I'd brought two helmets, Chloe’s blue one and a black one I assumed Thuong would prefer.
We got the scooter off the truck, and Muse took it for a little spin. When she came back, her cheeks were flushed pink from cold and excitement. “If Thuong doesn’t love it, can I buy it from you?”
“It’s my sister’s, but I’ll ask.”
“Thanks.”
“You’ll make sure he gets it, right? You can tell him Mom asked me to drop it off, that it belongs to Chloe, and she’s fine with him using it, all that?”
“You don’t want me to call him to get it while you’re here? He could probably be here in like… five minutes.”
“I need to respect his privacy right now.” I thought back to Thuong’s angry expression when he’d seen me the night before. I’d rather not go through that again. “I bumped into him last night, and it didn’t go well.”
“Aw, man.” She frowned. "Sorry."
“He was within his rights. We have an agreement, and I guess he thought I broke it. Hope he’s not too angry.”
She patted my arm. “He'll be fine when he sees this scooter. If he's not pleased, I call dibs.”
Once I gave her the scooter, helmets, and keys, it was my cue to go. “When you hand it off, tell him I wish him safe travels, will you?”
“Of course. Minerva will take good care of him. She’s the town’s fairy godmother. He’ll be all right.”
“I’m glad. I like Minerva a lot. I hope I get a chance to see her next time I’m in town.”
“I’m sure you will.”
There wasn’t anything more to say, so I went around the truck to get in. “See you around, Muse.”
She waved goodbye.
At that point, I had every intention of heading straight for the highway and driving the four hours back to Galt. No matter how much I wanted to explore the town itself, no matter how much I wished I could get a bite from Bistro or a pastry from Café Bêtise, running into Thuong again would destroy my credibility. But as I was driving away, I saw the Santo Ignacio Public Library, and I couldn’t drive past it without taking a look inside. Could. Not.
Built sometime in the early twentieth century from the look of it, the facility was in keeping with the mission revival aesthetic. Meant to look like adobe, it would have been equally at home in Colorado, Texas, or Arizona.
I must have seen it before.
In fact, I’d driven both ways on that very street and never even noticed it was there.
I parked and got out of Mark’s truck. A brisk breeze blew through my hair, bringing with it the sea salt and iron scent of the ocean, but also the bright citrus fragrance of orange and lemon trees. Like a man hypnotized, I made my way up concrete steps and through the archway leading to a shaded gallery. There were glass cases on either side of the double wooden entrance doors featuring a calendar of library events, posters for children’s activities, and playbills from the local college.
Excitement tingled through me—the electric hum of anticipation that gripped me every time I opened a library’s doors. Once inside, I felt the visceral thrill I’d gotten with my first library card. Anything is possible in a place like this.
Santo Ignacio, and its perfect little library, had this impact on me.
Like a blank canvas, there were endless possibilities in the sleepy little beach town. It was close enough to my parents and the rest of my family that I could spend quality time with them, but it was far enough away that I’d have some breathing room.
I’d been longing for a change. In St. Nacho’s, I could keep the things I loved about my life, discard the things that no longer served me, and add new challenges. Make new friends. Change was never easy, but without really being aware, I’d been readying myself for a long time.
My eyes adjusted to the library’s faded fluorescent lighting and the first person I saw was the town fairy godmother herself, Minerva Layne. Even if I’d been surprised by the coincidence, from the slightly smug expression on her face, she wasn’t.
“Luke, what a pleasure to see you.” She beamed at me and held out both hands. I took hers, and she gave mine a squeeze. “What brings you to our wonderful library this morning?”
“I just dropped the scooter with Muse, and I saw the building as I was driving by on my way home. Odd that I never noticed it before. Your library is just… enchanting.”
“Isn’t it wonderful? The building is nearly a hundred years old, but part of the original structure was destroyed in a fire in nineteen seventy-five. The rebuild enlarged the facility significantly, but they adhered to the original vision."
"Looks fantastic," I murmured.
"I’m on the historical and centennial committees. We’re planning a fundraiser to upgrade to LED lighting, and of course, the anniversary next year will feature a month of celebrations. There’s a time capsule to open and everything. Won’t that be exciting?”
“Sounds wonderful.” My library, while lovely, was brick and modern and didn’t have nearly the charm.
“I hope you’ll be a regular visitor here, Luke.” She leaned in conspiratorially. “Can I tell you a secret? You belong here.”
I laughed. “You mentioned that before.”
“It’s the truth.” Her gaze was shrewd. “I can always tell when St. Nacho’s is interested in someone.”
"Okay, okay." I breathed in the usual library aromas, mustiness and paperback books and library glue and knowledge—as if the thirst for learning had a scent—and knew she was right. But municiple library jobs were nearly impossible to get due to government budget cuts. The chance that this particular library would have an opening or that out of the hundreds of people who would apply for it, I’d get it, was almost nil.
Still. Didn’t I always say anything was possible at the library?
If not here, then there were college libraries locally, private collections, museums, and corporations. Anywhere there was research required or information to be sorted, organized, and stored, I might possibly find work.
If I was ready for the change that had been boiling up inside me lately.
If my desire for change was about me and not Thuong.
If I really wanted to live in Santo Ignacio, I was almost positive I could move here. But was I really ready to upend my life and try something new?
It wouldn’t hurt to ask. “Minerva, could you introduce me to the library director?”
Chapter Twenty-Five
St. Nacho's Day 26
Oh, God. I can't believe Luke brought me a scooter. Not that I can drive it until I get a license, but still. Minerva told me Luke was trying to surprise me and still keep his distance, so what do I do? I accuse him of spying on me.
How was I supposed to know?
I shouldn't have overreacted. I was already pressed for time though, and if I'm honest, I didn't feel one hundred percent great in the bar anyway. When Layla and her friends asked me to go with them, I thought we were going to sit on the patio. When we got there, she said it was too cold for that, so we moved inside.
I don't want to explain myself to Luke. How would I even say it without sounding defensive? No way am I going to let Luke know I don't have things totally under control.