“I guess. Im still going to be snatching at every copy of that play I come across.”
“Ill tell you something important you figured out today.” Malory patted her knee. “You knew the truth was were in this together, so you called us. And you know, however satisfying the fantasy might be when youre hurt or mad, you dont want Jordan to be a lapdog.”
“Well… maybe just for a couple of days. Especially ifZoe can teach him how to give a foot rub.” She leaned her head back, tried to relax.
“The thing is… Im in love with him. Stupidjerkoff .”
She let out a long, long sigh. “I dont know what the hell Im going to do about it.”
Malory picked up the plate. “Have another brownie.”
* * * IF she dreamed, Dana didnt remember it when she woke in the morning. And when she woke, the drum of rain and the gloom had her turning over, with the plan to go directly back to sleep.
Moe had other ideas.
Without much choice, she threw on clothes, added a fielders cap and her oldest boots. Choosing a mug of coffee over an umbrella, she walked Moe in the rain and revved up her system with caffeine.
They were both soaked when the deed was done, forcing her to drag him into the bathroom. He whined, cried, tried to dig his paws into the floor as if she were taking him to slaughter.
By the time shed toweled him off, she smelled as much like wet dog as he did.
A shower and another hit of coffee helped. She was just about to decide which one of her books to settle in with for the rainy morning when her phone rang.
Ten minutes later, she was hanging up the phone and grinning down at Moe.
“You know who that was? That was Mr. Hertz. You may not be acquainted with Mr. Hertz or Mr. Foy, who are involved in the longest-running trivia contest in our fine county. Apparently, the contestants assumed yours truly was on vacation and therefore unable to play master of ceremonies in my usual fashion.”
Amused and ridiculously delighted, she walked into the kitchen to pour her third cup of coffee. “However, this morning Mr. Foy stopped into the library and was informed I was no longer on staff.”
She leaned back on the counter, sipped coffee as Moe appeared to listen with avid attention. “Questions were asked and answered, mostly answered by the detestable Sandi. Mr. Foy, according to Mr. Hertz, gave the opinion that my departure was, quote, a downright, dirty shame, unquote, and vacated the premises.”
As if riveted, Moe cocked his head and panted.
“Shortly thereafter, the two trivia aficionados held an informal meeting over at the Main Street Diner and decided that if the powers that be at the Pleasant Valley Library didnt appreciate a treasure such as myself, they no longer wished to have that institution involved in their daily information pursuit. Ive just been asked if I would continue as emcee on a freelance basis.”
Because it was just Moe, and he was nothing if not sympathetic, she didnt feel embarrassed when a tear trickled down her cheek. “I know its probably stupid to feel this touched, but I cant help it. Its just nice to know Ive been missed.”
She sniffed back the tears. “Anyway, Ive got to go online and find out when Chef Boy-Ar-Dee manufactured its first box of pizza mix.” She headed off, coffee in hand, to her desktop. “Where do they think up these things?”
* * *
IT kicked her into gear. Dana decided it was symbolic. Shed received validation of her purpose, her place in the community. The simple fact was, the Valley was vital to her, and this in-between stage—post-library, pre-bookstore— had left her feeling disenfranchised.
It wasnt the amount of work she had to do but the fact that the work shed done in the past hadnt seemed to have any significance to anyone other than herself.
She dived in with a vengeance, placing orders for books, opening accounts, ordering her displays. Her mood was lifted to the point that when she was deep into the key books and the knock interrupted, she wasnt irritated.
“Time to come up for air anyway.” She pulled open the door, then frowned at the young man who stood there, holding a single red rose in a clear bud vase. “Trolling for girls? Youre pretty cute, but a little young for me.”
He flushed, red as the rose. “Yes, maam. No, maam. Dana Steele?”
“Thats right.”
“For you.” He passed her the vase, then took off.
Still frowning, Dana closed the door, then tugged off the card tied to the vase.
Reminded me of you,