Page 7 of The Library of Second Chances
Clementine was alone up here now, and that was just the way he liked it.
He trotted along the tops of the bookshelves among the comforting scent of the books, his paws not making a sound on the wood, though his bell rang if he moved too quickly. He roamed each aisle, acknowledging the space as his own. Humans came here sometimes, yes, but how many of them could say they had climbed the beams and walked across them all, watching the others move around below? How many of them had explored every inch of the library garden? Slept here at night, listening to the building creak?
Clementine reached a section close to the spiral staircase and stopped.
He had spotted something. A cardboard box, sitting between the shelves. Oh, it was beautiful. Clementine meowed his approval, slinking his way around the box, taking in eachexquisite detail: the scratches, the marks and imperfections only added to its appeal. The lid was open, tape still stuck to one part, and when he glanced inside, he was delighted to see it was empty.
The humans had done well, leaving this offering here for him.
Clementine hopped into the box, comforted by the four walls around him. He turned around and settled there, relaxed in this tiny space. What a great find. He would be safe and happy here.
He rolled over, playing inside the box. Then he rolled again.
The box rolled, too.
Clementine gave an annoyed yelp as the box fell onto its side, pinning him against the bookshelf. He meowed ruefully, stuck in the dark. What a silly, silly box. Why would the humans do this to him?
‘Clem! Oh, poor baby.’ With a rustling noise, the box was turned over. Light flooded onto Clementine. He lay on his back, his paws up, highly embarrassed. He quickly rose and leaped out of the nasty box, sitting down to lick his paw with dignity.
‘Are you all right?’ Chloe picked him up, her hands gentle. Her cardigan held a soft, floral scent.
He meowed to her, telling her of his horrible adventure with the box trapping him. She made a sympathetic noise and scratched him between his ears, exactly where he liked it. He couldn’t help purring.
He decided he rather liked Chloe.
CHAPTER FOUR
CHLOE DECIDED TObuy a couple of croissants from a little independent café she had spotted the other day, the Brew House. It looked to be partly a patisserie and partly a café, and she found herself inhaling deeply as the bell jangled above her head and a smiling red-headed woman told her she’d be with her in a minute.
The woman did a double take. ‘Oh my God. Chloe? Is that you?’
Chloe was confused for a second. But then it came to her. Hannah, her friend from school, was working at this café. They both squealed like teenagers and Hannah ran to her, wrapping her arms around Chloe. Chloe squeezed her back, a bit embarrassed but pleased.
‘It’s so great to see you!’ Hannah gushed. ‘How long has it been?’
Since Chloe didn’t much use social media, only her sad fake Instagram where she occasionally stalked Gwen, Chloe and Hannah hadn’t really stayed in touch over the years. That was something she regretted now, and Chloe felt a pang of guilt that she hadn’t made an effort to reconnect with anyone after moving back to Wellbridge. Since then, most of her time had been spent either in the library or at home, with the occasional supermarket trip.
‘It’s been about seven years, I think,’ said Chloe. ‘How are you?’
‘Give me just a sec.’ Hannah scurried back behind the counter, breathless and pink-cheeked. An elderly lady waswaiting for her order, though she didn’t look like she minded the hold-up. ‘I am so sorry. Thank you for waiting. What can I get for you?’
Chloe’s mind spun. Hannah. They had hardly talked since Chloe had moved away from Wellbridge. Hannah had stayed here while Chloe had gone off to university after . . . well, after everything. Their daily chats had become the occasional message, then naturally petered out as they had both moved on. A quick look at her phone confirmed to Chloe that it had been five years since they’d spoken at all, their last message being ‘Happy New Year’ all those years ago. She had to fix that.
Chloe couldn’t deny the charm of a small, family-owned business like this. The till was decorated with countryside-esque ornaments. A gnome grinned up at her beside a stone squirrel with a chipped tail. The piece on the far end was a mouse sipping a cup of tea atop a pile of books. Chloe could almost imagine its little nose twitching.
The elderly woman ordered her drink, and then it was Chloe’s turn. Hannah gave another excited squeal, muffled behind her hands. ‘I didn’t know you were visiting!’
‘I know, I’m sorry. I’m rubbish at staying in touch.’ Chloe glanced behind her when the bell above the door jangled and a man walked inside. She couldn’t stay and chat or she’d hold up the line. She was almost late for her shift anyway. ‘Three lattes to go, please. And three of those chocolate croissants.’ It was still wild to her that the girl she’d had sleepovers with was working at a café now. She looked older but the same, somehow.
‘Three lattes and three croissants, got it,’ said Hannah, professional now. ‘Would you like any syrups today? Hazelnut? Caramel?’ She grinned. ‘Twenty pence extra for one shot.’
‘I’m allergic to nuts,’ Chloe reminded her. ‘There’s none in the croissants, right?’
‘No nuts in those,’ Hannah confirmed. ‘For syrup, we have caramel and vanilla.’
Chloe grinned at Hannah’s forwardness. ‘Oh, go on, then. Caramel in one.’
When Hannah handed her the drinks, Chloe said, ‘Let’s catch up at a less busy time, okay? I’ll message you.’
