“Mrs. Metz.” He kept his voice low. He’d been tossed out of the library many times in his youth by Miss Sarah Jane.
“Well, hello there, Devin.” Beaming a smile, Mrs. Metz turned to him. Her elbow nearly toppled the mountain of books, but Miss Sarah Jane, for all her resemblance to an understuffed scarecrow, moved fast. “And how are you on this beautiful afternoon?”
“I’m just fine. Hello, Miss Sarah Jane.”
“Devin.” Iron-gray hair pulled back from paper-thin white skin, starched collar buttoned firmly to her chin, Sarah Jane nodded regally. “Did you come in to return that copy of The Red Badge of Courage?”
“No, ma’am.” He very nearly flushed. He’d lost the damn book twenty years before, he’d paid for it, he’d even swept the library for a month as penance for his carelessness. Now, though he was a man—one who wore a badge and was considered responsible by most—he was shriveled down to a boy by Sarah Jane Poffenberger’s steely eyes.
“A book is a treasure,” she said, as she always did.
“Yes, ma’am. Ah, Mrs. Metz…” More to save himself now than to uphold parking laws, he shifted his gaze. “You’re parked illegally. Again.”
“I am?” All innocence, she fluttered at him. “Why, I don’t know how that happened, Devin. I would have sworn I pulled into the right place. I just came in to check out a few books. I’d have walked, but I had to run into the city, and stopped by on my way home. Reading’s one of God’s gifts, isn’t it, Sarah Jane?”
“It is indeed.” Though her mouth remained solemn, the dark eyes in Sarah Jane’s wrinkled face were laughing. Devin had to concentrate on not shuffling his feet.
“You’re in the red zone, Mrs. Metz.”
“Oh, dear. You didn’t give me a ticket, did you?”
“Not yet,” Devin muttered.
“Because Mr. Metz gets all huffy when I get a ticket. And I’ve only been here for a minute or two, isn’t that right, Sarah Jane.”
“Just a minute or two,” Sarah Jane confirmed, but she winked at Devin.
“If you’d move your car—”
“I’ll do that. I surely will. Just as soon as I check out these books. I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have my books, what with the way Mr. Metz watches the TV. You check these out for me, Sarah Jane, while Devin tells us how his family’s doing.”
He knew when he was outgunned. After all, he was a cop. “They’re fine.”
“And those sweet little babies. Imagine two of your brothers having babies within months of each other. I just have to get over to see them all.”
“The babies are fine, too.” He softened at the thought of them. “Growing.”
“Oh, they do grow, don’t they, Sarah Jane? Grow like weeds, before you can stop them. Now you’ve got yourself a nephew and a niece.”
“Two nephews and a niece,” Devin reminded her, adding Jared’s wife Savannah’s son, Bryan.
“Yes, indeed. Give you any ideas about starting your own brood?”
Her eyes were glittering at the thought of getting the inside story on future events. Devin stood his ground. “Being an uncle suits me.” Without a qualm, he tossed his sister-in-law to the wolves. “Regan has little Nate with her at the shop today. I saw him a couple hours ago.”
“Does she?”
“She mentioned Savannah might be coming by, with Layla.”
“Oh, my! Well…” Being able to corner both MacKade women, and their babies, was such a coup, Mrs. Metz nearly trembled at the idea. “Hurry on up there, Sarah Jane. I’ve got errands to run.”
“Hold your horses now, I’ve got ’em for you right here.” Sarah Jane handed over the canvas bag Mrs. Metz had brought, now pregnant with books. Moments later, when Mrs. Metz puffed her way out, Sarah Jane smiled. “You’re a smart boy, Devin. Always were.”
“If Regan finds out I headed her over there, she’ll skin me.” He grinned. “But a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do. Nice seeing you, Miss Sarah Jane.”
“You find that copy of The Red Badge of Courage, Devin MacKade. Books aren’t meant to be wasted.”
He winced as he opened the door. “Yes, ma’am.”