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“Of course, I’ll be there. Looking forward to it.”
“Good. Good…” Mrs Radley sighs audibly, then continues. “I’m a little concerned though, because, well… as you know, or maybe you don’t, Matthew Dexter of the fire department won’t be joining us this year. And I haven’t heard yet about a replacement. We need a fire department representative to go ahead with the battle re-enactment… Anyway, my dear. Thinking out loud. Haha. I’m sure someone suitable will be appointed. It would be such a shame to not use the historic firearms and canons. The Oak River Annual Spring Fair is legendary for the commemoration of one of the deciding battles for independence. It just wouldn’t be the same with wooden muskets and a recording of ‘Bang!’ over the loudspeaker system when the canons fire. Ha! Imagine!” Mrs Radley hoots then leaves the library waving a hand in the air as she goes.
I continue to set up the display as the hush descends in Mrs Radley’s wake. It’s always quiet on weekday mornings. Kevin comes over to give me a hand fixing oversized suspended decorated cutout letters of L O V E and a bright pink Cupid with a bow and arrow. An elderly couple enters the library and both comment on the display. Then I help them find the books they’re after: Tantric Sex and the Karmasutra, testing my well-practiced mask of impassivity.
The morning slides away with library tasks, and I’m surprised when Lydia appears at the counter.
“Lunch?”
“Ah yes. Lovely. Just give me two ticks,” I say, locating Kevin and catching his eye with a wave. He nods back in acknowledgment, and I grab my bag and follow Lydia out.
At the Valentine’s display, Lydia stops and says, “You’ve forgotten an important related subject.”
“Oh yeah. What’s that?”
“The Saint Valentine’s Day massacre. Just to cover all bases? You need some books about Al Capone.”
“Lydia, you are an absolute genius.”
Lydia and I make our way down a side road to The Half Moon Café. It’s not the only café in town, but it’s our favorite because they serve the best coffee. We settle into a table by the window. I can see Lydia has something she is itching to tell me. Her eyes are twinkly with mischief.
“What?” I ask as our lunch order arrives: two mixed salads, a cappuccino for Lydia, and a double espresso for me.
“Do you remember that message I sent you about the Greek god of a man who has come down from Olympus to be a firefighter here in Oak River?”
“Vaguely.”
“Vaguely? Ha, Molly! You’re so funny…” Lydia breaks her stream of thought to sip her coffee. I sip mine. “So, he was staying at the motel. But he’s not there anymore.”
“Oh. Because he’s gone back to Olympus?”
“No. Silly. Because he’s renting a house.”
“Mmm. Is he now.” I pick up my fork and scoop up some salady goodness. “Do you know if he’s renting a god-type house? Or is he making do with a lowly human-type house?”
Lydia fixes me with one of her withering, know-it-all stares.
“I had a brief chat with Donna Jenkins, the realtor.” Lydia chases a slice of cucumber. “I don’t really know her socially, and I didn’t ask the question directly, but she…” Lydia stabs a tomato and lifts it to her mouth. “...volunteered the information.” The tomato disappears between Lydia’s pink lipsticked lips. She chews and swallows then leans forward across the table towards me and says very quietly, “Donna said that the handsome firefighter has come to cover Mr Dexter’s parental leave and is… wait for it… your new neighbor!”
I fix a smile on my face and focus on my food.
“Thanks, Lydia, but…”
“What has it got to do with you?”
“Precisely.”
“Well. What are the chances?” Lydia grins enigmatically. “It’s meant to be.”
“It’s written in the stars?” I continue my beautiful friend’s thought process and laugh.
“Yes. Molly Ryan.” Lydia hisses at me. “A Greek god has moved into the house next door to you. How much encouragement do you need? Go get him.”
A laugh threatens to explode out of my nose. I swallow hard to keep it in.
“I love you, Lydia. You’re mad as a hatter. Everyone knows. But you are wonderful and my best friend. Now…” I check the time on my phone and stand to leave. “I gotta go. I’ll see you later, okay?”
Outside on the street, it looks as if it’s going to rain. I hurry down the road and turn the corner onto the main square when a car passes me. I’m not really paying attention because cars aren’t my thing, but I did notice that it looked very similar to the car parked next door: a blue Jeep something something. And was that Cam driving? It was hard to tell. I just saw the back of a head.
