Page 78 of Twilight at Croftwood Library
‘Hi, Rosemary, Happy New Year.’
‘Hello, Lois. Yes, and to you. There is a problem with the book club. We have had some unwanted social media contact which needs addressing.’
Linda looked like a rabbit in the headlights and disappeared into the children’s library. She obviously knew what was coming.
‘What’s the problem, Rosemary?’
‘We have had several tweets from people who are under the assumption that we will arrange dates for them. At the book club.’
‘Haven’t we been through this before? If people want to use the book club to meet people that’s okay.’
‘This is a little more salacious, Lois. People are implying that we are a dating club for pensioners. Apparently, the Worcester News ran a story about William Templeton meeting the new love of his life at Oliver’s and now we are being inundated with requests from people wanting to join the date night at Oliver’s. Not the book club, Lois, date night!’
Rosemary had turned quite red; such was her indignation. Lois had to turn away to allow herself a quick giggle before turning back with a straight face.
‘I think we have to go down the ‘no publicity is bad publicity’ road, Rosemary. It’s great for us and Oliver that the paper ran that story. Some people have just got the wrong end of the stick, that’s all. No harm done. We’ll ask Linda to reply with a friendly reminder that it’s a book club.’
‘It’s the name, Lois. Date-with-a-book. I knew we would run into trouble.’ She stood, shaking her head.
‘Rosemary. The library will be closed two months from now. There’s no point changing the name now.’
Rosemary gave a gentle harrumph and picked up her bag. ‘I hope you know what you’re doing. It could ruin the reputation of the library. Forever.’ Then she turned on her heel and left.
‘I’m so sorry,’ Linda said, appearing at the desk. ‘I had no idea she’d take it like that. I thought the tweets were really funny and the article about Eunice and Bill was wonderful. I should have remembered to tell you about it, so you were ready for Rosemary.’
‘Don’t worry. No harm done. Rosemary’s been desperate to tell me she told me so for ages. It could have been about anything. Is that true about that couple getting together from going to the book club?’
‘Well, it’s got a bit of spin on it. They were both on Steph’s mobile library visit to the book club and Eunice recognised Bill from a film he starred in in the 1960s or something. Very romantic.’
‘Wow. Perhaps we should get David to add that into his speech.’
‘That would send Rosemary right over the edge!’
‘She’ll never know.’
‘I think she’s asked Oliver to film it on his phone for her. Although, if we win, will it not be you and Oliver who go up for the award?’
‘I doubt it. At this stage, I think David thinks it’s down to him that we got nominated at all.’
‘All the people that matter know that’s not true, Lois.’
‘Exactly. And that’s why we’ll have our own party afterwards that everyone can come to.’
44
It was already noon and the coffee house had been so busy that Oliver still hadn’t made it upstairs to change and he was supposed to meet Lois at the station at one.
‘Sorry Pats, I’m going to have to leave you in the lurch. I need to go and get ready.’
‘It’s fine, go on,’ she said, good-naturedly in the face of an ever-extending queue. ‘I know how long it takes you to get your hair right.’
He grinned and flicked at her with a tea towel. ‘Thanks. Are you still okay to open up in the morning?’ They were getting the last train back from London and he knew he’d need a lie-in.
‘No problem, boss. Alice is covering tonight at the cinema, so I’ll be up bright and early. Have a great time if I don’t see you before you go.’
He raced upstairs where Amy was sitting in the corner of the sofa watching the end of This Morning.
‘Ames, did you have a chance to iron my shirt?’
