Page 65 of Bookworm
Chapter Nineteen
With every book I finished restoring, I got that much closer to my end date on this job.
It was bitter-sweet.
On one hand, I was already overstaying my welcome here since I’d damaged a lot more books than Dr. O’Macklin even knew about. On the other hand, they were paying me a set fee for the entire job regardless of how long it took me. So they didn’t care or even know that the job was taking longer than it should.
Adam was busier than usual this week with extended office hours because of some paper that will be one-fourth of his student’s grades, so I spent more time working in the library than previous weeks. That way we could have an occasional coffee or lunch break together. I even ran back to the apartment to walk Verne for him on Tuesdays and Thursdays because he had back to back classes.
All in all, we’d fallen into a pretty comfortable routine.
But even in that comfort, I was wary. I didn’t know what was going to happen next. I couldn’t exactly stay here in NewHampshire to pursue my dream of restoring old books. There were only so many universities that had a rare books collection in the area. And I wasn’t renowned enough in my field yet to be able to work from home and have universities across the globe come to me.
I stared at the almost new-looking copy ofPride and Prejudicethat I’d just finished pressing.
It’s done.
No. No. I must have missed something.
I brought the book to my nose and inhaled deeply, closing my eyes as I searched for the scent of cat urine.
But there was nothing.
Just the faint smell of glue and paper.
I flipped carefully through the pages for signs of anything I might have missed.
It was perfect. As fresh and beautiful as the first day it was printed.
“Holy shit,” I whispered. Then, with a glance over my shoulder, I looked at the stack of books I’d already completed repairing from my first day here knocking them off the shelf. Every single book I’d damaged was repaired.
And I’d finished about half of the fire damaged books.
Which meant, I far overestimated how long it would take me to finish this project. I had given myself six weeks originally.
I was only coming up on four and I was almost done. And that was with my clumsy screw up on the first day where I added to my work load.
Based on the books I had left, I’d say I had another 10 days of work left… tops.
Even still, finishingPride & Prejudicewas a huge boon. And I wanted someone to celebrate with. I wanted someone to see my work who would appreciate just how much I’d brought this bookback to all its glory. There were only two people in my life who would get it. And the first was in Italy.
Smiling, I snapped a picture of the book and texted it to Daphne. Then, I carefully cradled the book and left the rare books room in the library, making sure to shut and lock the door behind me.
I had to show Adam. He was still in his office hours, so maybe I could slip in between students.
I only got a few steps before I saw Dr. O’Macklin coming toward me. His impeccable gray suit was cut perfectly to his body, not a single wrinkle marring it. It was creased in all the right, carefully ironed places.
“Ms. Meyer,” he said, smiling at me. “I was just coming to check on your progress.”
“Progress is great,” I said. “In fact, I finished the copy ofPride and Prejudiceyou wanted to add to your collection.”
I held out the book to him as his eyes widened. “Wow.”
He took the book tenderly in his hands, turning it over and over. “It’s every bit as stunning as I thought it would be. Although,” he paused, looking at the rare books room ten steps behind me. “I’m not sure it should leave that room.”
“Well, technically, the book is still owned by me until I get my final paycheck,” I answered him. “So I’m planning to keep it safely in my possession until the job here is finished.”
“And that’s where you’re taking it? Home to a fire-proof, flood-proof safe?”
