‘Pleased to meet you,’ she said, smiling. Glancing over at the small boy on the beanbag, she said, ‘And this has to be Theo, right?’
‘It sure is,’ Aiden replied with a huge grin across his face.
‘Well, there’s no mistaking he belongs to you. Two peas in a pod,’ she exclaimed, passing him the tray before she knelt down next to the little boy, who looked up at her with huge hazel eyes.
‘You’re a handsome little fellow, aren’t you?’ She held out her hand towards him. ‘I’m Elle, and I’m very pleased to meet you.’
Theo looked up towards his dad before his wide eyes met hers again.
‘Shake Elle’s hand,’ Aiden encouraged.
Theo shyly grabbed her hand before letting go and hiding his hand behind his back. He had such an adorable face.
‘It was lovely to meet you both – oh and you too, Theo.’ Theo gave her a cheeky smile over his shoulder. He was now holding on to the edge of the shelf, happily pulling off every children’s book he could lay his hands on and stacking them in a pile on the floor.
Pippa was hovering at the back of the room, helping a student. As Elle headed back towards the reception desk, she noticed that Jenny had disappeared. She looked around the library then spotted her through the window walking across the courtyard. Elle didn’t like to see anyone upset and hoped that whatever was troubling Jenny would sort itself out soon.
‘Gosh, what’s that?’ she murmured. Sitting in the middle of the front desk was a parcel wrapped in pink birthday paper and bound with ribbon.
She fixed her gaze on the handwritten label.
It read:For Elle Cooper
Elle looked over her shoulder and swung her gaze around the library but there wasn’t anyone nearby and she couldn’t work out where the parcel had come from. Aiden was by the door, saying goodbye to Theo and Louisa’s parents and Pippa was up in the galleried landing. The library had been extremely quiet this morning, and in the past ten minutes she hadn’t noticed anyone else pass through.
She slid the parcel towards her, picked it up and turned it over. There was no postage mark so Elle knew it must have been hand delivered.
‘Pippa!’ she whispered loudly and held up the parcel.
‘What have you there?’ Pippa asked, heading down the stairs and walking towards her. ‘Who is it from?’
Elle shrugged. ‘I found it on the desk.’
Pippa peered over her shoulder. ‘It’s addressed to you. Another birthday present! Come on, open it,’ she encouraged.
Grasping hold of the ribbon Elle pulled, then ripped open the wrapping paper.
Staring back at her was a copy of Sam Stone’s new book. She picked it up and flipped it over.
‘I don’t understand,’ she murmured, mystified. ‘It doesn’t say who has sent it. There’s no note or card.’
‘I don’t understand either,’ replied Pippa. ‘We already have one in the library.’ Taking the book from Elle’s hand she fanned through the pages, then gasped loudly. She grabbed hold of Elle’s arm then wafted her hand frantically.
‘Are you having a heart attack?’ Elle asked, not sure if she should be amused or concerned by her friend’s antics.
Pippa thrust the book back towards her. Her eyes were wide and she could barely speak. Waggling her finger towards the book, she stuttered, ‘L-Look at the front page!’
Elle did as instructed and opened the book to the first page. Wide-eyed she looked back at Pippa.
‘Holy moly!’
It read:
Dear Elle,
Happy birthday!
Best wishes,
