Миранда Джеймс - Twelve Angry Librarians

Helen Louise arrived half an hour earlier than usual so that we would have time to talk in private before Sean and Alexandra arrived. Laura and Frank were dining tonight with Frank’s department chair. I didn’t want to place too much hope on that dinner and what inducements the chair could offer to keep Frank in Athena. But I could hope at least a little, and I did.

After greeting Stewart and Haskell in the kitchen, Helen Louise and I left Diesel playing with Dante there and retreated to the den where we could discuss our decisions with each other.

We got comfortable on the sofa, my arm around her shoulders, and her nestled against me, her hair brushing my cheek.

“So,” I said after a short silence, “you’re going to cut back your work hours.” I loved the feel of her silky hair against my cheek.

“I am,” she said. “As much as I love the business, I need to take more time away from it. I have other ways to spend my time, important ways that mean even more to me.” She squeezed my hand.

“I feel the same way,” I said. “That’s why I’ve decided to turn down the job offer at the college. I don’t want to tie myself down to a full-time schedule that would probably end up being more than forty hours a week.”

“I’m glad,” Helen Louise said. “That was one reason I made up my mind to cut back myself. I knew you were wavering, and I figured if I made a commitment like this, it would help you in your decision.” She hesitated for a moment. “And also help us figure out where we go from here.”

I smiled. We understood each other well. We hadn’t talked specifically about marriage yet as the ultimate destination for our relationship, but it looked like now might be a good time to start.

Helen Louise pulled gently away from me so that we could see each other’s faces. “Just so you know, I’m not expecting you to drop down on one knee right this minute. I think we need to spend more time together, and now we’ll have the opportunity. This will help us decide if the Big M is what we both want. What do you think?”

“I think you’re right,” I said. “We do need to spend more time alone together. We’ve known each other most of our lives, but this phase of our friendship, if we can call it that, is different. We need time to explore it.”

“I’m glad we’re agreed.” Helen Louise leaned in for a kiss.

We spent several agreeable minutes not talking, and we remained in the den until we could hear the sounds of new voices. Sean and Alexandra had arrived, and we went to greet them.

After hugs had been exchanged and Alexandra’s baby bump—a phrase I didn’t really care for—had been commented upon, we hung out in the kitchen. Alternately assisting Stewart and getting in his way, we had an enjoyable time chatting.

Sean had only heard about the investigation into the deaths at the Farrington House this morning. I was surprised he hadn’t called me the minute he heard about them to fuss at me for getting involved. Impending fatherhood was giving him other things to fuss over, I reckoned. He hovered around Alexandra as if she would shatter apart without his constant attention. She bore it with better grace than I would have. The baby wasn’t due until later in the fall, but to watch Sean one would have thought the delivery could happen any minute.

Because he was more preoccupied with his pregnant wife than with his trouble-seeking father, I escaped more easily than usual from the lawyer-ly lecture he often gave me. He did pull me aside at one point, however, and ask in an undertone, “Has Laura talked to you yet?”

“You mean about Frank’s job offer in Virginia?”

He nodded.

“Yes, she’s told me. You haven’t heard anything about a firm decision yet, have you?”

“No, not yet. Frank promised her he’d listen to what his department chair has to say at dinner tonight before they decide.”

“That’s what she told me,” I said. “Still hope.”

“Yes,” Sean said. “I’d hate to see them move that far away. I know Alex was looking forward to having Laura nearby, going through the same things as she will be, before and after the baby comes.” He paused. “I’d miss them, too. Frank’s a good guy.”

“He is, and I know he considers you a good friend,” I said.

Stewart announced that dinner was ready, and we took our places at the table Haskell had set for us. I said grace, and then the meal began. Conversation flowed about subjects other than my latest adventures in sleuthing, I was happy to observe. As we approached the time for dessert, I claimed everyone’s attention.

“I have a couple of things to tell you, now that we’re all gathered together. Laura and Frank couldn’t be here with us. They’re having dinner with one of Frank’s colleagues.” I left it at that because I didn’t know how much Laura had said to Stewart or Helen Louise. I didn’t want to risk violating her confidence by letting anything slip.

“I was called to a meeting on Friday morning by the president of Athena College and the search committee who have been trying to find a permanent library director. They offered me the job at that meeting.”

“That’s great, Dad,” Sean said.

“Well done, Charlie,” Stewart said, and Haskell nodded.

“You must be so excited,” Alex said.

“I was quite flattered by the offer,” I said. “I told them, however, that I needed time to think about it and promised them I would give them my answer first thing on Monday morning.”

“And what answer are you going to give them?” Sean asked.

“I will not be accepting the job.” I held up a hand to forestall comments and questions. I could tell Sean badly wanted to say something, but I didn’t give him an opportunity. “I was ambivalent. There were things about the job I liked, but other things I didn’t. One of the main issues is the time commitment. For various reasons—like the imminent arrival of grandchildren, for example—I don’t want to work full-time.” I smiled down at Helen Louise, who was sitting on my right. I held out my hand, and she grasped it.

“Another important reason is that Helen Louise told me she is going to cut back her hours at the bistro. She wants more time for us to spend together, and that offer was irresistible.” I gave Sean a hard look. “And, no, that doesn’t mean we’re about to run off to get married. We simply want to spend more time together before we decide what we want for the future. Understood?”

“Understood, Dad.” Sean raised his glass. “Here’s to you and Helen Louise.” The others picked up their glasses and toasted us as well. I bent to give Helen Louise a quick kiss. Somebody whistled, and I suspected Stewart. He winked at me when I glanced his way.

I resumed my seat. “Now, how about dessert?”

Later on, after dessert and coffee, with the table cleared, we remained in the kitchen, talking. I told them more about the strange deaths, and Sean, as always, had numerous questions. In the back of my mind the whole time, however, I wondered when I would hear from Laura and, more importantly, what I would hear.

Around seven thirty, my phone buzzed to alert me to a text. I pulled the phone out of my pocket and glanced at the screen. The message was from Laura. Just two words, two beautiful words: We’re staying .

Miranda Jamesis the New York Times bestselling author of the Cat in the Stacks Mysteries, including No Cats Allowed , Arsenic and Old Books , and The Silence of the Library , as well as the Southern Ladies Mysteries, including Digging Up the Dirt , Dead with the Wind , and Bless Her Dead Little Heart . James lives in Mississippi. Visit the author at catinthestacks.com and facebook.com/mirandajamesauthor.