October 30, 1929
Hollywood, California
It was raining the next day as Grace, Kathryn, Lydia, and I entered the library. The raindrops seemed louder with the quiet inside the building. Miss Clampett stood at the circulation desk, checking out a patron, while an older man sat in a chair reading a newspaper and a teenage couple giggled together toward the back of the large room.
“What is the plan?” Grace asked, eyeing Miss Clampett.
“You and the girls will ask her for help in the children’s section, which is in the far back corner of the building,” I whispered. “And while you have her occupied, I will look through the index cards.”
“Is there another employee we need to be worried about?”
I hadn’t thought about that. A quick glance around the room didn’t turn up any possibilities. “We will hope not. If one shows up, hopefully Lydia can distract her or him.”
“Be prepared if there is one,” Grace said to her older daughter.
“How much trouble can you get into if you’re caught?” Lydia asked, her voice low. “Will they kick you out? Revoke your library privileges?”
“Yes,” Grace and I said at the same time.
Kathryn giggled behind her hand. “You sound like that’s the worst punishment possible.”
“It is.” I smiled, but then my humor faded because I realized that if I succeeded and I stayed in 1849, I would not have a library to visit for a long time. All our books had been lost in the hotel fire, and new ones were hard to come by.
“How shall we distract her?” Lydia asked. “What shall we say?”
The smell of paper and ink filled my nose as I thought about how this would work. I was thankful they’d agreed to come because even though Mama had told me to fight for my husband, I knew she didn’t like that I was looking for answers in history books.
“Is there an author you enjoy?” I asked Kathryn. “One that might be difficult to find?”
“In the children’s section?” She smiled. “It’s been a long time since I’ve readThe Tale of Peter RabitorThe VelveteenRabit, Aunt Ally.”
“I need Miss Clampett as far away from the circulation desk as possible, and the children’s section is toward the back of the building.”
“I suppose I can ask for help finding something for one of Julia’s little girls,” Kathryn offered. “There is a children’s novel calledJackanapesby Juliana Horatia Ewing that has been popular in London in my other path. I could ask if she has that one. It might not be easy to find.”
“That would be wonderful.”
I often forgot that both Lydia and Kathryn were crossing time to their other paths, Lydia to 1709 in Massachusetts and Kathryn to 1879 in London.
“This is exciting,” Kathryn said with a gleam in her eye. “I feel like a sleuth.”
“You must give nothing away,” Grace said. “We want Ally to find her information as quickly as possible. Kathryn will come with me, and Lydia can stay with Ally to keep an eye out for her.”
“Thank you.” I smiled at her.
The patron moved away from the counter as we approached. When Miss Clampett saw us, she gave me a wide grin. “It’s so nice to see you again, Miss Bennett. How may I help you?”
“This is my sister,” I said, indicating Grace, not wanting to explain our complicated time-crossing relationship. “And her daughters. They’re visiting from Washington, DC.”
“How lovely.”
“I was inLittle Women,” Lydia said with some self-importance. “The movie.”
“Oh my.” Miss Clampett’s eyes shined. “I am planning to come to the premiere.”
“I hope you enjoy it.”
“We’ve come looking for a book for my nieces,” Grace interrupted her daughter. “What was the name of it?” she asked Kathryn.
