AllFreeNovel
Share Us
ChapterTwenty-Six
Starfish Avenue bustled with a midmorning crowd. The day after Halloween had dawned bright and clear, with the November sun casting a crisp glow over the street.
Bee closed the car door and smoothed down her skirt. Though her stomach was tense with nerves and she’d had only a few hours to prepare, she had to do this now—before word spread about the library’s closing.
Adam came around from the driver’s side and held out a leather portfolio, skimming his gaze over her with admiration.
“You look stunning.” He reached out to straighten her book pendant. “Very professional and organized. You’re going to do great.”
“I hope so.” She’d certainly try her best. Because if this didn’t work, then…she didn’t know what she would do.
Neither did Adam. But at least they wouldn’t know what to do together—which meant that no matter what happened, Bee would be just fine.
But she was still letting herself hope. Hard.
Adam gave her a kiss for luck, then walked down to Java Works to wait for her. Bee turned onto Thistle Street and approached a two-story, glass-fronted building with a sign readingLawford Realty Group.
A young woman looked up from the reception desk with a smile. “Miss Delaney? Marilyn is waiting for you in her office. I’ll take you up there. Can I offer you coffee or tea?”
“No, but thank you.” Bee followed her up the stairs of the professional, streamlined office decorated with photos of the company’s sales and the properties currently on the market.
The receptionist knocked on a closed door at the top of the stairs, waited for permission to enter, and opened the door. “Bee Delaney is here.”
“Excellent. Thank you, Georgia.”
Georgia smiled at Bee as she passed and went into the office. Though she’d expected Marilyn’s office to be elegant, she had to smother a rush of inadequacy as she took in the white palette décor, with modern art paintings providing splashes of color.
From the polished glass desk and sleek computer to the graceful white sofa and armchairs, the office was pretty much Marilyn in interior design form.
“Good morning, Bee.” Marilyn rose from behind her desk and extended her manicured hand. “Come in and sit down. Is Georgia bringing you coffee?”
“No, I don’t need anything. Thank you.” Bee gripped her portfolio tighter, expecting Marilyn to sit back down behind her desk and offer Bee one of the chairs in front of it.
Instead, Marilyn indicated the conference area beside the windows and waited for Bee to sit first before she lowered herself onto the sofa.
“Thanks for agreeing to meet with me on such short notice.” Bee rested the portfolio on her lap.
“My pleasure. I had a cancellation this morning, so it was good timing.” Marilyn’s gaze flicked to the portfolio. “You said you wanted to talk about the Media and Tech Center.”
“Yes.” Bee opened the folder, trying to quell her jumping nerves. “Obviously, I haven’t been in favor of it because it meant closing the library. But after your presentation and some…other incidents, I’m starting to think it might be a good thing for Bliss Cove.”
Though Bee suspected Marilyn had never been speechless in her life, the other woman stared at her for a moment before saying, “Really?”
“Yes.” Bee took several drawings and printed pages from the folder and spread them out on the circular coffee table. “But I have some ideas that could take it from good togreat. Maybe even all the way up to spectacular.”
Marilyn lifted a plucked eyebrow. “I’m listening.”
Bee began to explain her ideas for implementing features and programs into the Media and Tech Center to make it a library and a full-scale community space. In addition to the expanded children’s section and the need for a large, central circulation desk, plus dedicated staff offices, she put forth ideas for the center’s technology.
“Our library assistant Ray Berry has a lot of friends who make use of the senior center,” she explained. “But the seniors don’t always understand the different types of technology or how to use them. So if the digital media lab could have a variety of devices available—tablets, computers, even cell phones—and provide hands-on instruction, then everyone would be comfortable there. And my friend Grace, who teaches over at the high school, suggested a teen tutor program where teenagers can be the ones to teach older adults how to use technology as a way to breach the generation gap and create a sense of community. Then for tech-savvy people, the digital media lab could have content creation tools like video editing and music software.”
Marilyn blinked. “I thought you were decidedly against the technological aspect of the center.”
“No. I was just so fixated on saving the Gardenia House that I’ve been unwilling to think about all the possibilities of a new space. And there’s also the bookmobile, which could be connected to the Media Center’s system so that people in rural areas can see what’s available here and make requests for books or other things. Oh, I also saw that a library in Chicago has established a check-out program for musical instruments, which would be wonderful for people who want to try out different instruments before committing to one. And Adam Powers suggested that you could do the same thing with science kits, which we could also make available through the bookmobile.”
Marilyn sat back and shook her head. “Bee, these are amazing ideas, but I have to say I’m stunned. What brought about your change of heart?”
Bee smiled. “A change of heart.”
