“It’s not good to spend all day in the library,” she cautioned. “And that’s coming from me.”
It was true that no one loved the library as much as Linda did. For all the years she had put into building up the place and community around it, they should have probably named it after her at some point.
I smiled back. “Yeah, right,” I teased. “I know we’ll be seeing you a few times a week after you officially retire.”
“Twice a week,” she answered. “To get new books. But outside of that, I’m spending my time with Marsha. I have a busy schedule of napping in the hammock and devouring fancy dinners planned with my wife, and she does not take kindly to a cancellation.”
I chuckled. “You’ve earned it. I just hope I can have as much of an impact here over my time as you have.”
Linda pulled a stack of books out from behind the desk, shuffling through them while we talked. “You’re certainly well loved, Malcolm. That’s a big part of it. It’s that smile of yours. You’re cute as the dickens.”
I pretended to defer with a wave of my hand. “Do go on,” I joked.
“But I hope you know I would never have been able to thrive here without a happy life at home. Marsha made me stronger and more successful than I ever would have been alone.”
“I’m sure she would say the same about you.”
“She would! And she wouldn’t be lying. But it’s really the home we made together that matters. Your home provides you the happiness and security you need to make a difference out in the world.” She patted my arm, smiling at me warmly. “If you’re hiding out at work all day, that tells me you need a bit more going on outside of the library.”
I tapped my fingers against the desk, then noticed a few kids running toward the counter, ready to check out their books. “Thanks, Linda,” I said quickly. “I appreciate the advice.”
She shrugged. “Just passing on what I know.” When the kids approached, she rose up tall, a big grin filling her face. “And who is ready toread?” she asked enthusiastically, earning some giggles and cheers from the kids.
The rest of the afternoon rushed by so fast, I barely had time to think about Linda’s advice. It wasn’t anything I hadn’t heard before, and I knew I could get a bit trapped in my routine sometimes. It was just a lot easier to talk about switching things up than it was to actually change the routine.
Heading down the stone stairs and back toward my apartment, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I figured it was just my mother, unsatisfied with how brief our earlier conversation had been. When I pulled it out, however, it was an unrecognized local number.
“Hello?” I answered. “This is Malcolm.”
“Hi Malcolm,” Gunner answered, the breathy tease in his voice instantly recognizable. “Ready for that date?”
