Page 22 of Must Love Libraries and Libations (Moonshine Hollow #2)

PRIMROSE

T he following morning started off with a conversation with my mother that was about as pleasant as having a tooth removed.

It began innocently enough, with her barging into my room as I made ready for the day to ask me what I was going to wear to the party.

The barging was commonplace. The conversation that followed…

“The pink with strawberry embellishments,” I said, bracing myself.

“What!” my mother exclaimed with unnecessary outrage. “Nonsense. That’s complete nonsense. It is an evening party, dear. It has to be twilight blue, Primrose. Or black. Pink? Pink! Absolutely not. You must wear the twilight blue.”

“I already have the dress selected and packed, Mother. Everything is in order. I’m going to change at The Sconery before the party.”

“Oh, you never listen!” my mother exclaimed, throwing up her hands in frustration. “And all this fuss over a library . The whole town is talking about it. A library!” she said with a huff.

“Right. So, I need to get going. I have a lot to do today,” I told her, then paused.

The perfect moment to inform my mother about the purchase of the cottage hadn’t presented itself, but the truth was, she would undoubtedly hear about it from someone.

The ramifications of her learning from someone other than me would be catastrophic.

“Mother,” I said gently, watching as she shuffled through the closet with a distressed huff, tossing aside some of my favorite gowns in the process. “Mother, I have something to tell you.”

“Don’t tell me you selected that auburn sequin dress. I told you, it’s too much.”

What she had told me, actually, was that I glowed like a Hallowmoon pumpkin in the dress, but that was neither here nor there.

“Mother, this is important.”

“The dress is important, dear. You need to make a good impression. It is your event, after all. Maybe something wine-colored,” she said, roughly shuffling through my clothes.

“Mother, I’m moving out,” I said, feeling my frustration boiling. “I bought Widow Merribell’s cottage on Buttercup Lane.”

“That’s nice.”

“Mother.”

“Maybe the green. That would be nice for an evening party.”

“Mother, did you hear me? I’m moving out. I talked to Mister Underbridge, and we made a deal for the cottage. In fact, I’m headed out now to sign the papers…and I’m getting late.”

“That’s ridiculous, dearest. You live here.”

“I have been living here, but now, I’m moving there.”

“But you live here.”

“Mother.”

“No more talk of houses. Now, where is the green gown?”

I sighed heavily. “I have to get going. I have a lot to do today. I’ll see you tonight.”

“I’ll set a dress out on your bed.”

“But, I—” I began then gave up. There was no telling her anything.

Shaking my head, I knelt to pet poor Bilbi, who looked as exasperated as I felt, then grabbed my things and headed off.

Downstairs, my father was lingering over a book as he chewed a roasted beet root.

“Well, I tried to tell her about the cottage,” I told him. “I’m not sure she believed me.”

My father paused, then looked toward the ceiling, craning an ear. “No hysterics.”

“None.”

“No. She didn’t believe you.”

“Sorry to leave you. When the truth finally dawns on her, it’s going to be ugly.”

“I’ll set the kettle on, but you’d best hurry off. When the news hits… Well, you ought to go.”

“Thank you, Papa.” I chuckled lightly. “Sorry, again. See you tonight?”

“Be there with bells on,” he said, wagging his bell-bedecked slippers at me.

Elves.

I kissed my father on the cheek, then headed off once more.

The cottage I shared with my mother and father would always be home, but soon, I would start a new chapter.

Excitement filled me when I allowed the image to form in my mind.

My own house. My garden. My friends on the porch.

And once again, to my surprise, and maybe dismay, I envisioned Erasmus leaning against the frame of the front door.

“Not today. I am not thinking of you, especially today,” I said aloud to the absent gargoyle, then headed into the village.

That gargoyle had ruined enough already. He wouldn’t ruin my fantasies too.

This girl had sparkle to attend to.

Even if, in the deep recesses of my heart, I still held on to hope.

* * *

Once I reached the village, the events of the day took charge. I stopped first at Mister Underbridge’s office to sign papers to acquire my new home.

