. “Jack?”
“Yes,” he said. “I’d like to stay.”
Stella leaped off the steps and into his arms. A windstorm of air and starlight swirled around them, and Stella laughed into the curve of his neck.
“How?” Jack asked.
Stella pulled away enough to talk but not to release her hold onhim. “The words told me. The purple ones I’ve been collecting for days. The last few lines were about moonlight, and I wondered if sunlight brings you to life, what if moonlight gives you a chance to stay? And... here you are.”
Jack held her against him. “Any doubts you had about not belonging here with the library and the magic should be gone.”
Stella smiled into his chest. “Only I had the power to do this. Only I can see the words that revealed this. But”—she released her arms from around him—“is this okay? I’ve taken you from your story and brought you into my world.”
“It’s more than okay, Stella,” Jack said, cupping his hands on her face. “You’ve given me the chance at a different life, and more than that, a life withyou.I’ll be around for more than two weeks. Areyouokay with that?”
Stella lifted on her toes to kiss him. “I’m hoping for two weeks and two weeks and two weeks to infinity.” Jack smiled against her lips before wrapping her in his arms.
Epilogue
One month later
A cardinal chirped from a windowsill outside the library. Stella walked toward the window, gazing at the library’s back parking lot. Arnie and Dana climbed into his BMW with the top down, and Stella watched for a moment longer as Dana leaned back her head and laughed. Arnie smiled over at Dana and reversed out of his driveway. They were on their way to a weekend getaway in Wild Dunes, South Carolina.
Sunlight warmed her cheeks, and she sighed. Arnie and Dana being together and happyfeltright and good and perfect. Their joy spread to her.
She returned to the circulation desk just as Jack walked through the library’s front doors and across the foyer. He placed a to-go bag from the deli behind the high desk and pulled a small black object out of his front pocket. “Look what I did!”
“You got a cell phone?” Stella said with a laugh. “Took you long enough.”
He drew her into a quick hug. “Some technology is tooout there, but you badgered me long enough.”
Stella poked her finger into his arm. “Badgeredis a strong word.Encouragedis the one I’d prefer. Besides, most people understand almost zero about how high-tech gadgets work. I just know they work and that’s enough for me.” She pointed to printouts on the desktop. “Any more life decisions?”
Jack picked up the papers, a mix of job descriptions, job applications, and college forms he’d printed out earlier in the week. “A few are rising to the top.”
“Which ones?” Stella asked.
Jack shuffled the papers and handed her two of them. “Licensed practical nurse and massage therapist.”
Stella smirked. “My vote is definitely for massage therapist. I’d willingly be a practice client.”
Jack leaned over and nuzzled her neck. “So noble. Sure you aren’t slanting your opinion for selfish reasons?”
“Never!” Stella teased.
Ariel pushed through the library doors with Liam and his German shepherd, Scout, in tow. Ariel waved dramatically in her canary-yellow scrubs. Her rainbow Crocs squeaked across the polished tile. “I told Liam it was okay to bring in Scout since she’s so well behaved.”
Liam carried another to-go bag from the deli and lifted it in lieu of a wave. He gave Stella a questioning glance, asking with his eyes if it was okay for Scout to be in the library.
“As long as she’s okay with small dogs,” Stella said. Ariel’s face scrunched in confusion. “Toto’s here today.” Stella pointed toward the story time room, which was presently packed with nearly thirty kids.
“Toto?” Liam asked.
Stella’s smile widened. “Dorothy, the Tin Man, Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, and Toto are visiting today.” Stella leaned over the desk toward Ariel and whispered, “And the kidsloveit.”
“Ahh,” Ariel said in recognition. “Theimpersonators.” She glanced toward the story time room. “How could they not love being entertained by real-life characters fromThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz? Would you mind if I skipped lunch and hung out with the kids instead?”
Liam faked disappointment. “What will I tell Scout? She’s been excited about this outing all day.”
