Twelve Angry Librarians

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.