“I’m not sure. Maybe waitressing at the Big Lake Tavern or working the bar there.” I rest my chin in the palm of my hand. “Still up in the air. I think I will get settled first, and then Savannah will come to hang out with me.”
Odette laughs. “Oh, gosh. You girls here all summer together?”
I shake my head. “Nah, she’s just coming to visit when she can.”
She pats my other hand, which is resting on the table. “Well, you always have a job here if needed.”
The bell chimes above the door, and a man walks in, holdinghands with a little girl. Odette walks over to greet them just as the waitress stands before me, handing me the check.
“Do you want to take anything with you?” She glances over at the leftover food on the plates. Out of my periphery, I see Odette seat a well-built man and his daughter in a booth ahead of me. I try not to stare. I bet his wife will be joining him soon.
“No, I think my eyes were bigger than my stomach.” I laugh. “I was so excited to be back here and got greedy ordering a little of everything, huh?”
The waitress smiles. “So, see you tomorrow then?” She gathers my plates up, and I pick up the check.
“Absolutely,” I tell her, smirking. I take out my wallet and pull out enough cash to cover the bill plus a tip.
Standing, I place my purse across my body and give it a little stretch. I might have to walk around downtown to work off this food. My appetite has been almost zero these days, and even though I was hungry, I got full so quickly. I’m walking down the aisle when a crayon falls at my feet. I bend over, fighting the urge to expel my gingerbread pancakes all over the black and white checkered tiles and retrieve the red crayon from the floor. As I rise, I look at the little girl with big blue eyes and sun-kissed skin. “Hi there. I think this belongs to you.” I tell her as I extend the crayon. She smiles at me, minus a few missing teeth, and I can’t help but smile back at her. She is adorable.
I hear a deep voice speak. “What do you say, Catalina?” The intonation in his voice is warm and melodious, emphasizing the child’s name with an accent. I turn to look toward the masculine voice when I am hit with the most stunning blue eyes I have ever seen, the same ones on the little girl across from him, who is undoubtedly his daughter. His deep, piercing eyes are like a clear blue sky—the calm before a storm. The bright color contrasts with his tawny skin, along with his curly black hair hanging around his face in a mop of ringlets. My gaze sweeps downward toward his chiseled jaw and the neatly trimmed facial hair that outlines his… frown? My eyes squint in confusion.
“Thank you.” I hear the little voice speak, and it startles me. I realize that I was staring at her dad, hervery attractivedad, who isnotlooking at me the same way I was looking at him. Embarrassment ensues, and my cheeks suddenly feel extremely hot. I abruptly turn to her.
“You’re very welcome.” Before it gets any more awkward, I bolt from the spot, waving at Odette as I leave the diner. Then I turn, walking down the sidewalk. I blow a puff of air at a strand of hair that has come loose from my messy bun. When I look in through the window to get one more look at the fine specimen of a man who looked at me with loathing, I see him staring at me. He doesn’t smile at me, and I don’t smile back.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Iwalk down Main Street feeling off-kilter. Instead of walking to my car and driving home, I pocket the car keys and continue toward the place that always makes me feel better, where I can get lost for hours and travel to a place without leaving the room. I look both ways before crossing the street and running up the few steps that lead to the familiar old brick building. The historical plaque out front dates the library’s founding in 1880, and the soldier’s memorial is below the dates. I touch it like I always do before walking in the double doors, paying homage to the fallen from our town.
The smell of wood polish and the musty aroma of books assault my senses as I scan the large room on both sides, looking for Penny, the town librarian. The door closes loudly behindme, and I hear a voice coming from downstairs. “Hi. If you need something, let me know.” I smile, recognize that voice, and follow it downstairs to where the entire floor is dedicated to children’s and young adult books. I carefully take the stairs, which someone built in a different era, because the steps are small and narrow. I stoop down to avoid hitting my head on the last steps with the low clearance area before I step onto the hardwood floors. I turn to the right, where the lift was recently installed for those unable to take the stairs. My mom worked hard to help raise the money for this vital necessity for our town library. This assistance has made it possible for those who could not climb the stairs to access the library’s top floor or take the granite steps through the entrance to enjoy all that the library has to offer.
I see Penny reshelving returned library books with her cart and stops right before I reach her. She turns around. “Hi, do you need—” She stops mid-sentence and throws her arms around me. “Nadia, it’s so good to see you here!” She pulls me back to look at her, and tears pool in her eyes. “I didn’t think you would come after all this summer.” I nod in understanding.
“I know. Honestly, I wasn’t sure either, but I just couldn’t stay in that house in the city any longer. It seemed like the right choice.” She smiles.
“I’m so glad you did.” She places the books she was holding in one hand back on the cart.
“I wanted to thank you, Penny, for attending my parents’ funeral. Your presence meant the world to me. I was surprised at how many people from the town were there.” Penny raises her hand and gently places it on my shoulder.
“Nadia, you know how much we adore you. Most of us have known your mother for ages. She did so much volunteer work with the library, and we will miss her so much.” I raise my hands quickly before dropping them at my side.
“Well, I am here all summer, so you’ll see a lot of me.” I shrug.
“I’m so glad. Did you come just to say hi, or did you want to stock up on some reading material to enjoy in your hammock?” She waggles her eyebrows. I laugh at the gesture.
“Yep. That, too,” I add. “You know that I’m a sucker for a goodbeach read from my favorite Nantucket authors.”
“Well, you’re in luck.” She tucks her arm in mine, ushering me upward. “She has a new release I just put out front this morning. I don’t think anyone has been in to check it out yet. I’ll grab it for you.” She halts. “Or is there anything else you want to look at down here?” She releases my arm. “Why don’t you look to see if there’s anything else you might want to add to that?” She walks up the stairs and pauses midway, arching her back to avoid the low ceiling. “And Nadia, I am happy you’re here.” She smiles one last time before disappearing up the steps. I hear the electronic chime letting me know another patron has entered. I search the YA section and pick up three Romantasy books about kings, queens, and cruel princes, then decide this is enough for now.
I reach the checkout section at the front of the library, and Penny hands a couple of kids some bookmarks to accompany their books. Each child has one book, and the mom mumbles something to the little boy she is holding. They walk out holding hands, and I place my books on the counter. Penny’s eyes spark in amusement at my book selection. She hands the book over with a due date slip tucked into the front of the first book. She taps the book on top. “I loved this trilogy. So good.” I stand there in shock.
“You,” I point at her, “like Romantasy novels?” She laughs.
“Of course I do. I read many different types of books, Nadia.” She says with a wink as she pushes the books in my direction. “Oh, and bonus points if there’s a dragon.”
I chuckle, clearly amused at envisioning Penny reading a dragon fantasy series tucked under the covers with a night-light illuminating the foil cover of the book. “Good to know,” I counter as I pick up the stack and walk toward the front entrance.
“Nadia.” I turn back to look at her. “I just wanted to let you know that a couple of people have nominated your mother for this year’s Volunteer of the Year award. I didn’t want you to be surprised if she won and was hoping you’d be around to accept the award if she did.” I nod. I am fully aware of what this is and what it entails. I had helped my mom set up for the ceremony, where the volunteer receives a gift card to our local bookstore and a plant while they discuss the contributions that person made to help thelibrary thrive. They also get their name on a plaque that displays the current and past members who have received this award for their generous contributions. It currently hangs by the front entrance.
