Page 76 of The Library of Second Chances
‘Where?’
‘The pub.’ Harry glanced around. ‘The Pride & Pint.’
The Pride & Pint. It was the pub where Gwen worked. Where Chloe and Harry had swapped dinners that time. Maybe Mrs Cook was right, and the characters were going to places Chloeknew and had experienced significant moments. ‘Then let’s get there as quickly as we can. They might need our help.’
They soon found Gwen standing outside the pub, looking anxious as she paced. She gestured them over and pointed through the window. She whispered, ‘Is that the guy from the comic book?’
‘At least he isn’t wearing his superhero outfit,’ said Chloe as she recognised the broad shoulders and dark hair of the American journalist. He was nursing a Budweiser in his large hand as he looked with fascination at a football rerun on the television. Some women in a booth were eyeing him with interest, giggling among themselves.
‘I can’t make him disappear in the middle of the pub,’ murmured Chloe. Asking the proprietor to close it was out of the question. ‘Where are Mrs Cook and Eric? Who has the comic?’
‘Eric has it,’ said Gwen.
Chloe brought out her phone and messaged them.
Found the comic-book superhero. Can you come to the pub on High Street?
The grey speech bubble appeared at the bottom, and Eric responded,We’ve got a situation of our own here. Come to the chapel.
‘The chapel,’ Chloe murmured, staring at her phone. ‘Surely notthatchapel?’
But it made sense, didn’t it? Another place in Wellbridge that held memories for her.
She quickly texted that they would be there soon. The chapel was on the other side of town, but that only meant a fifteen-minute walk. Ten if they hurried. It didn’t look like the superhero was going anywhere anytime soon. Even if Eric texted them the line they needed to say, they couldn’t make him vanish while surrounded by forty or so other people.
‘Gwen, stay here and text us if he leaves,’ said Chloe.
‘I’ll go inside.’ Gwen straightened. ‘Maybe I should talk to him or something. I’ll see if I can get him to come outside . . .’ She trailed off as she marched into the pub, and the sound of loud talking and the scent of beer washed over them for a moment before the door closed behind her. Chloe risked a look, seeing Gwen lean casually against the bar, glancing over to where the superhero sat, still alone for now.
‘I hope Gwen reaches him before those women do,’ said Chloe, anxious as she noted the almost-empty pitcher between the ladies and the way they kept glancing over at the journalist in disguise. There was certainly no sending him back when he was the centre of attention. ‘C’mon, let’s see what Eric and Mrs Cook are doing.’
‘Doesn’t Eric have the books?’ Harry asked as they half jogged along the cobblestone street. People hardly glanced at them as they hurried past, probably assuming they were running to catch a bus. ‘Why does he need us there?’
Eric hadn’t elaborated, but Chloe had a sneaking feeling there was a good reason he needed everybody there.
‘Thanks for being here with me,’ said Chloe as they passed the post office, slowing as they reached a hill. ‘I can’t imagine this is what you thought you’d be doing on your day off, running around after book characters . . .’
‘Chloe, there’s no one else I’d rather be with.’
Chloe’s stomach somersaulted, but she was too nervous to do more than give him a grateful grin. Adding to her worries was the fact they were heading to the place where she and Liam had been about to get married. The last time she’d come here, she had started crying.
Then she’d run into Harry.
She inhaled, filling her lungs with sharp, clean air as they found the chapel grounds. It was at the end of a long streetovergrown with weeds, brown leaves scattered along the grass. Eric waved at them from near the entrance, calling something as he pointed upwards.
‘What’s going on?’ Chloe asked, breathless now. Somehow, being here wasn’t as bad as she’d imagined. Yes, this was where her wedding would have taken place, but it didn’t seem so terrible now. Not with her friends around her and Harry nearby. ‘Where’s the character? Don’t you have their book?’
‘Oh, we have their book.’ Mrs Cook held up the glowing children’s book.
Chloe glimpsed the cover and groaned. ‘Are you kidding me?’
‘The problem is, every time we try to read him the line, he puts his hands over his ears and refuses to listen.’
Chloe grimaced. ‘Well, I’m sure the four of us can overpower him. Where is he?’
Eric pointed upwards. An enormous cat with a red and white stripy hat was clinging to the chapel roof. He had a red bow tie and grinned down at them.
‘That’s a giant cat,’ Harry remarked, as casually as though he were commenting on the weather.
