Page 56 of Call It Serendipity

I nod against her. “I could really get used to it.”

And what scares me the most is that I think I already have.

31

The Ellicottville Town Hall’s hours of operation are nothing like the districts of New York City. It’s closed more than it’s open; I made a point to memorize the little schedule in the window my first week here.

And as I step through the door, a bell announcing my arrival, the woman behind the counter of the village clerk’s office gives me a suspicious smile. “Back again, Mr. Carpenter?”

“Getting tired of me, Laurie?” I reply warmly.

She removes her red eyeglasses and allows them to dangle from the bedazzled lanyard attached to the ends. Her gray hair is swirled atop her head, same as always, and she has what looks like a matching bedazzled knitting needle keeping the bun in place. “Don’t tell anyone else in this town, young man, but I do enjoy your visits.”

I lift a finger to draw an X over the pocket of my corduroy jacket. “Our little secret, cross my heart.”

“Although… I am curious about what more you could need from this office.”

The desk runs wall to wall, effectively separating me from the rows of village information behind her. I lean forward on it and raise an eyebrow. “I have yet to read every single one of those charters behind you.”

“And why would you need to?”

“I need the obscure ordinances. Tell me about the roadblocks that most people have forgotten about.”

She purses her lips, the tap of her acrylic nails filling the silence as she thinks. “Obscure, but not outdated?”

“Exactly.”

The first time I stopped in here, she interrogated me thoroughly before determining if I would be permitted to see a single zoning requirement. She’s more like a sentry on guard than a secretary. If anyone knows what’s inside those old, leather-bound books, it’s Laurie.

“Why?”

I came here fully prepared to earn my access to something that is, in reality, public record. With a smirk, I say, “I’m doing my due diligence.”

She frowns at me.

“I want to understand them,” I assure her.

“To work around them.” It’s not a question.

“Not at all.”

The clack of her nails begins again. “What do you think of our town?”

“It’s a very special place.” Warm eyes peering up at me through wispy bangs and the aroma of sweet apple with a hint of spice flash through my brain. So overpowering, it almost feels like Lucy is here with us. “With very special people.”

The tapping of her nails halts. Her frown softens. Maybe she can hear the genuineness of my tone. “I can think of a few pages you might find helpful.”

She turns and starts pulling out a book from one of the nearest shelves.

“Can I ask you something?”

Laurie stacks a second volume in the crook of her arm and looks back at me. “You can ask. I might not answer.”

“How long have you worked here?”

“I started in this office fresh out of school. My father was a trustee and put in a good word.” She reaches for a third book. “It was supposed to be temporary; I could never bring myself to leave though.”

Coming back over to the counter, she sets the pile down and slides it towards me. “You didn’t get these originals from me.”