The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate

The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate

Author:Lisa Wingate
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2020-04-06T16:00:00+00:00


CHAPTER 16

BENNY SILVA—AUGUSTINE, LOUISIANA, 1987

I have a sense of déjà vu as I stand in the farmers market parking lot, watching Nathan Gossett’s truck pull in. Except I am exponentially more nervous this time. After a long confab with Sarge last night at my house and a few phone calls, incredible plans are falling into place, but most of them depend on Nathan’s cooperation.

Was it only a week ago that I ambushed him, seeking permission to enter Goswood Grove House? He couldn’t possibly know what that key has led to. I hope I can do a coherent job of sharing the vision with him.

In hindsight, a good night’s sleep might have been a wise idea, but nerves and caffeine will have to do. Sarge and I were up late, scheming and arranging for a few volunteers.

I clench and unclench my fingers, then shake out my hands like a sprinter about to run the hundred-yard dash. This is for all the marbles. I’m ready to put forth a sound argument, and, if necessary, grovel. Although I must be quick about it. I need to have my act together at school this morning. A very special guest speaker has been arranged for my freshmen, sophomore, and combination junior/senior classes today, courtesy of my new friend Sarge.

If all that goes well, we’ll have the speaker come back another day to talk with my first and second period seventh and eighth graders. With some luck, my students are about to embark on a journey that none of us could’ve imagined two weeks ago. One that the dreamer in me truly believes has the potential to plant seeds. Sarge is not nearly so optimistic about it, but she is at least willing to come along for the ride.

Nathan stiffens defensively when he spots me crossing the parking lot on an intercept course. His lips circle around an exhale of air and sound. The muscles in his cheek tighten, momentarily obliterating the little cleft in his chin. He’s sporting a five o’clock shadow, which, I am suddenly aware, does not look bad on him.

The observation hits me by surprise, and I find myself blushing when first we speak.

“If you’re here to give me a report, I don’t need one. I don’t want one.” He lifts both hands, palms facing outward, a gesture that says, I have no further involvement in this. “I told you, I don’t care what comes out of the library. Take what you can use.”

“It’s more complicated than I thought. With the library, I mean.”

He winces in a way that says he regrets having given me that key.

At this point, full steam ahead is my only option. “I’ve already stocked some shelves in my classroom. Your grandfather was quite a book lover.” I stop short of saying that the judge was a book hoarder—I’ve met a few in my bookstore years. I’d be surprised if there weren’t more books in other rooms of the house, but I haven’t snooped. “I have multiples of things like encyclopedia sets and Reader’s Digest Classics.



Download



Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.