Memories in Sea Glass: Driftwood Key Beach Reads #2

16. Jess

Jess had really been meaning to get a library card since she got back to Driftwood Key, but every day there seemed to be something new to work on or take care of.

From the moment they heard that the council was granting permission to keep the kitchen where it was, she and Clint had been hard at work drawing up plans for a new kitchen. It would be a splurge, but one that was worthwhile, since it would either add to the market value of the house, or if things worked out the way she hoped, it would be Jess’s forever kitchen. She could just picture the house on Seashell Lane as a home to many wonderful family gatherings.

Liberty and Chase were closer than ever over the past few weeks. Their most recent date had been a snorkeling trip on Connor McKinnon’s boat. Liberty was smiling and laughing more these days, and Chase was tan and strong from his work on the fishing boat. Jess was getting more and more excited for Chase to pop the question again on the Fourth of July, as he planned.

Anthem and her friend Zara had been working on new songs, sometimes at Zara’s aunt’s house and sometimes at Jess’s place, almost always with Justine along to record a few BeeBops—she seemed to really have a knack for that kind of thing. When the two performed together for open mic night at the café, Jess, Justine, and Liberty always sat with Zara’s Aunt Cheryl and her seeing eye dog, Zeus, and cheered like wild for all the performers.

Glory still wasn’t hanging out with Anthem, but she didn’t seem to be bursting with anger anymore, so Jess had faith that a reconciliation would happen soon. Meanwhile, the teen was relaxing into her routine working at the resort. Tristan had come by once or twice to walk on the beach with her, or watch a movie on the old television in the den. Glory seemed to like him a lot, and he was respectful, which Jess certainly liked.

Justine was working hard to prepare for the baby. She and the girls had put together a crib in her room just the other day, and she and Anthem were attending pre-natal classes together, as planned. Her copy of What to Expect When You’re Expecting was dog-eared and highlighted, and Jess had even caught her watching old episodes of The Brady Bunch on her laptop the other day. Justine had sheepishly said she wanted to pay attention to the parenting, since everyone used the show as an example of a perfect family.

Jess hoped that Everett would see all his daughter was doing when he came down to visit with them all for the Fourth. For a man who was always drowning in work, he was making a real sacrifice dedicating days away to spend with Justine and the others. It was a good sign that he was ready to be a grandpa, Jess hoped.

For Jess herself, work at the flower shop was a welcome opportunity to meet people in town. She had been on extra hours for a week or two while Joanie spent time with friends who were in town. It had been a busy time, but rewarding to feel she really knew how to run the shop on her own. She’d even talked to Justine about helping out with the shop’s nonexistent social media presence, which had gotten about a hundred new ideas spinning around in her head. And of course the extra earnings were a comfort, since she was still waiting to hear about the funds from Everett.

With all that going on, it was just before the Fourth of July when Jess finally walked over to the town library after work.

Flags fluttered from many of the storefronts, and banners proclaiming the holiday hung from the lampposts. The local message board boasted that there would be a town parade that included food trucks and a bicycle race for the kids.

The McKinnon crew were busy planning their big cookout for afterward, where they would all watch fireworks from the beach. Jess was excited for another opportunity to see everyone all together again.

As she approached the library, Jess had to admire the changes it had gone through. When she was a girl, the little brick building was stalwart and plain. Now, it had a big glass window in front and a pretty wooden sign made of driftwood, with hand-painted lettering that said Welcome to Driftwood Key Public Library. As she headed inside, she wondered absently if Clint might have made it.

Opening the front door, she was greeted by a blast of cool air. The interior was brighter, with shelves and chairs by the big window, but the rest of the layout was just the same as she remembered. The stacks went back in rows behind the main desk, which was situated in the center of the open space.

She approached the desk and was delighted when the librarian turned and it was Mr. Raymond, one of the regulars at the flower shop.

“We have to stop meeting like this,” she joked with a smile.

“Jess,” the older man said. “How nice to see you here.”

“I didn’t know you were a librarian,” she said with a smile.

“Oh, I’m just a volunteer,” he told her right away.

“I used to volunteer at the library back in Aynwick,” she told him, laughing. “I guess the two of us both love books and flowers.”

“You have good taste, young lady,” he told her with a smile.

“I’m hoping you can help me with a library card,” she said. “I should have been here months ago for it, but better late than never, I guess.”

“Of course I can help,” he told her. “I’ll just need to see some ID. A driver’s license is perfect, if you’ve got one.”

“It’s from Pennsylvania,” she said, digging it out of her purse. “I haven’t changed that over yet, but I’ve got a power bill from the house here.”

She handed both to him and turned to scan the layout of the shelves while he looked them over. It looked like Romance and Mysteries were still along the back wall. There was an updated Children’s section too, with colorful furniture and shorter shelves under a window that ran the depth of the library.

“My mom used to bring me here when I was little,” she said as she looked around. “I loved it here then. But it’s even nicer now. You’ve got air conditioning and computers, and that big window lets in so much light.”

