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She waves a hand flippantly at the library, suggesting the complete opposite of what her words imply. My job is inconsequential. Why does she continually test my patience?
“That’s very kind of you.” The wordkindburns my tongue. “I have it under control, but I’ll definitely keep you in mind.”
“Wonderful.” Her mouth twists like she’s pained. What is this? Opposite day?
Conversation done, she marches to the front desk with her minions dutifully at her heels. Poor Jack. He has to deal with her.
While Lara hasn’t said it outright, many—including my father and me—believe she wishes Bright Horizons had been her idea. Next to laying down the law, she likes nothing better than the praise and spotlight that comes with running things. She’s theGilmore Girls’Taylor Doose of Winslow Grove.
Jack, one of the kids who will benefit from Bright Horizons and the student Lara will sponsor, looks to me from behind the counter. “Miss Wren, I’ll take care of these ladies.”
Tall and all limbs, he directs his sweet smile to Lara. If I didn’t know him better, and didn’t recognize the small twitch in his left eyebrow, I’d think he was looking forward to the exchange.
“Thank you, Jack.” I traipse over to a row of shelves to offload the last of the books while he charms the ladies.
Jack doesn’t officially work at the library, though I’d love nothing more than to give him a job. Unfortunately, I have no funding to do so, and while a paycheck would be nice, that’s not why he does it. Like a few others in the town, he volunteers because he enjoys the library and we’re friends. Most days, he drops in after school to do his homework and I help him where I can. Once done, he usually stays to help out.
When I emerge from an aisle, arms free and tingling with relief, the women are walking out the door. Immediately, the air shifts to something lighter, more serene. I love this place so much, especially like this. While not big, the library is a simple two-story house built in the mid-eighteen hundreds by the first Winslow family, the founders of our town.
Since the day I learned to read, this has been my second home, and working here is a dream come true. I love to walk among all these books, share recommendations with the townsfolk, and sometimes, if I’m lucky, find my next great read.
“Jack, why don’t you head home.” According to the clock on the wall, there are only fifteen minutes until eight. “It’s practically closing time.”
“All right, Miss Wren.” He bends to grab his school bag.
“Don’t worry about your bio test. You know your stuff. Go home and relax.”
Chuckling, he saunters from behind the counter. “Reggie doesn’t let us rest until chores are done.” He clears his throat, and the next words out of his mouth are an octave or two higher as he mimics his foster mom. “You know what they say about idle hands.”
“That sounds like something she’d say.”
Regina Daly, or more affectionately known as Reggie, lives in a big, old mansion on the outskirts of town and, for as long as I can remember, has fostered children. Sometimes as many as eight. She has the space, the means, and the patience. In the eyes of the town, she is considered a saint, but to Reggie, it is her calling.
As we saunter, side by side, to the door, Jack hikes his bag strap higher on his shoulder. “You sure you don’t want me to stick around and help clean up?”
“No, I got this. Thank you. You have a good night and say hi to Reggie, Courtney, and Brayden.”
“You too.” He pushes the door open, letting a gust of the crisp fall air in. “Court’s not going to be happy that you helped me study.”
Jack, along with Reggie’s other foster kids, Courtney and Brayden, are the inaugural recipients of the Bright Horizons program. Reggie and my mother were close and when Mom died, Reggie kind of fostered me in a different sort of way. With a younger sister to care for, I needed the guidance and, often times, the help with Percy. Drowning in grief, Pop didn’t have the presence of mind to help with either. I learned a lot about the foster care system during the time Percy and I spent at Reggie’s.
When I learned that once foster kids age out of care at eighteen, there is little to no support for them, I was both sad and angry. Many foster kids are undereducated and unqualified for jobs.
This tragic disparity became all the more real with what happened to our very own Serena, Percy’s best friend and one of Reggie’s kids. When she was unable to finish college due to her circumstances, my heart broke for her. I then became all the more determined to figure out a way to help foster kids who wanted to go to college.
That’s why I came up with Bright Horizons. My wish is to expand that support to more than education. Baby steps. I need to get this program approved by the city council first.
Jack’s growing lopsided grin pulls me back to our conversation, and I smile in return. “You tell Court she’s welcome here anytime to study, do homework, or whatever.”
“All right. G’night.” He waves, then saunters out across the dark parking lot and down Main Street.
With my nose pressed against the glass, I peer out into the quiet darkness. Oliver and the persistent question ofWhere the heck is he?screams in my mind.
Both my hands lie flat on my stomach as I hope to quell the constant churning of my nerves. If only I could talk to him and find out what’s going on. When we parted the morning after our night in the gym, we didn’t exchange numbers.
Funny how we’ve known each other for most of our lives, and at one time knew almost everything about one another. Now, despite having sex the other night, there’s so much I don’t know about him. Not even his phone number.
In fairness, we didn’t really have time for much of anything once Coach sprang us from the gym. Time slipped away like dandelion seeds in the wind, and all I could think about was leaving before Coach asked too many questions.
