Page 85 of The Library of Second Chances
She scooped up the cat, his furry warmth enveloping her. Harry put his arm around her shoulders and said, ‘Chloe, I’m so glad you’re staying, too.’
‘Me too,’ said Gwen, nodding.
Mrs Cook simply raised her cup in a toast, her eyes twinkling as the library creaked its satisfaction.
The library was back to normal, and it didn’t seem like any more characters would be jumping out of their books anytime soon. One quiet afternoon, when winter rain drummed on the roof, Mrs Cook locked the doors and took Chloe aside.
‘There’s one more thing you should know about this place,’ she said to her. ‘Or, more appropriately, about its occupant.’
They both glanced at Clementine, who was stretching, his mouth open in a big yawn. He looked at them both as if to ask what they were staring at, then gave a soft meow.
‘About the cat?’ asked Chloe.
‘It’ll be easier to show you.’
Mrs Cook led Chloe to the staff room. Chloe hardly used the room except to deposit her bag as the kitchen area was more comfortable. The cramped room was little more than a sink, some lockers they never used, and a few boxes.
Chloe helped Mrs Cook move aside some of the boxes until they came to a safe in the wall. ‘I didn’t know this was here,’ said Chloe in surprise.
‘I don’t use it much,’ Mrs Cook said. ‘But there’s something important in here I want you to see.’
Mrs Cook opened the safe. It was an old-fashioned one with a combination lock. The door swung open, and Chloe, curious, peered inside.
There was only one item inside the safe. A book, old and frayed, with only a hundred or so pages. Mrs Cook reached in and carefully pulled it out. In the faint light of the staff room, Chloe could see the book was glowing.
‘Is this what I think it is?’ Chloe took the proffered book. On the old, worn cover was a cartoonish picture of a cat. A ginger cat with amber eyes and a haughty look.
‘Shortly after I started working here, I saw that this book was glowing,’ said Mrs Cook, a fond look on her face. ‘I suppose your first experience with the library’s magic was the same. I read out a line, and suddenly there was a cat before me. Well, I fell in love with him, and . . .’ She looked at Chloe. ‘I didn’t want to put him back.’
Chloe studied the book’s title and author. She had never heard of them, and she was entirely sure she had not seen this book in the children’s section, either.
‘It’s an unusual story,’ said the librarian. ‘But Clementine doesn’t have a good time in it. It’s a sad story about abuse and abandonment, and . . .’ Mrs Cook pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed her eyes. ‘Oh, how silly of me, getting in such a state. I read the whole story, and there’s a happy ending, but I just couldn’t send him back. I’ve kept that book in the safe for nearly ten years.’
‘Ten years?’ Chloe echoed in awe. ‘Clementine’s been here for that long?’
‘And you know what? In all that time, he’s never gotten sick. Never aged. He eats and he sleeps, but that’s it.’ Mrs Cook sniffled. ‘Do you think I’m a silly old woman, Chloe? Should we send him back to his world, like we sent back the others?’
They were back in the lobby now, Chloe holding Clementine’s book carefully in her hands. Clementine, maybe sensing they were talking about him, came up to them, the bell jingling on his neck.
‘I think,’ said Chloe carefully, ‘that the library just wouldn’t be the same without Clem.’
Clementine meowed softly as she picked him up. He felt every bit as real and wonderful as any real cat. Hewasreal. That was part of the library’s magic. ‘How about it, Clemmy? Would you want to go home?’
Clementine saw the picture on the book cover, purring as Chloe petted between his ears. Then he turned away from it, his tail swishing.
‘I think that Clementine belongs here,’ said Chloe. ‘And that the book belongs in the safe.’
‘I think I just needed to hear it from someone else.’ Mrs Cook picked up the book, handling it gently. ‘I’ll lock this back away and Clementine can stay here. Would you like that, little boy?’
They both cuddled Clementine, feeling his warm fur and his whiskers against their cheeks. It didn’t matter that he was from a book’s world. This was Clem’s home.
Like it was Chloe’s.
EPILOGUE
Two years later
‘ARE YOU SUREyou’re going to be okay, Gwen?’