But when she turned back to Mr. Raymond, he was still staring down at her license like there was something about it that he didn’t understand.

“Is everything all right?” she asked, hoping it hadn’t somehow expired. She was having her mail forwarded, surely she would have received a renewal notice.

“Fine, fine,” Mr. Raymond said without looking up. “I’ve just never seen a Pennsylvania license before—had to make sure I was looking at the right date.”

But the utility bill in his other hand was wavering slightly in his unsteady hand.

“Are you okay, Mr. Raymond?” she asked.

“Oh, I’m fine, Jess,” he said, looking up at her with bright, moist eyes. “Everything is just fine. Senior moment, I think they call it. Why don’t you go choose some books? I’ll have your new library card ready for you before you go.”

“That would be great,” she told him. “Thanks so much.”

He was slowly tapping away at the keyboard as she headed back to Fiction and wandered her favorite genres to find nice relaxing books to curl up with on the back porch. She took her time, reading the first few pages of dozens of books in order to come up with a neat stack of five really promising reads.

Hugging them to her chest, she headed back to the desk.

Mr. Raymond was gone, and in his place was a young woman with honey-blonde curls.

“Are you Ms. Steele?” she asked with a smile.

“I sure am,” Jess said.

“I’m Chloe,” the lady said. “And I’ve got your library card ready for you.”

“Nice to meet you, Chloe,” Jess said. “Where’s Mr. Raymond?”

“Oh, he said his blood sugar was dipping,” Chloe said. “He’s in the office having a quick bite to eat. But he told me to tell you he hopes to see you at the library again soon.”

“Oh, okay,” Jess said, relieved. “He did look a little shaky when I was giving him my stuff. Tell him I said thanks for everything.”

“I sure will,” Chloe said. “He mentioned you’re new in town and here with your daughters. Make sure everyone knows to come by. And I’m the children’s librarian, in case any of them need recommendations.”

“My youngest is seventeen,” Jess laughed. “But I’m about to become a great-aunt, so maybe my niece will bring the baby in one day. I’ll tell her to look for you.”

“Sounds good,” Chloe said, scanning Jess’s books.

Twenty minutes later, Jess was pulling up at the house on Seashell Lane. She hopped out of the car, excited to pour a glass of tea and get to reading.

She had her tea in hand and a book picked out when Anthem came jogging in from the back door.

“Do we still have any of those pork chops left?” she asked breathlessly.

“Sure,” Jess told her. “You can get one from the blue container on the top shelf, if you’re hungry.”

“Great,” Anthem said, grabbing the whole container and taking off again without another word.

“Don’t ruin your dinner,” Jess called after her, perplexed as to why Anthem would want an entire container of cold pork chops as a snack. Maybe they were for Justine. Pregnancy cravings could be weird like that.

She had just stepped onto the back porch to settle into her reading spot when she heard Anthem’s voice drifting up from the beach.

“Come on, baby,” Anthem crooned. “You’re okay.”

“What on earth?” Jess wondered out loud, putting her stuff down on the little table and heading down the steps to investigate.

Anthem had moved down the beach a ways and put the container down in the sand. She was holding out a pork chop to the enormous stray dog they had all seen around from time to time.

He was tall and lean, covered in scruffy fur that was especially thick at his eyebrows, giving his dark eyes the soulful look of a little old man trapped in a dog’s body.

He didn’t have a collar, and while he eyed people with interest, he never came too close. Jess suspected he survived on scraps from trash cans and maybe some of the wildlife that washed up with the tide.

She watched as Anthem crouched, holding perfectly still with the treat extended. The dog eyed her suspiciously, his head tilted slightly as if he wondered what she could possibly want.

But the scent of the pork chop must have been almost irresistible to him. Jess looked on in wonder as he danced a little closer to Anthem on skittish paws.

Anthem didn’t move a muscle or make a sound. She just continued to hold statue-still, pork chop extended.

But the stray pup had come as close as he dared. He let out a howling yip, as if daring the pork chop to come closer, and then scampered off sideways.

“It’s okay,” Anthem called to him, waiting until he turned back before she placed the pork chop on the ground where he could see it.

She straightened up slowly, then turned and headed back for the house.

Jess instinctively scuttled back onto the porch and grabbed her book.

Anthem had always wanted a pet, but Silas hadn’t cared much for animals. Jess normally tried to avoid the conversation, since she hated to disappoint her animal-loving middle daughter.

A moment later, Anthem jogged back up the porch steps with the container, looking disappointed as she headed into the house. Jess waited until she had disappeared inside before slowly going back to the steps.

Sure enough, she could see the big hound on the beach. Her heart went out to him as he danced and sidled toward the meat like it might be a trap. At last, he took the final brave steps and reached his prize.

He quickly devoured the whole thing in two bites, like he was afraid someone would take it from him, and then loped away down the beach all by himself.

She watched after him until he disappeared, thinking about the kind of wounded creature that would choose to be all alone like that.