Page 17 of The Luminosity of Loriana Harper

She heard the unspoken question. Why did she not have children of her own? Her biological clock must be ticking, so why wasn’t she marrying and popping out babies? Some patrons were direct, while others like Deanne and Miss Edna, were more circumspect.

“Sorry to interrupt.”

The voice yanked her right out of her introspection and back into the real world.

Mitch stood off to the side looking decidedly uncomfortable.

“Yes, Mitch.” She shook herself mentally. “I apologize. Deanne St. Claire, this is Mitch Alexander. He’s very kindly installing new computers generously given to the library by an anonymous donor.”

Deanne smiled warmly. “If I’d known the library needed new computers, I would’ve helped. Glad to hear someone stepped up.”

And although Loriana knew Deanne had money, she’d never directly solicit a patron. She counted on city hall, and that’d been a disaster. Next time she’d go to the local paper to get the word out.

Mitch offered a smile in return. He towered over the petite older woman. “I need someone to login and check to make certain the system is running properly. Marnie’s assisting someone else. I can wait, of course.”

“No, I’m happy to do it.” She attempted to extricate herself from Calleigh’s firm grasp.

The toddler was not happy at this turn of events and yowled when Loriana placed her firmly in Deanne’s arms.

“Nice to see you again, Deanne. Looking forward to Tuesday.” She could barely be heard over Calleigh’s cries of protest.

As always, Deanne was calm and collected. She shushed the toddler while strapping her into the stroller and was expertly maneuvering them out of the library within moments.

The silence left in their wake was as deafening as the crying had been.

“Okay, so which computer did you want me to check?”

Mitch cringed. “I’m sorry. It probably could’ve waited.”

She waved him off. “No worries about that. There’s rarely a good time to separate me from Calleigh.”

“You’re good with her.”

Exactly what Deanne had said earlier.

“It’s an illusion. I’m great with them in small snippets, but terrible if left alone for extended periods of time.”

He cocked his head.

“I love children, don’t get me wrong, but not my own.”

“You have children you don’t love?” His voice reflected the incredulity on his face.

“What? Oh, no, nothing like that. I love children. I adore Calleigh and Mira, another young girl her age. And I can tolerate them in small amounts. An hour or two at most, and then I’m grateful to give them back. I have a low tolerance for extended periods of time with children.”

“So you don’t have children?”

The smile she bestowed upon him was genuine. “No, I don’t. Thank goodness. Never had a hankering to either. I love my job, and that’s enough exposure to children, thank you very much.”

Mitch indicated which computer he needed her to check, and she sat.

“But you’d feel differently if they were your own kids, right?”

She logged into the system. “That’s what everyone says, but have they ever proven that scientifically? That if you don’t want children then having some of your own will make you change your mind?”

“I… Huh.”

After clicking the mouse a few times, she executed several commands. “And I don’t go around advertising the fact I don’t want children, but I do get tired of everyone assuming they know why I don’t have them. Or trying to drop broad hints that I should get married because then I’ll want them or even that single women can adopt or have babies on their own.”

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