Page 7 of Rekindled

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Waves of unwanted feelings surged through Molly as she entered the Bayfield Public Library. The last time she was there, she had been with Spencer, tutoring him while they continued their secret relationship. She had no idea, a week later, her life would blow up because of it.

A group of children ranging from toddlers to preteens were gathered on the rug in front of a small cleared area with an empty chair in the middle. Behind the children, there were rows of chairs where parents, library staff, and reporters were sitting.

Not wanting to be noticed, Molly slipped into a chair at the back of the room.

A gray-haired woman with glasses took to the front of the stage. She smiled out at everyone assembled. “Good afternoon, everyone. We’re so glad you all could make it today. My name is Lucille Baldwin. I’ve been the head librarian here at the Bayfield Library for over twenty years, and I’m truly honored to introduce our guest reader today. I remember when he sat at these very tables to study while he was in high school, and then again as a college student. Now today, he returns as the senior public defender for Bayfield. Please give a warm welcome to Spencer Conrad.”

The crowd clapped as Spencer took to the stage. He waved to the children as he picked up the book and sat in the empty seat.

Despite her own resistance, Molly had to admit, Spencer still looked as handsome as ever. The past ten years had treated him well, and not only had his good looks not diminished, they seemed to be even more potent than before.

He started to readThe Giving Tree,making sure to change his voice for each of the characters, and also pausing when appropriate for dramatic affect.

As he read to the kids, capturing their attention with his flawless acting skills, Molly wondered how much of what he was doing was a façade. He wouldn’t be the first public official that was working an angle. He could very well have political ambitions. If that was the case, he could be using his time as a public defender to garner the townspeople’s goodwill.

Her mind recalled the details her boss gave her accusing Spencer Conrad of making secret deals with the district attorney. Her boss was so certain there was enough validity to the rumor, he sent her to Bayfield to investigate further.

If Spencer was wanting to jump into a political career, it would explain why he would be willing to trade information for a high-win rate. It would give him the reputation he would want to make a formidable run in the future.

Spencer finished reading the first book. He closed it and placed it on the ground beside him.

“Can you read another one, mister,” one of the little boys asked.

“Mr. Conrad is a busy man with an important job,” Lucille explained. “It was kind of him to come and read to us, but we should let him get back to work.”

“It’s all right, Mrs. Baldwin, I can read the kids another book. What would you guys like me to read?” Spencer asked the children.

For the next several seconds, the group of kids shouted out popular children’s book titles.

“I think I heard several requests for Dr. Seuss, so if Mrs. Baldwin would be kind enough to get me one,” he said looking at the older woman, “I’ll be happy to read it.”

As she listened to Spencer’s melodic reading voice recite the lines toGreen Eggs and Ham, her mind drifted back to when they first formed a romantic connection.

“Are you sure this first paragraph makes sense?” Spencer asked as he pointed to the paper between them. “It’s important that it makes sense since the rest of the essay is based on the argument in it.”

Molly read the paragraph a third time. She looked up into Spencer’s expectant eyes. The intensity she saw in them made her heart flip-flop.

“You did a great job, Spencer. Each of your essays is getting better, which is exactly what we want. You’re smart; you just have to apply yourself.”

“Thanks,” he said with a grin. “No one’s ever cared about whether I was smart or not. My dad put my brother and me into sports ever since we could walk. Once they saw I had a natural ability for it, they never cared about anything else.”

“That’s a shame,” Molly stated with a disappointed look. “You’ve got a great brain. Your dad should be encouraging you to use it, rather than letting you get it smashed in during football every season.”

Spencer let out a chuckle. “I like how you put that, because when my right guard doesn’t do his job, that’s exactly how it feels when I get tackled—like my brain is being scrambled.”

“That’s awful. You really should think about doing something else with your life.”

“Everyone expects me to get a football scholarship at a minimum, but my dad is hoping I will get drafted into the National Football League.”

“What do you want?” Molly inquired.

He tilted his head to the side as his face scrunched up the way it often did when he was thinking. “I don’t know. No one has ever asked me that before.”

“Well, they should have. It’s your life. You should be happy with the choices you make in it, not just settle for whatever everyone else tells you to want.”

“Thank you,” Spencer said as he reached out and placed his hand on top of hers, which was resting on the table. “No one has ever cared enough to talk to me this way.”

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