Page 109 of The Kidnapped

“I know,” Raleigh said, cupping Hollis’s cheek. “I’ll be here, though.”

“I know,” Hollis replied. “And so will I.”

“I’ll stay at your place while you’re gone,” Raleigh said.

“Thank you,” Hollis replied.

“Please, it’s totally selfish: I want you back here.”

“I should get up and book a flight,” Hollis said.

“Can you wait, like, an hour?” Raleigh requested.

“I guess. Why?”

“We should celebrate,” Raleigh smirked at her a little.

“Celebrate?” she checked, climbing on top of Raleigh and looking down at her. “You always look so beautiful in the morning. How do you do that?”

“Shut up,” Raleigh said, laughing, but blushed at the same time.

“I know I ruined last night with my uncertainty, but I’m certain now, Raleigh,” Hollis told her.

“And you’re fully clothed, which is unfortunate,” Raleigh replied, tugging on Hollis’s shirt.

???

The library smelled the same as the day she’d left. The scent of old books would always be a comfort to Hollis. She hadn’t planned to stop here – she had way too much to do – but on the way from the donation center, where she had dropped a bunch of stuff, she’d passed the library that had been the only home she’d ever really had, and she’d turned around. This time, she’d parked in the patron parking and not the more limited employee parking in the back. It was strange, but she no longer worked here and didn’t have the right to take up a spot.

When she’d walked in, Hollis had been met with the silence, save the beeps of the scanners checking out books, and the scent of those old friends of hers. She smiled as she made her way down aisle after aisle, sometimes touching a book or two along the way and, other times, just taking in how the sun from the large windows hit the patterned carpet.

“Heidi?” Sandy said.

“Hi,” she replied, feeling strange at hearing the name she’d been called for most of her life.

“You’re back?” Sandy asked, walking around the counter to give Hollis a hug.

Hollis hugged her back and said, “Just for today. I’m leaving tomorrow.”

“Oh? How are you? How have you been?”

“Those are hard questions to answer.”

“I bet,” Sandy said. “Hey, I’m sorry about the job. It wasn’t my decision.”

“I know. It’s a blessing in disguise, actually. I need to be down there with my mom.”

“How is she?”

“Not great,” Hollis said, keeping it brief. “I’m packing up my stuff and leaving. After I drop my car off at a lot tomorrow so that they can sell it for me, I’m heading to the airport.”

“Wow. A lot of change. How are you handling all that?”

“I have people in my life who help,” she replied, thinking of Raleigh, her mom, and even Kenna.

“That’s good. I’m glad,” Sandy said. “So, what brings you in today?”

“I just wanted to see the place one more time before I go.”

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