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I take a moment to compose myself and continue walking to the pub, seriously contemplating a quick alcoholic beverage to calm the erratic beating of my heart.
I go inside and find the publican, Trevor, cleaning the lines. ‘Here she is, the woman of the moment.’
‘Me?’ I ask, my mind half lost still with Teddy’s call.
‘Your People Library idea has grown wings and taken flight already.’
‘That fast?’ I check my watch. The paper’s been out for a couple of hours, and it’s only just been shared online.
‘Things move quick here – you should know that by now.’
I shoot him a toothy smile. I really need to get my head straight and focus on this today of all days. But my mind feels woolly as I worry about my dad. ‘You’re right, Ishouldknow that by now. If it’s OK, I’d still like to hang these posters in your window.’
He wipes down the bar and says, ‘Go for it, love. I for one am going to join the library so I can hear ol’ Harry’s story. I know a bit of it, being of the same ilk, ancient as I am, but I’ve always wondered why he ended up the way he has. I’d sort of forgotten about him, to be honest. He used to prop up the bar once upon a time and then he stopped coming and I never stumble on him in town anymore. Seeing his picture online today gave me a start, it did, remembering the Harry of old, nursing his pint and having a laugh with me.’
It gives me hope to hear he’s going to join! More so because he knows Harry and wants to hear more. It feels supportive, the way he talks, as if he’s lost an old friend and has the chance to meet again. ‘I’m so pleased to hear it. I’m sure Harry would love to see a friendly face when he shares his story.’
‘Too right. My wife and I’ll be down directly once the lunchtime staff clock on so we can get our memberships sorted and reserve a time with the human books. She wants to meet the little lad Alfie.Never heard about that calendar counting malarkey before, so she’s keen to learn what that’s all about. Quite clever the way his mind must work. Goes to show you never really know about people, you onlythinkyou know.’
My pulse races. ‘Yes, yes.That’s exactly it.’
I can only hope there’s hundreds more like Trevor who are open to the idea.
‘Get those posters up, love, and I’ll make sure I point them out to our patrons too.’
When I leave the pub, I’m buzzing but I have to call my dad and make sure he’s OK before I let myself sink into excitement about the library. I find a perch under the shade of a birch tree.
‘Darling, I’ve missed you so!’
His voice is upbeat – strange as he’s usually so reserved. ‘Hey, Dad. I heard you had a bit of a scare.’
‘Oh that. It was nothing.’
I stifle a sigh. ‘It wasn’t nothing. You’re supposed to be recuperating at home and yet here I am getting calls about you strutting around Astor, ignoring medical advice. Why, Dad? Do you seriously not care about your health?’
‘I feel fine, honestly. I’ve lost a bit of weight, what with all the medications so I might look a bit different but I truly feel better than I have in years. Let’s be honest, I needed to lose a bit. Trust me, I wouldn’t be at work if I felt like I couldn’t handle it.’
‘That’s just the thing, I don’t trust you. You’d be at work to support Mum, no matter what. And that makes me feel guilty that I should be there for Mum so you can be at home where you’resupposedto be.’
‘So a library, eh? I can see you there, you know.’ He sidesteps my concern just like that.
‘Mum told you?’
‘Of course, there are no secrets between us. Even when I’m ill. Listen, Ellie, I know you feel like you should come home and we’d love you to. Especially your mother – she’s running around like a chicken with its head cut off. But this latest ticker trouble really cemented a few things for me, and one of them is how we haven’t really listened to what you and Teddy want to do with your lives. This latest spell has opened my eyes. Teddy has come on in leaps and bounds, and you’re finally following your dreams. Maybe this is the way it was always meant to be.’
What is going on? My father never speaks like this. ‘Really?’ Maybe things aren’t as bad as Teddy is making out? Maybe I can stay in Willow Grove. ‘But what about Mum? She can’t keep up this pace.’
‘Teddy has a plan. He’s going to take over a lot more of the events. If that happens, then we’ll be OK.’
I blow out a breath. ‘OK, so you’re saying I don’t need to come home right now?’
‘No, darling. Stay where you are. You’re doing important work by trying to save a library, and it’s work that you’re clearly passionate about.’
‘Thanks, Dad. I’m really enjoying it. I finally feel like I’m living the life I was meant to.’
‘I’m proud of you. Look I’ve got a conference call with—’
‘No, you don’t. That was a ruse to get you home. My idea, before you go blaming anyone else. Please promise me you’ll spend some time resting? Even if it’s only a few hours every day?’
