Books and Dates
“Laura, dear, so good to see you.” Mrs. Fox smiled at her brightly. “Last time I stopped by you were busy downstairs.”
“Glad to see you, Mrs. Fox. How’re are you feeling?”
“Fine, thanks. Don’t want to bore you with details of getting old. Better, tell me what’s new with you. Seeing anyone special?” Mrs. Fox leaned on the library counter.
“Nobody special right now, just dating here and there.” Laura answered. “Busy, you know, working, and all.”
“Yes, dear. You’re are the best thing that could’ve happened to our library. But, still, you need a life outside of your job. I want to see you happy.”
“Thanks, Mrs. Fox. I promise to be happy.” Laura smiled at her mother’s friend.
“By the way, Laura, have you met my nephew Matt? He’s an architect. Moved here last month. Borrows quite a number of books from your library.”
“No, I don’t think I did, Mrs. Fox. But, I promise to watch out for him and make sure to set the date for our wedding before Easter.” How she hated set-ups.
They laughed.
A little before closing time, Laura finished placing books on their shelves and returned to the front desk. With only a handful of people quietly reading or surfing the net, she could relax and make a to-do list for tomorrow. Pen in her fingers, Laura drifted off in her thoughts and missed the arrival of a new customer.
He coughed politely.
“Hi. Sorry to bother you. These two are late.” Glancing at her nametag, he gave her two books and moved the rest to returns.
Laura scanned the labels: “Oh, yes, two days late.” She glimpsed the books: a strange mix of classical literature and gardening techniques, then searched the screen for his personal information: John M. Rollins, Foster Avenue. No relation to Mrs. Fox, thank goodness.
“No problem, Mr. Rollins.” Click, click, and the two books joined the rest. “You are a free man.” She smiled at him and picked up her pen again. But, the to-do list didn’t move beyond the second item: 2. Select and deliver books for the elderly (lunch). Her mind wondered back to Mr. Rollins whose back she could see by the Home and Gardening case. Laura glanced at her computer screen again, she scrolled down to the record of his recently borrowed books: Fitzgerald. Hemingway. James. Deep. A serious reader.
The last of the people checked out their books and left. It was time to close the library, but Mr. Rollins was engrossed in an art book. To distract herself Laura opened her copy of “The Great Gatsby”.
“One of my most favorite. First time reading it?” He stood in front of her with a bunch of books.
“Oh, no. I’ve read it many times. Every time I read it new feelings and ideas jump at me. I can never put it down until I finish the last page.” Laura returned his gaze.
“It’s closing time. Don’t want to hold you up.” He put his books on the counter.
“It’s alright. I don’t mind. This is my best time here when the library is about to fall asleep.” She quickly stamped his books and scanned them into her computer. Her job done, now back to reality and a quiet dinner with a book for a companion.
“Would you like to have dinner with me, Laura?” Mr. Rollin’s voice’s startled her.
“Dinner?” She ought to have said: “No”. She hardly knew him, but hypnotized by his bright blue eyes, she whispered: “Yes, I would love to.”
He helped her lock up and they made their way to his car parked across the street.
Laura usually walked to work. She loved her morning strolls when she made plans for the day ahead and in the evening she reviewed the day and planned for the next one. “Always planning,” her mom’d said many times. “Stop planning and act once in a while. Your girlfriends are all married with children. And you’re not even dating anyone. Library’s a great place to meet young men, but you never take advantage of that.” Mom was right, as always.
At first, Laura felt a bit nervous. Was she doing the right thing? Then, all of a sudden, she found herself in a conversation about the history of their town, and noticed how at ease she was sitting next to him and discussing street names and the usual town gossip about.
The small Italian family-run restaurant was almost dark. The flame of the white-lit candle moved as if in a circle next to a small vase with three red roses. Laura liked the place.
“Can I assume you are not seeing anyone right now, Laura?” He didn’t smile.
“No, I’m not, John.” She liked him.
“Please, call me Matt, my family and friends do. It’s my second name.”
“Matt?” Laura laughed. “Not Mrs. Fox’s nephew, Matt?”
“Yes.” He replied and lined up his cutlery.
“She outfoxed me, alright! But your last name is different.” Laura touched the candle.
“Rollins is her maiden name. And what’re you talking about?” Matt demanded to know.
“She mentioned you this morning. She wanted us to meet. But I hate setups.”
“Oh, Ruth is very shrewd. She never mentioned you, just kept asking me to pick up books from the library. Long lists of titles she only kept for two or three days. Then, I had to go back for a new batch. I’ve wondered why she couldn’t do it herself, but didn’t mind the chore. It gave me a chance to pick up books for myself.”
“Well, John, I mean, Matt, I promise to call and thank her later.”
“Sure thing, I bet, she’ll be very happy to invite us to her Easter Sunday Brunch.”