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“Sorry, ma’am. I mean … Grams. But there’s still no food allowed.” When he reaches for her apple, she yanks it out of reach.
“For your information, this isn’t food. It’s a prop. And I figured you’d be thankful I don’t climb on the reference desk anymore.”
She takes a step forward, and Archie says, “Halt!” Then he holds up his walkie-talkie like he might have to notify Mr. Dudley that Mrs. Dodd’s about to hijack the stepladder and get on the desk again.
Mrs. Dodd rolls her eyes. “Pish posh. I’m too dignified for all that now.” Then she looks at me. “Well. Aren’t you going to ask me, Spencer?”
“Ask you what?”
“What I’m doing here.” She sweeps an arm out along the row of kids.
I flash her my best deadpan look. “What are you doing here?”
She giggles. “Ah, Spencer. I knew I liked you. We’re meeting Lucy over in the children’s wing for a story time. I’m the special guest star. And special guest stars need their props.” She brandishes her apple again and frowns at Archie.
“I understand, ma’am,” Archie mutters. “I mean … Grams.”
Mrs. Dodd turns back to me. “I’ll bet you can’t guess who I’m supposed to be.”
“Hmmm.” I tap my chin, pretending to mull this over. “Miss America.”
Mrs. Dodd tosses her head back and cackles. “Oh, you handsome devil!” She turns to Kayla. “You’re lucky I have a boyfriend now, young lady. Otherwise I’d fight you for this one.” She winks. “And I’d win.”
Jeannette makes eye contact with me over Mrs. Dodd’s stooped body and mouthssorry,just as the intercom system crackles to life.
“Excuse me, everyone.” Lucy’s voice floats over our heads. “Our story time will be starting soon, and we’re pleased to present a special guest star today. You’re all invited to join us over in the children’s wing in fifteen minutes for a performance ofSnow White.”
Grams rounds on Archie. “Did you hear that? I’m the very special guest star.”
“I did hear, ma’am-Grams.”
“So I suppose you ought to escort us across the library instead of hassling me.”
“Right away, special ma’am-Grams.” Archie sticks his walkie-talkie back in his holster, but the group barely makes it five feet before another commotion clogs the entrance.
And bycommotionI mean Tess.
She bumps her way through the sliding glass doors with a bouquet of helium balloons, a bag of takeout from Quik Wok, and a pink box from Dexter’s Doughnuts. Dex’s place is on the edge of town, so most people go to the Donut Depot unless it’s a special occasion. But what’s the special occasion? It can’t be because she’s meeting me to talk about camp. I’ve never been special to Tess. Or occasional, for that matter.
“Surprise!” she calls out, once she’s successfully navigated the doors. But as she makes her way toward the reference desk, Archie blocks Tess like he did Mrs. Dodd. “No food in the library.”
Tess grins, then steps around him. “We’re not going to eat out here on the main floor, Archie. We’re eating in the break room.”
Wait. Who’s eating in the break room?
“And these aren’t for me,” Tess says. She sets the pink box on the desk and hands the balloons over to Kayla. “Happy Work-aversary!” Tess crows. A huge grin spreads across her face. Unlike Kayla’s perfect piano-key teeth, Tess’s bottom two are a tiny bit crooked. It’s a tiny bit endearing. But her volume definitely isn’t.
“This is unexpected,” Kayla says, blushing. “Thank you so much, Tess.”
“You’re welcome!” Tess picks up the card I just gave Kayla and reads it. “Wow, Spence. You wrote Happy Anniversary in an anniversary card?” She snorts. “You really outdid yourself with the sentimentality.”
“How didyouremember it was Kayla’s anniversary?” I ask, because I’m genuinely shocked. This is my area of expertise. There’s no way Tess keeps track of important dates.
No. Way.
“A picture on my phone popped up as a memory,” she says. “The selfie I took of you, me, and Kayla with pieces of cake from Emi’s goodbye party. Emi was leaving. Kayla was starting. My blueprints were spread across the desk. You accused me of being a mess. Any of this ringing a bell?”
“Now that you mention it…”
