Trouble When You Walked In (Contemporary Romance) by Kieran Kramer Page A

stashed it behind the desk. Then they had a four-way hug.
    “Boom,” Hank Davis shouted. “Boom!”
    “Exactly,” said Cissie, knowing in her heart that per capita she had the loudest library on the East Coast.
    “Dow Jones industrial average,” Hank Davis added to show off.
    “He’s gonna watch Frozen with Charles,” said Sally. “Remember him? My sister’s kid.”
    “Of course I do,” said Cissie. “Welcome, Charles.”
    Charles stuck his thumb in his mouth and glared at her. He was the most surly five-year-old she’d ever met. He even had a five o’clock shadow, unless that was a bunch of Oreo cookie crumbs.
    Yes, she saw a pack of them sticking out of his pocket.
    “Maybe the legend will work and somebody sexy will come over the threshold tonight.” Sally wiggled her eyebrows. “If so, I’m ready for him.” She leaned over and whispered in Cissie’s ear, “I got me a special nightie in my purse.”
    “It can’t be very big if it’s in your purse.” Cissie tried to peek.
    Sally pulled it back. “It’s not. It’s teeny-tiny. Actually”—she was in whispering mode again—“it’s a thong.”
    “You can’t seduce someone in the library ,” Cissie murmured, “and in a thong. Especially with Hank Davis and Charles here. You’re going to have to sleep in your regular clothes. And who are you expecting anyway?”
    “Who knows,” said Sally happily. “This is the best night of my life.” She twirled. “We’re in the library when it’s closed . It’s not like the Greyhound station, which is open twenty-four hours a day. This place has standards. This place is off-limits at night.” She paused. “Maybe for good reason. Maybe it’s haunted.”
    “Boom boom,” said Hank Davis.
    Charles grabbed his hand. “Let’s go.” He dragged Hank Davis over to the children’s section.
    Sally’s gaze grew wary. “I hope it’s not haunted. So many years have gone by. What if someone a long time ago forgot to return his library book, and now since you’re here when he walks at night, he’s gonna come give it back?”
    “I’ll say no,” said Cissie. “He can keep it.”
    “Why do ghosts wear clothes?” Sally asked. “Shouldn’t they be naked after they die?”
    “I have no idea. But look!” All at once, Mrs. Donovan, Mrs. Hattlebury, and an entire Amish-looking homeschooling family with five kids from the new apartment complex came in the front door. “Welcome!” Cissie said.
    Everyone was carrying food, too.
    Cissie was prepared. She’d cleaned off both old card tables from the storage room and put them out. “Please, leave everything there.” But the tables were already covered in casserole dishes, cake plates, and pie pans. There was even a cooler of bottled water and Cheerwine someone had dropped off.
    “Let’s pull out some chairs,” Mrs. Donovan said.
    So they did and put all the food on them, Sally making comments about every new dish: “Now that’s one I’m gonna try!” “What the—?” she said about another one.
    “Marinated tofu chunks,” said the Amish woman, “mixed with the ancient grain freekeh.”
    “I’ll say it’s freekeh.” Sally chuckled.
    One of the toddler Amish children starting sticking her fingers in some banana pudding.
    “She’s so smart.” Mrs. Hattlebury gently pulled her fingers out and handed her over to her mother. “That’s my banana pudding. Made with a secret ingredient.” She winked.
    “We don’t do refined sugar,” said the Amish woman. “And we’re not Amish, in case you’re wondering. We’re part of the homestead movement. We brought a tent.” She indicated the large green nylon bag on her male partner’s back.
    “That’s so interesting,” Cissie said weakly. “I’m touched that you came to the sit-in. Thank you. Please feel free to … sit. Or stand. Or read books. Or pitch your tent. Somewhere by the magazines, I should think. I suppose we’ll eat in another hour or so.”
    The family shuffled off