Page 84 of The Library of Second Chances
Everyone looked at Harry, who set his coffee cup down on the reception table. He looked suddenly nervous, and Chloe couldn’t help wondering if there was something he had done. Something he could control here, too.
‘You said this library takes a liking to people, right?’ he said. ‘Well, ever since I met Chloe, I feel like I’ve been given a second chance. I didn’t think I deserved love again after my wife passed away, but . . .’ He took Chloe’s hand.
She felt Eric, Mrs Cook and Gwen watching them, but she only had eyes for Harry. His closeness was electrifying.
‘Maybe I’m reading this all wrong, but I don’t mind,’ Harry said softly. ‘I’m ready.’
He smiled around at the group. ‘Chloe and I are going out. She’s my girlfriend. And not a secret girlfriend, either,’ he added. ‘That is, if you’ll let me be your boyfriend.’
Gwen whooped, looking delighted. ‘I knew it.’
Eric looked comically crestfallen, while Mrs Cook beamed at them both.
‘If this is my second chance, I’m taking it with both hands and a whole heart,’ said Harry. ‘What do you say, Chloe?’
Chloe couldn’t help feeling the same. This was her second chance, too, after living a life of fear after her ex, always wanting to escape somewhere new and start again. But right now, this was where she belonged. With this library, with her sister, in the town where she grew up.
With Harry.
‘Yes,’ she said with a giggle. ‘I’ll be your girlfriend.’
He hugged her close, and the library lit up with a warm glow. Everyone gasped as the bookshelves righted themselves, rising from the floor to settle onto the carpet with gentle thuds. Books swept from the floor and flew back to their places, covers flapping like wings, and settled on the shelves side by side. Debris that had fallen swept up to the walls and the ceiling, dust collecting into a neat pile and depositing itself in the bin. The whole building creaked as the library straightened up, broken things fixing themselves. In moments, it was good as new. Even the carpet looked cleaner, the wooden walls shining like polished brass and the lanterns glowing happily in their squeaky-clean glass holders.
‘The window?’ Chloe asked, and they all went to the non-fiction section in time to see the shattered glass rising from the carpet, coming together like shards of a jigsaw puzzle and slotting into place. The cold air blowing from inside halted and the curtains fluttered as though pleased.
‘All along,’ said Mrs Cook in amusement, her hands on her hips, ‘you could keep yourself clean and tidy. Fancy that.’
‘The leak in the roof!’ Chloe exclaimed. ‘You didn’t need fixing, did you?’
The lanterns glimmered. A ripple of amusement.
‘The library knew I had borrowed that book about construction and knew I would come here to fix the roof,’ said Harry.
‘So we would meet again,’ said Chloe. Her heart felt light. All along, the library had wanted them to find each other.
Harry kissed her, and she laughed against his lips. ‘We fixed the magic.’
‘I don’t think it was broken to begin with,’ said Gwen, looking around in awe. ‘The library wanted to give you both a newchance at life. At love.’ Her eyes went glassy. ‘Chloe, I swear I’ll never say books or reading are boring again. I am so happy for you both.’
‘So am I.’ Eric looked between them. ‘All right, I know Chloe issuper-hot, but I’m a bit young for you, I know that now. Plus, you did tell me no.’ He held out a hand to Harry, his face solemn. The women glanced at each other then looked away, trying not to laugh. ‘Take good care of her, Harry. Thank you for making her happy.’
Harry shook Eric’s hand, then gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. ‘And thank you for being her friend.’
Gwen hugged Chloe, and Chloe hugged her back, relishing her sister’s warm embrace. She realised she didn’t feel worried at all. Harry and Gwen knew each other and that was okay. She trusted them both.
‘Well, now that Chloe and Harry have found their happy endings, do you promise not to let any more characters out of their books?’ Mrs Cook asked the library. ‘Well, not dozens of them at once, anyway. We don’t mind if books glowsometimes.’
Clementine appeared, meowing as he curled around Eric’s leg.
‘Clem!’ Chloe exclaimed. The cat didn’t look any worse for wear, though he seemed relieved that it was quiet and peaceful in the library again.
Eric picked him up, cuddling the purring cat close to his chest. ‘Are you all right, little boy? Was it scary and noisy in here?’
The library felt warm and cosy again, and there was no sign of the mayhem that had erupted here today. Mrs Cook held her latte in her hands, her eyes crinkling as she looked between Chloe and Harry. ‘All this trouble for a new librarian. The library must love you.’
‘I love the library, too.’ Chloe hesitated. ‘And I’ve decided to stay. I can’t possibly imagine living or working anywhere else.’ She knew the words to be wholly true as she squeezed Harry’s hand. ‘Or . . . being with anyone else.’
‘So you’re staying?YES!’ Eric whooped. Clementine leaped out of his arms, regarding the young man with disdain. His bell jangled as Chloe knelt to pet him. ‘Don’t tell me the cat is magical, too?’ she asked Mrs Cook. ‘He always seems to understand everything I say.’
