Page 23 of Twilight at Croftwood Library
Lois was still surprised that it had worked out having Rosemary back at the library as a volunteer, and now that they had got the measure of each other, they were well on the way to forging a great working relationship. Working at the library was rewarding and she loved it more than she had working at the Hive, which she would never have thought possible. The changes she’d made along with Rosemary and Linda were making a tangible difference and that felt amazing. So far, nothing had been said about the closure by County Libraries, but Lois felt that they were on the right track to giving the library the best chance possible.
Lois had found herself in a surprisingly good mood for the past week or so. After she’d left Oliver at the Old Rectifying House it had taken her a couple of days to absorb what had happened. One minute she was cringing again at how she’d felt forced to slink off when she wished she’d had the balls to go back to the table and brazen out the rest of the afternoon, and the next minute she was full of indignation that Oliver had let her leave when it was their date. Well, not date, but she had been there first. And he hadn’t been in touch since which kind of said it all. Although, what did it say because Lois really didn’t know where she stood with him now and could do with him saying something. She had hoped that their burgeoning friendship might lead to something more and she’d thought he was thinking along the same lines. He’d been so supportive about the date-with-a-book club and their other initiatives at the library, maybe she’d mistaken that for something more personal than he’d intended.
She’d felt she had no choice than to purposely avoid the coffee house but she had to go to the date-with-a-book club so she would see him then. It could be worse, at least she hadn’t declared her undying love to him. It would be fine. And when she was ready to date, she could always try the date-with-a-book club for herself. Rosemary would love that.
Lois stood outside the coffee house, the glow of the lights on her face. It was the first time this winter that she had noticed her breath appear in clouds and her hands were freezing despite being deep in her pockets, but she wasn’t quite ready to go in. It was the first date-with-a-book club and she had wanted to be there when it started but Rosemary and Linda were so excited that she had offered to stay behind and close the library. The relief that had washed over her knowing that she wouldn’t have to confront Oliver when he was by himself at the start of the evening had surprised her but that feeling had disintegrated on the walk from the library to the coffee house.
Oliver was leaning against the customer side of the counter with a glass of wine in his hand, watching the evening unfold before him. Lois wondered whether he had finished his book yet. At least that might be something they could talk about.
She braced herself, pushed the door open and smiled at him when he looked over to see who had come in. He looked pleased to see her and despite herself, she felt the same way. Rosemary and Linda were deep in discussion, so she headed towards him.
‘Wine?’ he asked, waving the bottle at her, then pouring her a glass before she had a chance to answer. Okay, so they were going to pretend the humiliating non-date hadn’t happened. Maybe that was for the best.
‘Thanks. Are you not joining in? You must have finished that book by now.’
He grinned. ‘I have as it happens but I’m not on Rosemary’s official list.’ He raised his eyebrows. ‘Anyway, I was going to discuss it with you. Now’s as good a time as any.’ He headed over to a free table, taking the wine bottle with him. He had laid on wine for other guests who wanted it, Lois noticed. She gave a small wave to Linda who winked back at her.
‘It seems like it’s going well,’ she said to Oliver. She looked around, remembering about the woman who had requested tall, dark and handsome and trying to identify her. Lois thought the most likely candidate was a blonde lady with poker straight, long hair and foundation which was a little bit too orange. Her book partner was attractive but at least ten years older than her. She was smiling though, and they looked like they were having a nice time but she couldn’t see them together. Oh well, as Rosemary said, that wasn’t the idea anyway.
‘It’s great to see something like this taking off. It’s just what we need in Croftwood, something that anyone can join in with, it promotes a bit of collaboration between everyone and well, I’ve really enjoyed it.’ He sounded melancholy and Lois couldn’t tell if he was a bit tipsy or actually in that kind of mood.
‘Thanks for going to so much trouble.’
‘It’s worth it,’ he said with a shrug. ‘You have to look at everything as having the potential to bring new customers in. A glass of wine from me tonight might mean they come back to have lunch sometime.’
‘A glass of wine from you means they’ll almost definitely come to date-with-a-book club next time too which is good for the library. Cheers.’ They clinked glasses then Lois said, ‘Come on then, let’s join in properly. What did you think of the book and did you guess who the stalker was before the reveal?’
‘I didn’t!’ His face lit up as talking about the book took his mind off whatever was bothering him. ‘Once I got going, I finished it in no time. It was a real page-turner. In fact, I’ve been meaning to come to the library to swap it.’
‘Good, another convert. And what did you think of the protagonist?’
‘Christ, Lois,’ he laughed. ‘It’s one thing to have a chat about the book but don’t blind me with fancy vocabulary.’
‘Sorry. The main character.’
‘I didn’t really like her. Is that awful? What did you think?’
‘I didn’t warm to her either, but it didn’t put me off. I loved how desolate that island was. I mean, you knew they were completely cut off.’ Conscious that she might be rambling, she said, ‘Anyway, I’m glad you’ll be back for more.’
‘I haven’t been in because I feel awkward about what happened last weekend.’ He looked at her intently.
‘Me too, although awkward is a bit of an understatement. Humiliating is more on the mark.’ Might as well be honest about it, although she immediately felt awful for making him feel guilty. It was the wine making her tongue loose, as her nan would have said.
‘I’m so sorry, Lois.’
He looked ashamed which took the edge off her guilt. He should be ashamed.
‘I shouldn’t have let it happen like that. Amy took me by surprise and I felt cornered. I couldn’t ask her to leave.’
Her name was Amy. That was good to know. Lois didn’t know why it made any difference to know her name, but it did.
‘Are you seeing her?’ Lois tried not to sound like it would matter to her if he was. He had every right to be seeing anyone he wanted. Just because she was single now and attracted to him, well that didn’t mean anything.
‘It’s complicated. Like I said she’s an old friend but…’ He shrugged and didn’t seem able to offer anything else by way of explanation.
‘Because if you’re not seeing her, then I don’t really know why she ended up having a drink with you and I ended up leaving.’ The wine was helping her say what she needed to. ‘I felt like an idiot, Oliver,’ she said quietly.
He reached his fingers across the table as if he expected her to meet them, quickly putting his hand under the table when she didn’t. ‘I’m sorry, so sorry that you felt like that. I do need to explain but I don’t know where to start.’
