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Has Mother ever listened to me? Ever wondered what makes me tick? ‘I’ve made a commitment to save Willow Grove library …’
She cuts me off. ‘How much money do you need? I’ll buy the bloody thing if I have to, even though it makes no financial sense.’
I heave a long sigh. ‘You’re missing the point like you so often do. Look, I’ll come back as soon as I can but that’s all dependent on keeping the promise I made here. I’m an Astor after all and we keep our promises.’That will get to her – it’s an oft-said phrase from my childhood when Mum sent us from one activity to the next when all we wanted to do was be kids. ‘And I’ll only return on the condition that you train Teddy to take over, and not me.’
‘You always were whimsical. I’ll hold the fort, but don’t keep me waiting long.’
Did she agree, or step around it, like she so expertly does?
I end the call and I feel more confused than ever about what to do. My phone pings again. An antique dealer wants to buy the library catalogue drawers! Finally, some funds!
Chapter 13
The interminable week ends on a low note. Yet another initiative, the writers’ group, failed to yield any members. Not one person showed up. I’d have thought there’d have been a few scribblers in town, but if there are, they don’t want to share their stories with a group. We still need 438 memberships, we’ve barely made a dent in the numbers at all. Short of dressing up as a book and walking up and down the high street, I don’t know what else to do. Everything hinges on the People Library experiment and if that fails then we will fail. It’s enough to make me queasy.
I trudge to the supermarket to get groceries for dinner with Finn, but my heart isn’t in it. Failure washes over me and it’s hard to shrug it off. I don’t want to let down the people of Willow Grove and lose their library but it feels inevitable, somehow.
Inside, I distractedly place all manner of vegetables in my basket, having no real plan. Maybe we’ll have frozen pizza, and I’ll drink my body weight in wine instead. I go to the freezer section and grab a few pizzas, thinking it’s sacrilege compared to Fuoco’s delicious wood-fired creations. I shake my head – I will not give up. I put the pizzas back and pull myself together.If I want to save this bloody library, then wallowing in self-pity isn’t going to damn well help.
I decide to make a proper home-style roast with all the trimmings and only hope it’ll cook in time. Just how longdoesa roast take? Well, we’ll soon find out. When I get to the fridge section, there’s a tap on my shoulder. I turn to find myself face to face with Pete, who is wearing a similar outfit as before, wildly big on his large frame.
‘Pete, lovely to see you.’
‘Did you mean what you said?’ His eyes are pools of sadness and I’d challenge anyone to stare into them and not be moved.
‘I meant every word, Pete. I understand that things aren’t always as they seem.’ It was the way he acted as if he wanted to be caught that got me. There was no sneaking about; it was quite the opposite.
Pete gives me a quick nod. ‘Then I’d like to be a human book. I’d like that very much.’ He attempts a smile. It’s wobbly, as if he hasn’t had much practice.
‘Really?’ I say with a grin. Out of all of the ‘books’ I didn’t hold much hope Pete would join in because we hadn’t really connected, he didn’t know my reasoning and obviously just has blind faith in me. I have to make this work.
‘Really.’
‘I’m so pleased, Pete.’ He’s managed to turn my despair around and I jump up to his burly height and give him a friendly hug, which provokes a shocked expression on his features. ‘This is wonderful, wonderful news! If you’re free I’d love to invite you for an informal meeting on Monday morning at the library with the other “books”. Finn and a photographer will be there to take pictures and interview you all ahead of the start date the week after.’I haven’t exactly squared this with Finn yet, so I hope he’s amenable.
‘Sure, Monday is good.’
‘Great. We can chat in more detail then about what being a human book means but it’s simple really, you’ll just share whatever you feel comfortable with and we’ll go from there.’
‘Do you think people will care about what I have to say?’ The million-dollar question, which I’m also quite keen to know the answer to.
‘Therightpeople will care and that’s a start.’
‘OK,’ he says with a shrug. ‘Well, I better be off. Have a good weekend, Elodie.’
‘You too, Pete.’ I go to the checkout and pay for my things, walking home with a spring in my step to start preparing dinner for Finn.
‘Something smells good,’ Finn says, and hands me a bottle of wine as he crosses the threshold.
‘Thank you. It’s roast beef.’ I called Sofia and got some pointers so I feel quietly confident that I’m not going to poison the man but only time will tell.
‘My favourite.’
‘Before I forget …’ I mention my encounter with Pete, including the plan to meet him on Monday morning accompanied by Finn and theChroniclephotographer. ‘And I’ve texted Sofia and Jo who are happy to join. I only have to confirm with Harry, who I’ll see when I get to work. I don’t have time to dilly-dally anymore. I’ve got one chance to push this so I need to go all guns blazing.’
‘Sure, I’ll speak to my photographer but consider it done.’ He grins.
‘You’re the photographer, aren’t you?’
