You’re right. I don’t want to piss her off.
Good man. See you in a little bit.
Yep.
I slip my phone into my pocket and grab my keys before heading out my back door. My old 1986 Chevy pick-up is in the driveway. I love this truck. I get my love for older cars and trucks from my dad. With his help about ten years ago, right after I was discharged from the military, I put a lot of time and money into bringing this truck back to life. I slide in the driver’s seat, throw the shifter in reverse, and head out towards the library. This night is definitely going to suck.
I find a parking spot in the back of the full lot and head inside. People are everywhere, talking over the person next to them. I start to push my way through the crowd but everyone there seems to want to chat. It takes me thirty minutes to even get into the main part of the library to find Maddox.
I see him standing against the far wall with a few of our fellow officers. I head in their direction, trying to avoid making eye contact with anyone else so I don’t get stopped. I keep my head down and barrel through the crowd.
When I finally get over to the guys, we all shake hands. “You ready for the move tomorrow?” I ask Maddox.
“Yeah, I think so. My house has been boxed up for a couple of weeks now since I’ve been staying over at Avery’s. I put Brooklyn to bed tonight so Avery could stay up and finish all the last minute packing. I think we’ll be all ready to go by eight when everyone is supposed to get there.”
“I’ll be there by eight, maybe earlier. You gonna have coffee ready?”
“Of course. Not saying we’ll be able to find the cups, but the coffee pot is the last thing Avery’s planning on packing.” Maddox smiles at the mention of his fiancée’s name.
“Alright. Did James call you?”
“Yep. He’s taking his pickup and trailer to my place. Will and Travis are going to meet him there and work on loading up my house. Nate is coming to Avery’s and the three of us will work on her place.”
“Sounds like you have it planned out pretty well. I threw my tie-down straps in the bed of the truck tonight so I should be ready for tomorrow. Anything else you can think of that I should bring?”
“Nope. I don’t think so. Sunday is when I’ll need the most help.”
“More help than all the manual labor you’re getting tomorrow?”
Maddox smiles at me. “Yep. Sunday we’re putting together the man cave.”
Ah, yes. The man cave. It’s my favorite feature in the house he bought for Avery. There’s a large room and shop on the back of their two car garage that is perfect for a couch, big screen television, fridge, and maybe a pool table. It’s the room I look forward to frequenting as much as I can.
Just then someone thumps a microphone and encourages the crowd to quiet down. Mayor Thorsten is standing at the front of the library by the front desk at a make-shift podium. “Good evening, fine citizens of Rivers Edge. So glad you could all join us this evening.” The crowd gives him a round of applause.
“Tonight, we are honoring the forty-five years of service that Mrs. Mabel Masterson has given to the fine folks of Rivers Edge.” Mabel is standing up next to the Mayor, scowling at the crowd there to honor her. “Mabel has dedicated her life to serving you all in the educational capacity and has turned our fine library into a wonderful place to read and learn. Mabel, would you like to say something?” He turns and looks at Mabel who in turn gives him a sour look like she just sucked on a lemon.
“Well then, thank you for all coming this evening and helping wish Mabel Masterson a happy retirement.” Another round of applause.
“And now, I’d like to introduce Mabel’s replacement as librarian. She’s no stranger to our fine town, having lived here for part of a year during her youth. She comes to us from Jackson, Mississippi where she’s been an assistant librarian for the past four years. Please help me welcome, Miss Erin Anderson.”
The applause around me fades away until I can’t hear anything. I stare at the front of the library as Erin, my Erin, walks up to stand next to Mayor Thorsten. What the hell? Erin is the new librarian?
“Thank you, Mayor Thorsten. I look forward to getting reacquainted with the residents of Rivers Edge and continuing the fine service this library offers the community.” Her voice is light and happy. Her fiery red hair is barely contained by a clip, and her emerald green eyes scan the crowd. She has a big smile on her face that only seems to enhance her beauty. I can’t help but stare at the simple radiance of this woman. The woman I’ve barely stopped thinking about since the day I ran into her in the grocery store last fall.