AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘So that’s what I’m going to do: I’m going to get a job, even if I have to start at the very bottom. In fact, I’m going toinsistI start there because then the only way is up.’
On Monday, Charlotte returns to the library with the People Library expression of interest sheet all filled out. ‘Thanks, Charlotte. I’ll have a read of this and let you know.’ I want our human books to be interesting and to be able share something other than local gossip, but I’m not quite sure Charlotte’s story will work if she doesn’t tell it truthfully. I’m hesitant after her crusade to ruin Sofia’s reputation. She writes that her story would be about regret.
‘What’s specifically do you regret?’
She swallows hard. ‘So many things, where do I start? I treated Sofia poorly because of my own bad judgement. Then I tried to get as many people as possible on board to ostracise her.’
‘Right.’
She surveys the carpet, not able to look me in the eye as if she’s genuinely embarrassed about what she’s done. ‘Since borrowing the other human books I see now how sharing these things can ease the burden. I’ve lived with this for so long, it’s like a disease eating at me from the inside out. But I’ll gladly carry that burden because the way I treated Sofia was disgraceful so I feel by speaking up and owning my mistakes in such a public fashion,I might help prove to Sofia that I’m truly sorry. I have to at least try, for her sake.’
‘And you’re sure sharing this is the right thing to do? I want you to be certain about your decision.’
‘I’ve given it a lot of thought. And I can’t hide behind the lies anymore.’
‘Well, then if that’s the case I’ll add you to the list. We’ll let you know ahead of time when your slot is. And if you’d like to be interviewed after and have photographs in the paper Finn’s the man to talk to.’
‘In for a penny, in for a pound.’
I smile as she walks away. We’re almost halfway through September and things are looking up. Not only are locals engaging with the human books, but so many of them are keen to share their own stories too. It’s still too soon to tell if we’ll get the membership numbers but we are definitely on the right track.
Chapter 21
‘Argh!’ I scream as I mount the kerb and slam on the brakes.
‘It’s OK! You’re doing great,’ Finn says, but his pallor is deathly white. ‘Just go a little slower around the bends.’ It had been his bright idea to teach me to drive when I confided in him I’d never sat behind a steering wheel before.
‘Are you sure? I feel like there’s a distinct possibility I could write off your car.’
‘This old thing? Gah.’
This old thing is actually a relatively new Saab, the very definition of what a reporter would drive. Quick enough to zip to a story, respectable enough to own. At this stage it doesn’t have any dents or scratches and I’d hate to be the one to mar the body.
‘Come on, Elodie. It’s only a car. It’s not a living thing. So what if you bump into something? It’s fixable.’ God, he’s lovely. That’s the type of person Finn is, to focus on the positive, to think of a car as just a lump of metal that takes you from A to B.
‘OK. I’ll try again but if I damage it, I’m paying for repairs and I won’t have you arguing about it, yeah?’
He shakes his head. ‘Drive the damn car, lady. I’m hungry.’
I laugh and reverse off the pavement. I’m supposed to be driving us to lunch in the next town over to get some miles under my belt,but my hands quake and my legs shake and I’m not sure I have it in me. ‘Can we have lunch at Willow Grove pub instead? My shout?’
‘You scaredy-cat.’
‘Meow.’
‘OK, we can have lunch at the pub, but you’re not paying.’
‘Fine we’ll go halves.’
‘It’s my shout – I invited you.’
‘Can you stop arguing with me so I can drive?’ There’s a couple of cars behind me, tooting in frustration.
‘I can.’ Finn sticks a hand out of his window and motions for them to go around. ‘Let them pass so you don’t feel the need to drive at Formula One speeds again.’
‘You’re no fun. Driving at Formula One speed makes me feelalive!’ I joke.
His eyes go wide. ‘Until you’renotalive. I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news but we don’t have a roll cage, helmets or fire-retardant driving suits.’
