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She was going to bring him back to her apartment in the hopes of mediating a mutually tolerant relationship between him and Edgar Allan Crow. It would be a change for all three of them, but if she could adapt to new situations and circumstances, then the cat and the bird should be able to as well.
She got to work checking in the final returns, boxing up the desk supplies, and taking down displays. No one came into the library all day. The town council had announced the closing date, and she supposed everyone had already said goodbye to the old house and its ghosts.
She packed up the books in the cupola but left the nautical instruments and telescope for Edith to retrieve for the museum. The portrait of Captain Marcus gazed at her, benevolent and warm.
She’d talk to the town council about finding a place in the new library for the painting, maybe even in a section that could be named after him.The John Marcus Historical Archives.Right next toThe Millicent Pepper Reading Room.
Though the library usually closed at eight, Bee made an exception on this last day and turned off the lights at five. In her childhood, leaving a house had always made her feel unhappy and unwanted, but now she was filled with all the hope and possibilities of the future. She coaxed Puffalump into his carrying case and started toward the front doors.
She’d miss the Gardenia House, no question. She’d miss the ghosts and the overdone architecture and the history embedded in the walls. She’d miss the distinctive creaks of the foundation and the way the light shone through the windows.
She’d miss walking down the staircase while imagining what the house must have been like in its heyday. She’d miss thinking about all the people who had lived in, visited, and enjoyed the Gardenia House over the years.
But she wouldn’t miss the claustrophobic circulation desk, the rotting wood, the potential hazards of lead paint and asbestos, the children’s section that was barely big enough for storytime, and the ancient HVAC and electrical systems.
No, it was definitely time for the Bliss Cove Library to have a big, expansive fresh start. And Bee would be right there to help.
She slipped her bag over her shoulder, picked up Puffalump in his case, and opened the front door.
As soon as she stepped onto the porch, she stopped. At least six or seven trucks and vans lined the driveway, and people were getting out and heading toward the house.
Bee set Puffalump down as she caught sight of Mayor Bowers approaching, dressed in an industrial-looking olive pantsuit and wearing gloves.
“Oh, good,” the mayor said. “We expected you’d be closing a bit early.”
“What’s going on?” Bee asked.
The mayor frowned. “The library is going up for sale tomorrow. Which means it has to be moved tonight.”
“Allof it?”
“It won’t take long.” The mayor marched up the steps past her, waving her hand to the other people streaming toward them. “We have plenty of help. And Nico is sending over pizza.”
To Bee’s astonishment, half the town—store owners, high school kids, parents, seniors, and the entire Lawford Realty Group—pitched in throughout the evening and into the night packing books and moving them to their designated locations.
Edith and others from the Historical Museum came to collect the telescope and other things, and the women from the Ground Hogs gardening club organized deaccessioned books for a fundraising sale.
Bee’s heart warmed with gratitude. The townspeople were rallying around the Gardenia House, after all.
She was carrying a box of picture books to the bookmobile in the parking lot when a shiver ran down her spine. She put the box down beside the trailer. A car turned into the driveway from the road and maneuvered around the trucks and vans to the parking lot.
Bee’s heart jumped. She was running toward him before he’d even parked the car and opened the door.
Adam got out, his smile wide as he held out his arms. She leaped into them with a laugh of delight, warmed to her toes by the close press of their bodies together.
“You made it.” She hugged him tighter. “Welcome home.”
“No place I’d rather be.” He pulled back slightly to give her a hard, possessive kiss. “I missed you. Everything okay here?”
“More than okay.” She returned his kiss, and he set her gently back on her feet. “What was going on with the Explorer Channel? You just said there was a situation.”
“Yeah, I’ll tell you about it later.” He looked past her to the people streaming in and out of the house as they transported the carefully packed books and periodicals. “What do you need me to do?”
“Use your muscles.” She squeezed his arm.
They walked back up to the house and rejoined the work, which took on a festive air when Nico arrived with pizza and Aria drove up in the Sugar Joy van with plenty of pastries for everyone.
As Bee took a break to have pizza and a doughnut, she sat with Adam on the porch swing and thought she’d never been so at home. Because this was the place where she both loved—and was loved—best of all.
