CHAPTER 3
My head is still so very clouded from the other day. I was so excited it was tempting to go earlier than I normally do! But Val would definitely ask what was up and I definitely didn’t feel like explaining anything right now. Instead, I decided to distract myself with making some tea in the pot downstairs.
My aunt Janine was already up sitting in her PJ’s and slippers at the table sipping what smelled like her usual black cup of coffee. I walked in already dressed, grabbed a cup and put it under the pot for boiling water before fixing myself a bowl of cereal. I could feel her silent gaze on me as I hurriedly got breakfast going for myself.
“Good morning Aunt Janine,” I finally said, glancing over at her acknowledging her stare. She smiled in return.
“Good morning Violet dear,” she said. “You look like you are in a hurry this morning. What are your plans?”
“Do I?” I hear a nervous chuckle escape my throat before I have a chance to clear it. “Ahem…I’m going to the library a bit early today I believe. There is a new selection of books that came in I would like to read.” This was partially true, but that wasn’t the reason I wanted to be there early. I wanted to make sure I was there when he was. She smiled again and took another sip.
“How wonderful. I hope you have a splendid day then. Go get lost in those endless stories.”
“I plan to!” I give her a tight squeeze around the shoulders and head towards the door with my mug now full of hot green tea in one hand and coat in the other.
It was a quarter until nine in the morning and I had to wait another hour before the library opened. I have never been so early that I have had to wait. What is happening to me? Maybe I should just turn around and go home? Skip the books today? I think to myself. I see Val just then pulling up to her spot. She looked surprised to see me so early but greeted me with a warming smile like usual on this cold day.
“Why, good morning Violet! What a pleasant surprise. Getting a head start on the new deliveries?” She asks as she opens the doors.
“Good morning, Val. Yes, I’ve been extremely excited,” I say.
“Would you like to come in? As you know we don’t open for another hour, but you are more than welcome to stay in here with me and keep me company this morning. It is quite chilly out today.”
“Yes, if that is alright.”
I followed in after her and made sure the doors behind me shut and locked. It was so peaceful in the morning there. I never realized just how quiet it was until the radio for background music wasn’t playing. Val started her morning routine in opening the library. I walked around quietly as she went from one side to the other.
“Hey, if you need some help I would love to assist.”
“Are you sure? You don’t have to.”
“Of course. You let me in early, the least I can do is help you set up.”
“Thank you. If you could get the cart with the go-backs, do you remember where they go? There are stickers saying which isle and spot they go to help you.” She points to the cart in the corner. There weren’t many books on there, but I figured if she thought it would help then I would do it – one less thing for her. I saw the new books isle decorated with bows in the front to the right by two rows. I took a peek as I walked past, seeing the shiny new covers and titles. My heart raced as I got more excited to engulf myself into a new fantasy. I almost didn’t hear Val ask me the one question I thought she’d never ask.
“So who was that handsome young man talking to you the other day?”
Gulp. “Oh, him…” My breath shook a little and sounded breathless just by talking about him. She seemed to notice that, too.
“Yes…him. What is his name?”
“Victor Knight.”
“Oh, what a name for such a lad like himself. Did you two know each other before?”
“No.”
“If I was thirty years younger maybe I wouldn’t mind if you introduced him to me,” she giggles, amused from herself.
I smile in return, finishing putting the books back in place. I could hear Val unlocking the front doors by now; I didn’t realize how much time flew by and how long it took to put away those few books. Surprised that I already heard the doors open, I looked around the new isle to see who had just walked in. I heard Val talking in her natural quiet voice like any librarian has. I couldn’t see who she was talking to from my angle due to her desk direction. A quiet, velvety voice directly behind me startled me so bad I dropped the first few of the new books I picked out.
“What’cha doing there?” He was already here? But why? I was earlier than usual, how would he have known that? His hair is a luscious, messy, golden bronze and was wearing an unbuttoned grey pea coat with a deep, dark blueish-grey buttoned shirt and black and grey scarf hanging.
“H-hi, you scared me there.”
“My apologies.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Can I ask you the same thing?” He chuckles, and crouches down to pick up the books I dropped.
“I am here for the new books.” I stand up straighter, crossing my arms and trying to not be seen through my false confidence.
“Of course you are.”
“And you?”
“I came here to wait for you. I didn’t want to miss my chance by coming too late.” My heart fluttered by this point. He came early, to see me? Just so he didn’t miss me? But he knew we were planning to meet here again.
“Actually, I was wanting to give us plenty of time because I wanted to ask if you would like to go elsewhere than the library. I understand if you would rather stay here and read though since they do have a rather…intriguing…selection.” He glances at the front and back of one of my books, seemingly interested in what types of stories I enjoy getting lost in.
“Oh, well, I mean I can always come over here at any time to read these, we can go somewhere if you’d like. But where?”
He smiles a dazzling grin flashing his bright whites at me. “I was thinking we could go down the road to the Little Birch Café, a place more inviting to conversation.” I nod and he puts my books exactly from where I got them without a second thought. I just stared at him watching as he had no hesitation. When we walked up to the front towards the doors, Val smiled at him and then saw me beside him, grinning a little too big. He walked in front and held the door open, and just as I walked past her, she whispered in a rushed hiss, “Have fun! Can’t wait to hear about it!” I am not good with this type of talk. Ugh. At least it's about someone as gorgeous as him.
