Page 18 of The Luminosity of Loriana Harper

Another few keystrokes. “The hints have been getting stronger over the past few years. I’ve considered marching down to the paper and writing an essay about how not every woman wants to be a mother and that there’s nothing wrong with that.” Another flourish of keystrokes.

“Besides, the earth can’t handle the population she has now, and we keep adding people by the billions. Her resources are going to run out, and by then we’ll have warmed the planet so much it’ll be uninhabitable and yeah, there’s Mars, but that’s not the point. We should treasure the world now and the last thing she needs is everyone popping out babies willy-nilly.”

She glanced up at Mitch. “Cat got your tongue?”

He shook his head as if clearing away cobwebs. “No, Loriana. I am just not accustomed to women being so forthright about their future plans.” He pursed his lips. “No, that’s not true. A few women at my old workplace weren’t planning on having children. Some because of their jobs, and others for more personal reasons. I never asked, because it’s none of my business. I honestly just thought you were good with the baby.”

Crap.

Sometimes her militancy overtook good common sense. “I think I’ve done everything here. Do you need anything else?”

His eyes crinkled when he smiled. “Have lunch with me?”

Instinctively she checked her watch. Yep, lunchtime. “Sure, where do you want to go? I only have half an hour.”

“Subway? My treat.”

The feminist in her bristled at the offer but she could counter. “You pay today—I pay Monday.”

“I might be finished by tonight. Mightn’t need to have to come back Monday.”

“So we’ll go to dinner. To celebrate the new computers.”

“Will Marnie be joining us?”

“I’ll ask her. We can have a night out.” She’d ask—and Marnie’d decline. Another pattern they’d established early on. Marnie never went out. With anyone. And Loriana’d keep inviting her on the off-chance the woman might forget to be skittish and actually say yes.

Never going to happen.

She rose, and as Mitch did some last things with the workstation, she went to grab her coat and gloves.

The temperature was only slightly warmer today than it’d been last night, and the meteorologists were predicting snow for tonight’s parade. The kids’d love it, but it’d be a pain for the adults.

She’d found it in the budget to buy wands with stars at the end and had the library logo embossed on each one. So the kids could make their own wishes. She hoped it went over well. Some years she got it right, and sometimes she missed the mark.

Marnie was returning to the circulation desk as Loriana left the back room, managing to put on her coat and walking at the same time. “Mitch and I are going to Subway. We’ll be back in thirty.”

“Take your time.” Marnie gestured to the mostly empty library. “Everyone’s getting ready for the parade tonight.” She fingered a book. “Anything you need me to help you prep for?”

“I think I’m all set, but thanks for the offer. Johanna and I are good to go.”

“Well, that’s great.”

Something in Marnie’s tone caught her attention.

The younger woman would be pulling the wagon while Loriana and Johanna handed out gifts for the kids. Marnie could manage the interactions in the library, but the idea of being around hundreds of strangers made her pale and look like she was going to pass out.

Loriana hadn’t even bothered to extend the invitation to hand out gifts this year.

Should I?

The invitation was on the tip of her tongue when Mitch arrived. He also put on his gloves, then offered Marnie a wide smile. “Sorry we’re abandoning you. But we’ll make it up to you on Monday night?”

Loriana cursed under her breath. The warning should’ve been the first thing out of her mouth when she’d spotted the younger woman.

“What’s Monday?” A deep furrow of concern.

“We’re going out to celebrate the installation of the computers.” He gestured broadly. “The three of us. Unless either or both of you ladies have partners. Then we can—”

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