Page 38 of Twilight at Croftwood Library
‘It would raise our profile, I suppose. Okay, come up with the pitch or whatever it is we have to do to enter and we’ll discuss it at the meeting in the morning. It’s the book club on Wednesday so I guess we could mention it to some of the customers and see if they’ll vote for us.’
The more she thought about it, the more Linda’s enthusiasm rubbed off on her. This competition could be the boost they needed to get the library into a position where people would start to care whether it was there or not.
When Lois checked the emails there was one from Robert to say that they were officially allowed to fundraise for the things she wanted to put into the children’s library. She tried not to think about the fact that Oliver had come up with that idea. It was good news, perhaps they could launch it at the Christmas lights switch-on event. Which reminded her, she needed to think about what they were going to do to entice people to visit them on the night. Once she’d jotted down some ideas for a competition they could run, she googled the Library of the Year awards and was engrossed in making some notes she thought they could use in their application when she realised someone was waiting at the desk.
‘Sorry, what can I do for you?’ She hurriedly logged off the computer, looked up and saw Amy. A feeling of dread settled in Lois’s stomach. Her being in the library, literally having to face her, was so much worse than the prospect of seeing her in the coffee shop.
‘Hi, I’m interested in joining the book club.’
Did Amy know about her and Oliver? She must know that they were friends at least if he’d told her about the book club. But her biggest worry was whether Amy knew about the kiss.
‘Great,’ said Lois, trying to sound friendly without coming across as a weirdo. It was going to be a struggle. ‘I’ll show you the books you can choose from this month. There’s not much time left until the meeting but come along anyway as long as you don’t mind spoilers if you haven’t managed to finish it.’
‘Oh, I don’t mind. I’m just keen to join in. Since I’ve moved in with Oliver I thought I ought to.’
‘He’s been brilliant helping us to get the club started. Rosemary seems to be able to get him to do anything,’ she smiled.
‘Yep, she certainly does have some power over him but he’s genuinely looking forward to the meeting anyway. Maybe I should pick the same book as him but that seems a bit dull, doesn’t it? I mean we can talk to each other whenever we like. The whole point is to meet new people.’
‘He’s readingThe First Time I Saw Youby Emma Cooper.’ She probably knew that, Lois realised after she’d said it, so added, ‘Isn’t he?’ as an afterthought.
‘Yes, I was quite surprised, especially now that I see he could have chosen this,’ she said, picking up the latest Jo Nesbo book,The Thirst.
‘Some people use book clubs to widen their reading outside their usual favourite genres.’ Lois hoped that Oliver didn’t tell Amy that he had asked Lois to choose a book for him so that they could talk about it at the date-with-a-book club. He probably wouldn’t want to do that now anyway.
‘Well, that makes sense. I think I’ll take this one. A thriller is bound to elicit some interesting conversation.’
‘Quite right.’
‘I’m surprised Oliver has time to host and join in.’ It wasn’t a question, yet Lois could feel Amy’s eyes boring into her, waiting for a response.
‘Well, we’re all there to help out and there weren’t that many people at the first meeting but who knows what will happen this time!’ Her tone was far too jovial. ‘We’ve had a lot more people registering for the next meeting,’ she added more calmly.
‘Great, I’m looking forward to it.’
‘Mmm, me too.’
‘And what book are you reading?’
Lois could feel her cheeks reddening in betrayal because clearly, lying was her only option. ‘I’m reading the biography.’ Telling Amy she was reading the same book as Oliver seemed tantamount to admitting they’d been on the brink of a relationship. If he chose to tell her, that was one thing but Lois didn’t want to be drawn into any kind of competition with Amy and she seemed to be trying to get some kind of reaction.
Lois asked Amy to fill in one of the book club cards while she busied herself with issuing her a new membership card and checked the book out, all the time hoping that the conversation was over.
As Amy turned to leave, Lois gave her what she hoped was a friendly smile and felt the most enormous relief that she’d managed to navigate the whole thing without making a fool of herself.
‘Oliver told me what happened between you. I just wanted to say no hard feelings, I hope we can be friends.’ And she turned and left, thankfully not giving Lois the chance to respond. In that minute she might not have known what to say to Amy but she was sure of something. They definitely weren’t going to be friends.
The encounter with Amy had shaken Lois but at the same time, it had underlined the fact that it was over with Oliver. She had to move on. So, to take control of at least one element of her life, she decided that the time had come to gain closure with Alex. Given how things were between them, some drastic action was called for.
‘Linda, I think I might take the day off tomorrow. Are you okay to cover for me?’
‘Of course, Lois. What are you up to?’
‘I’m going to London for the day.’
‘Lovely! There’s nothing like London for a bit of shopping.’
The following morning, Lois was sat on the train to London. She hadn’t told anyone what she was doing; she was beyond the point of needing advice from anyone.
