Page 71 of Thea's Hero

“I do. They’re running late, so I have a few minutes. I just wanted to see how you’re doing. Dropping Laila off. I know that line is crazy. And going back to work.”

“Laila is fine. Good.” Another sniffle.

“Thea…” His tone lowers, concerned. “Are you crying?”

“She said she loves me,” I blurt out, and the floodgates open.

There’s a pause, and then, “Ah, sweetheart. Isn’t that good?”

“Oh course it’s good! I’m just… I didn’t expect it… and she just said it… I almost started crying in front of all the parents.”

“Thea, hun. Of course, she loves you. We both do. But I’m so glad she told you. She asked me if it would be okay.”

“Ben!” I scowl at the phone. “You should have prepared me! Now I’m going to go into work with bloodshot eyes and a red nose.”

“And you’ll still look beautiful.”

I love him so much. “Ben… I love you.”

“I love you, too.” A chime sounds in the background. Apologetically, he says, “I have to get to my call. Text me to let me know how your day is going, okay?”

“I will. And Ben?”

“Yeah, sweetheart?”

“I really, really, love you.”

“Ah, Thea. I love you infinity.”

And there it goes again. My heart.

For the first day back, things went better than I expected.

I was worried, even though I didn’t tell anyone. I was afraid I’d have a flashback, or that I’d start sobbing as soon as I saw the damaged part of the library. That my lingering guilt—even though I know it’s not my fault—would kick in and I’d be a complete wreck.

But it wasn’t bad. Reagan and Iris didn’t blame me for a second, and they actually put a positive spin on it.

“We’ve been wanting new shelves for years,” Iris pointed out.

“And now we have all new books,” Reagan added. “Plus, they’re going to install extra security soon, so we’ll have it before the library re-opens.”

Both valid points, though I’d rather not have had the fire to begin with.

But once I got working, I was fully involved in the process of preparing the books. Stamping and putting on new barcodes and spine labels, updating records in the online catalog, and finding new children’s books to read when story time starts up again.

When Ben texted me at noon, his message was verging on worried.

Hey, just wondering how you’re doing. Have you had lunch yet? Do you need me to bring you anything?

And I felt terrible, realizing it had been over three hours since I talked to him. It wouldn’t normally be a lot of time, but on my first day back to work, after everything that happened, I understood why he was concerned. So I quickly texted him back.

I’m so sorry! I got so wrapped up in all the books! But everything is good. I promise. Iris is ordering some sandwiches for lunch, so I’m okay. I love you!

I’ve been better about texting him since then.

Since I’m picking Laila up from school, I’m leaving work early—not that we have regular hours with the library still closed—but any other day I’d stay until five. But when I apologetically explain to Iris and Reagan, they wave me off, both of them smiling at me.

“It’s fine, Thea,” Reagan says. “I’m not staying late. I’ll probably leave after this next pile of books.”

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