Page 56 of Must Love Libraries and Libations
“Sorry to leave you. When the truth finally dawns on her, it’s going to be ugly.”
“I’ll set the kettle on, but you’d best hurry off. When the news hits… Well, you ought to go.”
“Thank you, Papa.” I chuckled lightly. “Sorry, again. See you tonight?”
“Be there with bells on,” he said, wagging his bell-bedecked slippers at me.
Elves.
I kissed my father on the cheek, then headed off once more. The cottage I shared with my mother and father would always be home, but soon, I would start a new chapter. Excitement filled me when I allowed the image to form in my mind. My own house. My garden. My friends on the porch. And once again, to my surprise, and maybe dismay, I envisioned Erasmus leaning against the frame of the front door.
“Not today. I am not thinking of you, especially today,” I said aloud to the absent gargoyle, then headed into the village.
That gargoyle had ruined enough already. He wouldn’t ruin my fantasies too.
This girl had sparkle to attend to.
Even if, in the deep recesses of my heart, I still held on to hope.
Once I reached the village, the events of the day took charge. I stopped first at Mister Underbridge’s office to sign papers to acquire my new home.
“The estate is glad it’s going to a Moonshine Hollow local,” Mister Underbridge said as he looked over the papers through his round spectacles, stamping them complete. “As am I,” he added, stamping the last one then setting it aside. “I’ll drop these by the bank. You’ll need to visit them tomorrow to complete the paperwork there.”
“Very well,” I replied.
Smiling, Mister Underbridge slid a large, steel key across the table to me. “Technically, I’m not supposed to give that to you until you sign at the bank, but everyone knows you’re a trustworthy businesswoman, Miss Windsong. And I trust my daughter will hear from you soon?”
“I will call on her tomorrow.”
“Ah, very good,” he said, then rose, extending his hand. “Congratulations on your new home.”
“Thank you, sir,” I replied, shaking his hand. And then, with tepid fingers, I lifted the key from the desk. “Wow,” I said, my voice shaking.
Mister Underbridge laughed. “How many times have your parties made me say ‘wow.’ For once, I am the maker of merriment.”
I laughed and slipped the key into my basket. “Thank you again.”
And with that, I departed.
My heart feeling light, I turned to my work. I found myself running from shop to shop, making sure everything would be ready for the party, but the hard work didn’t matter. My heart felt happy.
After running a million errands, I finally returned to the library to find the final preparations well underway.
I glanced toward the library windows, hoping to see Erasmus there. I expected to find him scowling out at the lawn, annoyed by all the noise and disruption. Instead, I found that the heavy velvet drapes had been pulled closed. No one was there. The library, whose life we were celebrating, looked dark and asleep, a gargoyle’s haunt.
I sighed.
There was nothing to be done.
I had been excited to tell him about the cottage, to show him how the party was coming along. I wanted to share my whole world with him, but he was making his own choices, which didn’t include me. So, I was making mine.
Turning back, I found Winifred Bramblewood, local florist and gossip-monger, standing beside me. She looked up at me with curiosity, one brow arching suspiciously.
Run away! Flee! One word from your lips, and she will know everything!
“Shut the place up, has he?” Winifred asked, but her eyes were on me, not on the library. I could feel the intensity of her stare. Already, I could see Winifred’s thoughts tumbling behind her eyes. How long had she been watching me look at the closed building, and what had she seen in my eyes?
Oh. No.
