The Library by the River by Debra Flores

Author:Debra Flores [Flores, Debra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-05-08T04:00:00+00:00

17

“I’m sorry about Kim, she can be a little…outspoken. At times.”

“Yes, I noticed that,” Sarah said. Head down, cardigan back on, busy stamping dates in a pile of books in front of her. Surprisingly, instead of appearing upset by Kim’s rudeness or the interruption of our lunch, she was smiling.

“She has this thing with a guy on campus, silly back and forth pranks. Maybe he pulled another one on her today. That’s why she was a little testy, you know, back at the restaurant, she’s really not…”

“Beth, you don’t have to apologize for her, it’s okay, I’ve heard worse.” She stamped one more book before lifting her head. “I’m actually glad we ran into her, or…she ran into us. Tracked us down.”

“Really? Why?”

“I just am.” That piercing eye contact again.

“So…you wanted to ask me something?”

“What? Oh, yes. You know the children’s librarian? Ms. Martinez?”

That’s it? Do I know the children’s librarian? That’s why she held my hand? Why was I expecting something more…momentous?

“Yeah, but I haven’t been up there in years, she’s still here?” I’m a bad person, I thought. After discovering the bottom floors, I’d never returned to the third just to visit, say hi, thank her for all those years she helped me to find books, or reach to a high shelf for one. Years of her patiently bringing me puzzles or blocks the library loaned out.

“Yes, she is, but she’s leaving. She’s getting married and moving to the east coast, I can’t recall where, but somewhere out there, Virginia, or Maine? Anyway…”

“She’s getting married? Isn’t she a little…old for that?”

“Beth, she’s in her forties. Or early fifties. But even if she were seventy, you can’t fall in love once you’re past a certain age?”

“No, I mean, yes, I just…I don’t know, she’s a librarian. I never thought about her…dating. It’s weird.”

Her smile slipped.

“I’m a librarian. I can’t have a life outside of the library? Have feelings for someone? Fall in love?”

The back of my neck immediately warmed. Please don’t tell me you’ve fallen in love with someone. Please, just let me live in my little fantasy world for just a bit longer. Don’t shatter it just yet.

“I didn’t mean you, I didn’t…of course you can. I don’t even really think of you as a librarian anymore.”

The smile was back. “That’s good, I think. Anyway, we’re throwing a little going away bash for her, Ms. Martinez, soon to be Mrs. Whatever-her-husband-to-be’s-last-name-is. And I wanted to ask if you’d like to go. To the party. With me. Be my guest.”

She didn’t wince, but her clipped sentences made me think she was hesitant to ask so I answered quickly.

“Yes. I’d be happy to.”

“Yes? Really?”

As if I’d say no. “Yeah, why not? Sounds like fun.” Actually, no, it didn’t sound like fun. I imagined it was going to be pretty boring. A roomful of old folks listening to soft jazz, brandy snifters in hand, everyone discussing Nietzsche and Proust, thick support hoses and elbow patches all around. But, she would be there.

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