together. I finish my breakfast, give mom a quick goodbye kiss on the cheek and grab my keys.
Outside the early morning air is even cooler than it has been and I curse myself for yet again forgetting another layer of clothing. Glancing up at the trees I realize how lucky New Englanders are, being able to experience each season with such intensity. The turning of the leaves creates such a magnificent fall in Southeastern Massachusetts and by the time school starts, I long for the ochre and crimson hues. A watercolor of foliage becomes the old maples and oaks that line our streets, and are accentuated by the dullness of reoccurring gray skies. The beauty of it all makes the loss of warm weather a lot more bearable. As I drive to work, I inspect the branches. The leaves are already starting to regress, and with the next heavy wind, there won’t be any color of life left for them to cling to.
I opt to park my Jetta on the street, instead of the lot in back, and jog up the steps to the library. I look up to the sky and silently greet my dad. This has become a habit over the years and is something I really don’t have the heart to stop it. Upon entering, I check in with Bernice. She’s been the librarian since my dad died, and I consider her practically, a second mom. She is in her mid-fifties and has a bohemian look about her. A fondness for flowing tunics and skirts, flatter her large frame. Underneath those however, she has an even larger heart.
For the next hour I settle into my usual routine of filing books, enjoying the quite time in the mostly vacant library. I’m standing at a rolling cart reading the synopsis of a novel that caught my eye, when I feel someone approach. Looking up, I do a double take realizing that Carver Halsey is standing before me, and my heart suddenly feels the need for a defibrillator.
“Carver, what are you doing here?” I ask, dumbfounded.
He just shrugs then smiles, “Checking out the selection.”
Yes, I do believe I’m officially going into cardiac arrest at this point, and can’t think of anything remotely intelligent to say in response. I must be dreaming that he’s actually here right now. I’m tempted to pinch myself, but can’t figure out how to do it without making it obvious.
Carver’s hair looks freshly washed and he’s wearing a vintage fitting sw eater and jeans. A brown hound’s tooth scarf is draped loosely around his neck. I think about my choice of attire this morning and frown, suddenly wishing I had opted for something more stylish.
“I thought I’d follow your suggestion and it was a good one,” Carver smiles. “I’m finding things I like.”
Breathe, Joy. Breathe.
“You can thank my dad for that. He was always looking to improve the collection of this branch,” I say, and it actually comes out sounding normal. Though I’m pretty sure my mouth, (not to mention my brain) is full of marbles.
“Was? He doesn’t work here anymore?”
“No…uh… he died actually.”
There is a brief moment of awkward silence as I try to think of what to say next. Thankfully, Bernice happens to come up behind Carver. “Oh, Joy. There you are I was wondering if you could-” Bernice stops in mid-sentence when Carver turns around to face her. She checks him out quickly and doesn’t a good job at hiding her approval. “Oh, hello there!” she says, enthusiastically.
I clear my throat a little, trying to remember if I ever mentioned my crush to her and if so praying that she won’t remember. “Bernice this is my…friend…”
“Carver. Nice to meet you,” he finishes for me, and gives Bernice a little hand shake.
Bernice looks as if she might start hyperventilating. “Joy, if you’d like to take your break now, feel free. Maybe grab a coffee with your friend or something? You can finish this when you get back.”
Ugh, she is such an instigator.
Carver looks at me, but doesn’t say anything. Not wanting to be drilled by Bernice for the
Outside the early morning air is even cooler than it has been and I curse myself for yet again forgetting another layer of clothing. Glancing up at the trees I realize how lucky New Englanders are, being able to experience each season with such intensity. The turning of the leaves creates such a magnificent fall in Southeastern Massachusetts and by the time school starts, I long for the ochre and crimson hues. A watercolor of foliage becomes the old maples and oaks that line our streets, and are accentuated by the dullness of reoccurring gray skies. The beauty of it all makes the loss of warm weather a lot more bearable. As I drive to work, I inspect the branches. The leaves are already starting to regress, and with the next heavy wind, there won’t be any color of life left for them to cling to.
I opt to park my Jetta on the street, instead of the lot in back, and jog up the steps to the library. I look up to the sky and silently greet my dad. This has become a habit over the years and is something I really don’t have the heart to stop it. Upon entering, I check in with Bernice. She’s been the librarian since my dad died, and I consider her practically, a second mom. She is in her mid-fifties and has a bohemian look about her. A fondness for flowing tunics and skirts, flatter her large frame. Underneath those however, she has an even larger heart.
For the next hour I settle into my usual routine of filing books, enjoying the quite time in the mostly vacant library. I’m standing at a rolling cart reading the synopsis of a novel that caught my eye, when I feel someone approach. Looking up, I do a double take realizing that Carver Halsey is standing before me, and my heart suddenly feels the need for a defibrillator.
“Carver, what are you doing here?” I ask, dumbfounded.
He just shrugs then smiles, “Checking out the selection.”
Yes, I do believe I’m officially going into cardiac arrest at this point, and can’t think of anything remotely intelligent to say in response. I must be dreaming that he’s actually here right now. I’m tempted to pinch myself, but can’t figure out how to do it without making it obvious.
Carver’s hair looks freshly washed and he’s wearing a vintage fitting sw eater and jeans. A brown hound’s tooth scarf is draped loosely around his neck. I think about my choice of attire this morning and frown, suddenly wishing I had opted for something more stylish.
“I thought I’d follow your suggestion and it was a good one,” Carver smiles. “I’m finding things I like.”
Breathe, Joy. Breathe.
“You can thank my dad for that. He was always looking to improve the collection of this branch,” I say, and it actually comes out sounding normal. Though I’m pretty sure my mouth, (not to mention my brain) is full of marbles.
“Was? He doesn’t work here anymore?”
“No…uh… he died actually.”
There is a brief moment of awkward silence as I try to think of what to say next. Thankfully, Bernice happens to come up behind Carver. “Oh, Joy. There you are I was wondering if you could-” Bernice stops in mid-sentence when Carver turns around to face her. She checks him out quickly and doesn’t a good job at hiding her approval. “Oh, hello there!” she says, enthusiastically.
I clear my throat a little, trying to remember if I ever mentioned my crush to her and if so praying that she won’t remember. “Bernice this is my…friend…”
“Carver. Nice to meet you,” he finishes for me, and gives Bernice a little hand shake.
Bernice looks as if she might start hyperventilating. “Joy, if you’d like to take your break now, feel free. Maybe grab a coffee with your friend or something? You can finish this when you get back.”
Ugh, she is such an instigator.
Carver looks at me, but doesn’t say anything. Not wanting to be drilled by Bernice for the
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