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The slight chill in the air has me grateful I’m clutching two hot coffees. Of course, I shouldn’t complain. New Orleans’ winter is mild by comparison. But when you’re used to the warmth, low fifties seems downright frigid.
I’m also proud of not having spilled either of the coffees, seeing as how my car has no cupholders. None. It’s like a skirt without pockets. Still, I try not to insult it too much. Out loud. I’m afraid it will take offense and give up on working, and then I’ll have to rely solely on the public transport system.
As I approach the front doors, a familiar figure sits on an outside bench.
“Jamie!” I call out, smiling wide even as I drag worried eyes over his form. The teenager sits with an ankle propped on his knee, a composition book in his lap, messy black hair falling in disarray over his forehead. None of that worries me. What does is his T-shirt and jeans that appear worn, and lack of a coat. “Why are you sitting out here instead of inside? It’s chilly.”
“Fresh air helps me write.” The young man grins at me through his floppy dark hair. The strands tangle in odd ways, begging for a comb and a pair of clippers.
“You need a jacket.” I know I’m scolding him, but it’s only because I worry. Sometimes I worry all night about Jamie.
“Here. They doubled my order again.” I offer him the extra cup of coffee, eager to hand him something warm to clutch.
“Funny how they always do that.” Jamie smirks as he eyes the cup. One of these days, I’m worried he’ll turn it down.
But today, like all the Thursdays before, he reaches out to accept the beverage. I know there’s research about caffeine affecting the growth of teens, but as Jamie rises to his six-foot-three height, I reason that he might prefer some stunting.
“You’re romance-hero tall, you know?” I hold open the library door for him, and he gives me a confused grin.
“I’m what?”
“Romance-hero tall. Survey the height of heroes in the genre, and I’d bet over ninety percent surpass six foot. It’s like only tall men are allowed to fall in love.”
Jamie snorts and continues to smile down at me. “I don’t think I’m mainstream romance novel material.”
He knows I know what he’s referring to. There’s been a time or two I teased him about the way he likes to ogle Daniel, one of our more handsome security guards.
“Your version of romance is becoming more mainstream. Still,” I lean in closer and he bends down to hear me, “find yourself a tall man. Under six-foot, and I’m sorry to tell you, the relationship will be doomed.”
Jamie chuckles, eyes sparkling, and I glow with happiness. He’s a sweet kid, just turned sixteen, and spends most of his afternoons at the library, working on homework or writing in one of his beat-up composition notebooks. At my urging, he started to attend the weekly writer meetings. On Thursdays, his smiles seem to come easier.
Only now I watch with despair as the upward curl of his lips retreats.
“My dad always said I’m basketball tall.” His comment lacks the amusement we were sharing moments before, a lost, dark look behind his eyes.
Damn it. I want to hug him so bad.
My dad always said… Past tense.
I have suspicions about Jamie’s home situation. Or more like, his lack of a home situation. But the teenager is as elusive as he is sweet, and I’ve never been able to get him to fess up. I guess I can understand. If social services knew there was an underaged kid in an unstable situation, they might decide to put him into a foster home.
That’s not always a good thing. The foster care system is…in need of improvement. But when the other option is sleeping under some random bridge?
Still, I don’t know anything for sure. It could just be that his dad left.
Or passed away. Like mine.
My mind does a Cirque du Soleil worthy leap over that thought, avoiding the pain of good memories gone.
Both Jamie and I need to focus on something else.
“Do you have a new story to share today?” I tilt my head at his notebook as I unlock my office.
“Maybe. Not sure yet. I have a few hours to decide.”
It’s only three p.m., and the writers’ group doesn’t meet until six. Jamie usually gets here right after school lets out, then stays till closing.
Which is at nine p.m.
