I’ve always imagined a relationship like that. Where Valentine’s Day is just another day to show up and to love each other.
It’s possible I’ve read too many fairy tales. Sometimes that’s the best you have.
I jerk slightly when a door slams somewhere in the building. When I look at the clock, I grimace. I’ve done what happens far too often—I got lost writing to Ford. After quickly picking up my mess, I tuck the letter away to finish up later.
When I slip back into place at my station, Reba gives me a soft smile. She’s a nice woman who really likes me. She’s also old enough to be my grandmother and doesn’t take any guff.
Or tardiness.
“I’m sorry,” I cut her off at the pass, knowing it’s the only way. “But I was almost on time.”
Reba scoffs and rears back slightly while folding her arms as if she’s settling in to give me a lesson. “Almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.”
I scrunch up my face, but don’t bother replying. I’m not even sure I know what that means.
Reba huffs softly. “You spend too much time in your head, Arden.” She reaches over and grabs my hand gently. “You might miss something right in front of you because your head is in the clouds instead of right here where it belongs.”
“I rather enjoy escaping reality in various ways, Reba. You know that.”
“I know you have your nose stuck in a book most of the time, but that’s if you’re not hunched over paper and writing like your husband is off to war.”
My mouth drops open; I’m not sure if it’s because of how it looks when I’m writing and she’s seen me, or how she just laid it out there.
“It’s not a bad thing,” she assures me and gives my hand a squeeze, “and everyone benefits from having a hobby.” Her eyebrow arches, the look on her face a reminder that she is the postmaster for our small-town post office, a job she’s had for years. “Just don’t let them interfere with work.”
The number of years she’s worn the uniform is staggering. I’m not entirely sure how I feel about it. I’ve always wanted to ask her if she had dreams outside of the post office and her career here. I know I do, I hope she did to.
What do I know? Maybe her dreams came true.
It wouldn’t exactly be polite of me to ask. But that doesn’t mean I’m not curious.
“Of course, Reba. I apologize.”
What she doesn’t need to know is how I could have sat there a lot longer and written my letter. It’s a problem I have when I’m writing the man who went from a silly crush when I was younger, to a full-blown infatuation.
“I’ll keep a better eye on the time during my break,” I promise.
And I mean to keep it. Whether it happens or not remains to be seen.
The smile she gives me is indulgent, like a tub of cool whip kind of indulgent. I’m sure she has more to say. I can practically see the words on the tip of her tongue.
Thankfully, she doesn’t get the chance to voice them. The chime above the door goes off as Reba slips away. I wonder if it’s because Mrs. Riley is the one bustling inside.
“Oh, Arden,” she gushes as she barrels toward me. I’ve never been happier to be behind a desk as I am right now. “Just the lady I was looking for.”
“Me?” I almost look behind me to see if she’s talking to someone else. Yes, she said my name, but maybe there’s aFreaky Fridaything going on here I’m not aware of.
“Of course,” she fawns all over my desk with a smile on her face like she’s about to sell me ice in the middle of a blizzard. “I was hoping, if it’s not too much trouble, to put a flyer in your window for the library’s raffle fundraiser this year.” I open my mouth to tell her she can, but she quickly adds, “We’re having a casino night. I tried to talk them into a bachelor action, but it was shot down.”
When I giggle, I clamp my lips together and nod sagely because she looks incredibly serious right now. Mrs. Riley has been Seneca Fall’s librarian for years.
Huh. I’m sensing a pattern.
“I guess the only question is,” I pause and she arches an eyebrow as if I wouldn’t dare to not allow her to put up the sign, “do you need any tape?”
She grins and chuckles before shaking her finger at me in admonishment. “You had me going there for a moment, Arden.” She clicks her tongue and purses her lips. “You better buy some raffle tickets for that one.”
“I was already planning on it. I’ll stop by and get them on my break tomorrow,” I assure her.
