Page 15 of The Secret Librarian
The door swinging open and the man’s face appearing took her by surprise just as she was about to turn her back and plonk herself down on the concrete step. She quickly ran her hands down her skirt, hoping she didn’t look too dishevelled after so long travelling.
‘Ahh, I’m Avery. I was told you’d be expecting me.’
He ran his fingers through his hair, which made it stick up even more. He was American, perhaps a little older than her, and she noticed how bloodshot his eyes were, and wondered if he might be unwell or had just gotten out of bed, despite the advanced hour.
‘You’rethe new microfilm man?’ He looked thoroughly confused. ‘From the IDC?’
‘That’s me, aside from themanpart, of course. I was told the apartment at this address was where I was supposed to stay. I take it I have the right place?’ She grimaced. ‘Although I’m feeling more and more as if perhaps you weren’t expecting me.’
He cleared his throat and immediately opened the door wide, coming out far enough to take Avery’s largest suitcase from her. ‘Sorry, you’ve taken me a bit by surprise. I was told you’d be here this week, but I actually didn’t think you’d be here before I left. Not to mention the whole gender misunderstanding, which I apologise profusely for. I’d intended to leave the key under the flower pot.’
‘Left?’ She hoisted up her other bag and shut the door behind her, following him up the stairs. ‘You’re leaving here?’
‘I’ve been posted elsewhere; I leave the day after tomorrow. Didn’t anyone tell you?’
When they stepped into the apartment, it was very clear that whoever this man was, he’d been living alone and most definitely hadn’t been expecting company. There were things strewn everywhere, including bowls and cutlery, and an open bag on the small dining table was stuffed full with belongings, not to mention stacks of newspapers piled high on the floor.
‘Excuse the mess. If I’d known you were arriving ...’
Avery kept hold of her bag, deciding not to put it down on the floor, which looked equally in need of a good clean. ‘If you could just point me in the direction of my bedroom ...’
‘Sorry, where are my manners,’ he said. ‘Tom.’
‘Avery,’ she said, reluctantly letting her bag go and sticking out her hand. ‘You’re a librarian too?’ she asked.
‘No, I was a research assistant at Harvard before they recruited me for this job. It’s a pretty good posting, if I’m honest. Lisbon is an easy place to enjoy yourself.’
Avery nodded, not sure whether she was pleased he was leaving or sad. She’d certainly never lived alone before, but then she’d never shared accommodation with a man other than her father either.
‘The bedroom?’ she reminded him.
‘Ahh, yes, sorry, I have a few things in there. I’ll clean them out straight away.’ He dashed down the hall ahead of her. ‘I’ve been here a month on my own now. There were two of us but he was posted elsewhere – Stockholm, I think?’
Avery stood and waited, pushing her damp hair off her face and wishing she could draw herself a bath and soak in the hot water until it went cold. She felt as if she’d been travelling for days.
‘Sorry, one more question. Where would I freshen up?’ she asked, when he came past with his second armful of things and announced the room was ready.
‘Down the hallway and to the left. We share with one other apartment, but he’s barely ever there.’
Avery nodded and took her bags into the room, pulling the drapes wide and letting some light in. It was small but comfortable enough, with a narrow wardrobe and a desk and chair in the corner. She had a few possessions from home to liven it up, and she was certain there would be things to buy locally to make it feel more like a home. Either way, it was her own space, and for that she was grateful.
‘Avery?’
She looked up expectantly. Tom stood at the door, his face hovering between a smile and uncertainty. She realised that, despite his mess, she’d immediately warmed to him, and was starting to wish that he was staying simply because she was nervous about being alone.
‘I’ll let you get settled in tonight, but tomorrow night me and some of the guys are heading to the Hotel Avenida, a going-away drinks of sorts in my honour. You’re welcome to join us if you’d like?’
‘I’d love to, thanks for asking.’
He gave her a long look, as if there might have been something else he was going to say, but she spoke before he did.
‘Tom, I was told that someone would walk me through the process here – how to get the microfilm back to Washington and such. Is that person you?’
He laughed. ‘They didn’t walk you through all that during training?’
‘You could say that my training was rather expedited, and although I know we use a diplomatic pouch, they told me there’d be someone on the ground to help with logistics when I arrived.’
‘You only had a few weeks of training?’ he asked.
