Page 83 of Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Book
“When did you roll up?” Val asked Darlene.
“Just now.” Darlene pointed across the square where Matt and the girls were unloading the car. “I wanted to get here early so I could congratulate the next mayor of Troy.”
“Let’s not count any chickens,” Beverly chided her. “We still have to make it through an election.”
“What are you talking about?” Wanda Crump stepped into the conversation. “Lula took off for Atlanta! And you know as well as the rest of us that she ain’t coming back after what happened at church. As soon as people saw that T-Rex book, it was over. You won!”
“I still can’t believe justice is finally being served,” Val said. “First Randy gets the boot, now Augustus. Never thought I’d see the day. And all because of two of the bravest ladies I know.”
“You know what, Val, you just reminded me of something,” Beverly said. “Darlene, you said your girls gave you the book that inspired you to tell your story. Where did they find it?”
“Lula Dean’s library, if you can believe it,” Darlene said. “Wrapped in the jacket of that old Nancy Drew bookThe Clue in the Diary.”
Wanda grabbed hold of Beverly’s shoulder. “What’d I tell you! Y’all thought I was crazy! It was that library making all this stuff happen!”
“Ohhell,” said Yvette.
Beverly found herself unable to speak.
“I don’t get it. What am I missing?” Darlene asked.
“Lindsay took all of Lula’s silly-ass books and replaced them with books the committee had banned,” Yvette told her. “When the truth came out, Lula even had her arrested—said Lindsay stole the books instead of borrowing them.”
Darlene clapped a hand over her mouth. “Lula came to her senses and dropped the charges, I hope?”
“Oh yes,” said Val. “And after the party, I’ll tell youwhy. It’s a heartwarming story with an audiovisual component that’s gonna blow your damn mind.”
Darlene looked all around the square. “Where is Miss Lindsay?” she asked.
“I sent her and Ronnie Childers to the Piggly Wiggly to pick up more paper plates.” Feeling flustered, Beverly fanned herself with her hand. “I gotto admit, Darlene, I’m a little choked up by what you just told me. I had no idea Lindsay’s prank played a role in your decision.”
“Wasn’t just Darlene. Lindsay helped Delvin, too.” Wanda pointed at her husband, who was happily chatting with Jeb Sweeney as they filled coolers with bottles of water. “You couldn’t have lured that man out of the house for nothing this spring. Then he found that library, and suddenly he was Mr. Outgoing. Now look at him with his brand-new bestie. That’s a beautiful bromance blooming right there.”
“I imagine saving a town together would make you friends for life.” Val turned to Wanda with a smirk. “That mean you have to spend time with the movie star?”
“Mitch ain’tthatbad,” Wanda tried to tell them. Then she gave up. “Okay, fine. He’s a moron. But he’s heading back to LA next week.”
A whole new can of worms had popped open in Beverly’s mind. “Speaking of Mitch, anyone know where he is?” she asked.
“He was stealing hush puppies last I saw,” Val said.
Beverly spotted his bald head across the square. He was already scanning the entrances for early arrivals. “Y’all excuse me for a moment. I need to have a word with our favorite movie star.”
It was sweet that Mitch was so eager to help with the reunion, but Beverly was a little worried that being met first thing by a giant movie star with a reputation for saying questionable things might be a little much for some folks.
“Beverly, you got a second?” Crystal Moore caught her just as she passed the fountain.
“Hey there, Crystal, thank you so much for coming!” She turned her attention to the gentleman by her side. “Is this the new friend you’ve been telling me about?”
Crystal beamed. “It is,” she confirmed.
The man smiled nervously and held out a hand. “Jonathan Bartlett. I’m a teacher up at the high school, and I’m the one who wrote that Facebook post about Lula Dean’s library.”
“Oh, that wassofunny,” Beverly said. “I still laugh just thinking about it.”
“Thank you. But I know it ended up getting Lindsay in trouble, and I just wanted to apologize.”
Beverly dismissed his concerns with a shake of her head. “That had nothing to do with you,” she assured him. “Don’t waste another thought on it.”
