Page 31 of No Place Like Home
The quiet inside Magnolia Library hurt his ears. Or maybe because outside the cacophony of his office, Cade could finally hear his own looping, incessant thoughts.
“I figured you’d be more excited.” Rosalyn leaned against the high front desk of the library, currently unmanned save for a stack of bookmarks, a bell with a sign that read Ring for Assistance, and coupons for discount ice cream cones. A cutout banner of books, obviously colored by local children, strung cheerfully across the front of the counter, swirls of color escaping thin black borders.
“About the Friends of the Library booth? Oh yeah, I’m stoked.” They’d walked over to the library after Cade had returned from his call with Janie—and after he’d placated Miley with more promises about the pothole, thanked Zoey for the beignets and kicked her out , and agreed to come see Mrs. Peters, the head librarian, about her vendor booth.
After that chaotic last hour at work, he’d become a man on a mission to accomplish something,anything—which apparently, started with appeasing Mrs. Peters, who didn’t sound happy on the phone. With the mayoral campaign looming in his near future, he couldn’t afford another disgruntled town member. The stakes were higher now.
He had to prove himself trustworthy to lead.
“Not about the library booth, silly.” Rosalyn elbowed him in the side. “I meant about the film crew. That the scout is coming.”
“Oh, right. Well, nothing is a done deal yet.” He’d had to talkfastto convince Janie to even make that happen. The weary assistant had finally secured permission from her boss to send a scout the week of the circus, but only after Cade had name-dropped Rosalyn as a feature act.
But he didn’t want to admit that to her. He’d seen the way she blanched when Zoey talked about her saving Magnolia Bay. Rosalyn had never been the type to back down under pressure, but Cade didn’t want to risk overloading her. She seemed to have enough going on that she didn’t want to talk about.
Something else they had in common.
“Hey, it’s a start. And the town will be at its best during Magnolia Days.” Rosalyn straightened a stack of bookmarks on the counter so they aligned neatly with the pencil holder next to it. “I’m sure it’ll be an easy sell.”
“We’ll see.” Cade drummed his fingers on the counter. “I don’t want to count chickens.” That reminded him, he still hadn’t connected with the dancing poodles guy. He glanced at his watch. The more everyone tried to help him or worried about him doing everything alone, the more unorganized and forgetful he became. If people would trust him to be capable, maybe he could actually get something done.
Wherewas Mrs. Peters?
Cade double-tapped the bell right as the white-haired woman rounded the corner from the overflowing shelves behind the counter. Oops.
“Well, young Landry. I’m glad to see you’re in one piece.” Mrs. Peters smoothed the front of her 1990s burgundy pantsuit.
“You are?” Cade asked with a frown. “I mean…was there a doubt?”Hedoubted it at this point, after everything Dad dumped on him, but why would the librarian?
Mrs. Peters sniffed. “Apparently, the mayor’s office has been taken over by elves.”
Right. Cade fought to keep his expression neutral. Of all the people in town, of course she’d been the one on the phone when Zoey had jokingly answered his landline. “That was…my, ah, friend earlier.” No sense in ratting Zoey out.
Mrs. Peters sniffed again. “Highly unprofessional.”
“It was a joke, ma’am. Have you seen the movieElf?” Cade tapped the high desk between them with one finger. “No? Great film.”
She blinked at him through her glasses, unimpressed. “Television is for people who don’t read.”
“I actually do both.” Cade waggled his eyebrows, hoping for a grin, but her stoic expression never shifted. He sobered. “Reading is superior, of course.”
“Because the books are always better than the movies.” Rosalyn smiled at Mrs. Peters, who appeared to have noticed her for the first time.
“Rosalyn Dupree, is that you?” A sudden grin broke across the older woman’s face, taking several wrinkles and about ten years off her age.
Rosalyn dipped her head. “Yes ma’am. Been awhile.”
“Rosalyn?” A younger woman appeared behind Mrs. Peters, toting an armful of hardback books. Cade recognized her from high school but couldn’t place her name. She’d been one of Amber’s friends, hadn’t she? “Thatisyou!”
“Harper! ” Rosalyn confirmed Cade’s suspicion. “I didn’t know you were working here.”
“About six months now.” Harper set the overflowing pile of books on the return rack and smiled, smoothing back her wavy red hair. “Planning on taking over one day.” She winked.
“Hmph.” Mrs. Peters pursed her lips, then smiled as her gaze landed back on Rosalyn. She gestured proudly. “This girl here was one of my star readers.”
“I read.” Harper feigned offense as she motioned around the library. “Obviously.”
“Me too,” Cade added. “Thirty-two books, that one year.” He grinned.
