AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ansley
Today is my last full day at the library. I woke up excited, but as the day progressed, the smiles turned to tears. It seems as if the entire town has taken the time to stop by today. Some with goodies and others with kind words. I received a few gift cards, flowers, lots of hugs, and heartfelt congratulations.
The thing I’m going to miss the most is the children. We host several summer enrichment programs here at the library and, of course, our weekly snacks and story-time event, which was my brainchild.
Every Thursday evening, the library stays open after hours, and we host a theme night for children ages three to ten. Volunteers read from age-appropriate books that the kids choose, and we supply refreshments that go along with the reading. We also incorporate a fun craft that they can take home. The parents drop their kids off at six in the evening and pick them back up at nine. The thought behind the activity is to give parents a free sitter once a week, so they can spend time doing some shopping, getting exercise, or having a date night while the kids get to socialize and have their minds stimulated. My greatest hope is to ignite a love of reading in all the little hearts in Balsam Ridge.
I might not be heading up the planning any longer, but I still intend to volunteer to read to the kids at least twice a month. I can’t give it up completely. I love it too much.
The day flies by, quicker than I expected, and before I know it, it’s time to hand over my keys and pass the baton to the next eager gatekeeper of the books. I hug the staff and say my good-byes. It’s ridiculous. It’s not like I won’t see them around town all the time, and I’ll see them all at the library fundraiser this weekend, yet it’s still bittersweet.
I walk to my new apartment, and there is a bite of cool air that swirls the leaves at my feet as I make my way down Main Street. The grand opening of the café is on Friday. It seems like I’ve been dreaming of this and working toward it for so long, and yet it is happening fast. It’s funny how time can bend and warp like that. Like spending a year planning your dream vacation. It seems so far away and like it will never get here, and yet when it’s finally time to board that plane, time moves at the speed of light, and you’re on the other side of it, wondering how it went by in the blink of an eye. As if you weren’t even present to enjoy the fruits of all the planning.
I refuse to let that happen this time. I want to slow down and enjoy every single moment of the next few days and bask in the joy of having a dream come to fruition.
I stop by Mary’s Burritos to grab dinner, and when I’m leaving, back on the sidewalk, a car slows on the road beside me.
I glance over to see Kevin’s patrol vehicle. He rolls down the passenger window.
“Hi, Ansley. How was your last day?” he asks.
“It was good and a bit sad.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to stop in. I planned to, but Johnny’s wife went into labor, so I had to pull a double shift,” he explains.
“That’s okay.”
I keep walking as we chat.
“How about I take you out for a celebratory dinner tomorrow night?” he proposes.
“I don’t know. I have a lot of loose ends to tie up before Friday,” I start.
“Come on. A girl’s gotta eat, right? Besides, you owe me, and I’m calling in my rain check,” he persists.
“I do?”
He nods.
“Yep. Remember when I asked you to the fish fry but you had already promised to go with your dad?” he reminds me.
Oh, right. I did say I’d accompany him another time.
I laugh and give in. “Okay. Dinner. Tomorrow. You can pick me up at seven at the café.”
“Fantastic. I’ll see you then,” he says before pulling away from the curb.
I don’t know why it’s so hard to let my guard down and enjoy an evening with a man. Especially a man like Kevin Crispen. He’s so easy to like. It’s time I make more than just a career change. I need to open my life up to new possibilities.
What about Garrett?
The thought pops, unwanted, into my mind.
What about him?
Garrett is only in Balsam Ridge for a time-out. He’ll take his punishment and go back to bigger and better things. I know I agreed to give the whole enemies-with-benefits thing a try, but who am I kidding? That kiss was a fluke. One that he most likely regretted the moment he was out of my sight. The heat that was crackling between us was just the remnants of sparks left behind from our youth and nothing more. I doubt I’ll even see him again before he leaves town.
I make it to my apartment and let myself in. When I get to the top of the stairs, I see a sign attached to the door that reads, Welcome to the first day of the rest of your life.
I open the door, and the room is filled with helium balloons. There is an ice bucket with a bottle of champagne on the island and a cake box beside it. I set my bagged dinner on the counter and open the lid. It’s my favorite. A German chocolate with coconut pecan frosting. Written on the cake is, We are so proud of you.
I hear the door slowly creak open, and three heads pop in and yell, “Surprise!”
Erin, Jena, and Taeli come rushing inside.