“The estate is glad it’s going to a Moonshine Hollow local,” Mister Underbridge said as he looked over the papers through his round spectacles, stamping them complete.

“As am I,” he added, stamping the last one then setting it aside.

“I’ll drop these by the bank. You’ll need to visit them tomorrow to complete the paperwork there. ”

“Very well,” I replied.

Smiling, Mister Underbridge slid a large, steel key across the table to me. “Technically, I’m not supposed to give that to you until you sign at the bank, but everyone knows you’re a trustworthy businesswoman, Miss Windsong. And I trust my daughter will hear from you soon?”

“I will call on her tomorrow.”

“Ah, very good,” he said, then rose, extending his hand. “Congratulations on your new home.”

“Thank you, sir,” I replied, shaking his hand. And then, with tepid fingers, I lifted the key from the desk. “Wow,” I said, my voice shaking.

Mister Underbridge laughed. “How many times have your parties made me say ‘wow.’ For once, I am the maker of merriment.”

I laughed and slipped the key into my basket. “Thank you again.”

And with that, I departed.

My heart feeling light, I turned to my work. I found myself running from shop to shop, making sure everything would be ready for the party, but the hard work didn’t matter. My heart felt happy.

After running a million errands, I finally returned to the library to find the final preparations well underway.

I glanced toward the library windows, hoping to see Erasmus there.

I expected to find him scowling out at the lawn, annoyed by all the noise and disruption.

Instead, I found that the heavy velvet drapes had been pulled closed.

No one was there. The library, whose life we were celebrating, looked dark and asleep, a gargoyle’s haunt.

I sighed.

There was nothing to be done.

I had been excited to tell him about the cottage, to show him how the party was coming along. I wanted to share my whole world with him, but he was making his own choices, which didn’t include me. So, I was making mine.

Turning back, I found Winifred Bramblewood, local florist and gossip-monger, standing beside me. She looked up at me with curiosity, one brow arching suspiciously.

Run away! Flee! One word from your lips, and she will know everything!

“Shut the place up, has he?” Winifred asked, but her eyes were on me, not on the library. I could feel the intensity of her stare. Already, I could see Winifred’s thoughts tumbling behind her eyes. How long had she been watching me look at the closed building, and what had she seen in my eyes?

Oh. No.

“The librarians and Erasmus agreed to close the library today so as not to disturb the bookwyrms,” I said, trying to stay as neutral as possible. The problem with that, however, was that I was never neutral. Winifred and I had worked together too often for her not to realize it.

Winifred’s second eyebrow lifted to match the first. “Erasmus, is it? Not Master Erasmus?”

Flee! Flee!

“Um, yes. That’s who I meant. They… The bookwyrms have a nesting pair, so…

Oh, look at the flowers you’ve brought,” I said, shifting my gaze to the carts of flowers arriving from Winifred’s shop.

As I scanned them, I realized Winnie had selected the best blooms to bring happiness and cheer.

The carts were loaded with asters, roses, sunflowers, and more.

Winifred studied me with great intensity.

She had realized I was trying to change the subject.

“Do you need any extra hands, Winnie? I have some helpers here,” I said, gesturing to some of the workers adjusting tables.

“Thank you, dear. And will Master Erasmus be making an appearance today?” Her gaze narrowed so hard on me that I thought I might combust. The effect made heat rise up my neck and redden my cheeks. When she saw that, Winifred smiled like a bookwyrm with a cupcake.

Nooo!

“I don’t know,” I said. “Wini, I need to check on the wine. I’ll find you later, okay?” I said, then hurried off.

I had been caught. Now, I had to face the very unpleasant task of telling Winifred how I had given the gargoyle my heart, and he had said, “No, thanks.”

How humiliating.

My gaze went to the windows once more.

Still no sign of movement.

That soft hope that had lingered in my chest began to fade. He was not coming. He didn’t want me. And despite my determination to remain unbothered, I felt my sparkle dim.