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Carlton hurries in the front door, more craft supplies in his arms. “I’m here, Liza. Construction paper out the wazoo.” He dumps it all on the big table nearby.
“Thanks,” I call to him as he starts organizing his pile.
“Miss Liza? Are you listening to me?” Anna snaps her fingers.
“I’m sorry, what did you say, honey?”
“I’m saving this seat.” She taps the one next to hers. “So don’t let anyone take it.”
“All right.” I grab one of the reserved table signs and put it in front of that chair for her. “Where is your brother? Will he be here soon?”
“It’s not for him.” She scrunches her little nose. “Here they come.” She sighs as kids start to pour into the front doors of the library. “Bunch of glitter-stealing hooligans.” She eyes them suspiciously.
“Anna!” Fran comes rushing into the library and heads straight toward us, almost bowling over Carlton, who’s headed out.
“Miss Liza! You have to tell her I came early to help set up,” Anna says in a hushed whisper.
“Huh?” What is she talking about?
“Did you sneak out of school early, Anna Bell Parks?”
Oh crap. Fran is coming in hard, using Anna’s full name.
“Oh, I’m sorry. She was helping me.” It’s not a lie. She moved some bottles around. Fran’s eyes bounce between Anna and me. “Where’s Ted? Is he joining us?”
“Probably outside getting his tongue stuck to a pole.” Anna giggles at her own joke about her brother.
“He’s coming.” Fran sighs. I direct my attention back to the other kids grabbing up chairs.
“I’ve got some snacks over here, but you have to eat them at these tables,” I tell them. They know the drill, but I remind them just in case. My eyes keep lingering over toward the door, wondering if Crane is coming.
“Miss Liza. This one won’t open.” Kennedy holds a bottle up in the air. I come around to her table and help her with the lid. I do the same for a few other kids. I love helping them make their own creations. It’s all part of the magic that goes into the holiday season.
“Looks like you’ve got your hands full.” I spin around at the familiar deep voice from yesterday.
“You came.” I smile up at him. I thought maybe the memory I had of him being so handsome was a little exaggerated, but seeing him again tells me it wasn’t.
“I did.” My breath hitches when his thumb swipes across my cheek. “You had a little something.”
“Glitter.” The gold sparkles on this finger. “It really gets everywhere.”
“Crane! I saved you a spot!” Anna shouts even though we’re only two tables over.
“This is still a library, Anna,” I remind her.
“But you guys are old. Maybe you can’t hear me or somethin’. Gotta speak up.”
“Ouch.” Crane puts a hand over his heart like he’s wounded.
“Come on.” This time she whisper-yells at him.
“I guess I’ve got to go.” He gives me a half-smile before he does as he’s ordered. It’s a bit adorable, but I thought we were having a moment. I read too many romance novels. I shake my head and get back to it.
Cora and Liby help me keep the kids wrangled while I still manage with the front desk in case anyone wants to check out a book. I bounce back and forth, helping as many of the kids as I can. Whenever I steal a glance at Crane, I notice he’s looking my way or maybe it’s because he’s facing this way.
“Liza.” Mick pulls my attention away from Crane. “I got the lights fixed. Not sure what happened with the ones around the front windows.”
“Oh good. I’m sorry if it was any trouble.” When I’d gotten home and seen them up, I was excited to turn them on. But when I flipped the button to set the timer, the ones that wrap around my windows and the two pillars out front didn’t come on. I had to call Mick. He does my lights every year.
