Page 89 of Summer Reading

“Not exactly what I had in mind when I suggested my place,” he said. His look was pointed, and I felt a thrill rocket though me.

“Oh... okay.” I nodded. “Tyler is going out with his friends after the program. I’m a free agent for a few hours.”

“Excellent. Wear the chef coat,” he said. He wagged his eyebrows and with a wink, he left to go meet with the board member.

I heaved a massive sigh as I joined Em in the doorway.

“You’ve got it bad,” she said. “You didn’t even sigh like that over Timmy Montowese back in the day.”

“I didn’t?” I asked. “That’s shocking because Timmy has been the gold standard by which I have judged all other men.”

Em laughed, which was my intention. She lookedyounger when she laughed. Less weighed down by life, I supposed.

I waited a beat and then asked, “How are you doing?”

She turned to look at me. She pushed her glasses up on her nose, her eyes wide behind the lenses. “I’m better.”

“As in all better?” I asked. That seemed fast.

“No,” she said. “But Dr. Davis was able to fit me into her schedule, and at our first session, I got a very good vibe off her. I think she can help me figure things out.”

“That’s great, Em,” I said. I glanced at her neck where the bandage had been and now there was just a little pink pucker of new skin.

“I applied for a job in Ireland, and if I get it, I’m going to leave the island,” she said. Then she turned to me as if shocked that she’d said such a thing. “Please don’t tell anyone I said that.”

“Of course not,” I replied.

“I have to figure out how to tell my mom,” Em said. “I expect it will be difficult.”

“I’m here,” I said. “For whatever you need. To practice what you want to say to her or to arrive at your bedroom window in the middle of the night in a flying car to whisk you away to wherever you want to go.”

Em laughed. “Just like inHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.”

“Movie was better than the book,” I said. Just to rile her.

She gave me an arch look that said quite clearly she was not going to take the bait. I grinned. These librarians were so easy.

“When will you leave?” I asked.

“I have to get the job first,” she said. “That’s why I’m waiting. Well, that and Dr. Davis said I need to do some work on myself before I make any hasty leaps into the unknown.”

“That seems reasonable,” I said. “Do you want me to promise to kick you in the behind if you lose your momentum?”

“You don’t have to sound so eager,” she said. Then she nodded. “Yes, please.”

“I’ll be gentle,” I said.

She laughed, and we headed back inside.

I gave Tyler some money so he could go into town with his friends, because apparently they hadn’t eaten enough walking tacos, chicken and waffle sandwiches, cheese fries, and milkshakes and were off to forage for more food. When they left, I saw him offer his hand to Sophie, and when she took it, I felt my heart melt a little bit. Then I had a flash of fear. What if Sophie broke Tyler’s heart? How would I deal with that? I hadno idea. I sent a silent plea out to the universe that if my brother got hurt, it was not on my watch.

When I finished packing up my car, I drove over to Ben’s place. I kept my chef coat on, per his request, and only felt a little ridiculous when I knocked on his door.

Ben’s place was an adorable two-bedroom cottage, tucked away on a cul-de-sac near the library. It was set back from the road in a copse of leafy oak trees. A climbing rosebush with pink blossoms the size of my fist went up one side of the porch and down the other, creating a magical archway over the house.

I had been over before but usually we just ducked in and then left, because we were on our quest to find his dad and I didn’t like to leave Tyler home alone. But tonight, for at least a little while, I was off duty and we were not sleuthing.

Ben opened the door, and before I could even say hello, he was pulling me into the house and into his arms as if he hadn’t seen me in a week instead of a half hour.

---