18. Jess
18
Jess
I slumped down on the train seat, then looked at my watch. I was going to arrive at Seaview High much later than I’d planned because I’d been with Cecil all afternoon going through admin stuff.
One of the many things we’d discussed was Mrs Davis’s books. The rent on the house was paid for another three months, but at some point I’d need to go there and do an inventory. Checking through close to eighteen thousand books was going to be a monumental job, so it was another task to add to my growing to-do list.
It was so overwhelming and I told Cecil so. I said this was so far out of my comfort zone it might as well be on the moon.
He encouraged me to keep going, and when I left, he handed me an envelope and said to open it when I had a moment because he thought it might help.
Unless it was someone to take over and write and do the pitch for me, I didn’t see how it would. But now was as good a time as any to see what it was .
I dipped my hand in my bag and pulled it out.
When I opened the envelope, I recognised the handwriting. It was another letter from Mrs Davis.
Hello, Jessica,
If Cecil has given you this letter, it’s because he’s sensed that you’re feeling a little overwhelmed.
Perhaps you’re feeling out of your depth and wondering if you’re up to the job. I want you to know that you are more than capable. You can do this.
Maybe you’re also questioning if all the hard work will be worthwhile and whether the world even needs a dedicated romance library. So I thought now would be a good time to share more of my story with you.
You might be wondering why I was so insistent on having my library on the grounds of Seaview High. The answer is simple: that was where I first met my husband, Charlton Davis.
I knew from the first time our eyes met in our English lesson when I was just thirteen years old that he was the one for me.
We both shared a love of books, and during the two years I lived in Sunshine Bay, we were inseparable. But then my family moved away and sadly we lost contact.
During those years I used to devour romance books, hoping and praying that one day I’d find the love of my life again. Thanks to those novels, I never gave up hope. And twenty years later, what seemed like the impossible happened.
I was working at a library in London and one day Charlton walked in. I couldn’t believe my eyes. He was still as handsome as ever, and when we met that evening, our date lasted for twelve hours.
Three months later I was married and pregnant. Those early years together were blissful, but not long after our son started school, I became poorly. Illness plagued me for many years, and sadly I was unable to return to work at the library.
Charlton saw how much I missed it and how frustrated I was spending my days at home alone. So he said if I couldn’t go to the library, he’d bring the library to me.
As you saw when you visited, he built me my dream library in the basement (complete with a rolling ladder, just like Beauty and the Beast !). Every day he’d bring home a new book for me to add to the shelf, and by the next day I would’ve devoured it.
My love did that every day until the day he was cruelly taken away from me, before his fortieth birthday.
After Charlton died, I spiralled into depression, and books were the only thing that kept my spirits up.
The characters became my friends. And during my darkest days, reading about them getting their happy ending filled me with joy.
Books saved me. Without them, I would not have survived.
And that’s why this library is so important to me.
Seaview High was where I met my first and only love.
Books are what bonded us.
Romance novels gave me hope.
Now I want to pay it forward. I’d like others to experience the same joy that my precious books gave to me.
It’s too late for me to make this happen—that’s why I need your help, Jessica .
Please keep going. The hard work will be worth it.
Best wishes
Meredith Davis
A tear rolled down my cheek. That was a heart-breaking but beautiful story. I loved that she’d never given up hope of seeing Charlton again and that romance novels had given her so much comfort.
Cecil was right. This letter had helped. I’d been motivated before, but after reading that, I was even more determined to see this through. I couldn’t let her down. I had to do this.
Once I got off the train, I headed to Seaview High.
As I walked up to the building, Edwin waved from the window, then got up to let me in.
‘Welcome back!’ Edwin opened the door with his trademark cheery smile. I wondered if he ever got angry.
‘Thanks!’ I tried to match his enthusiasm as I stepped into the dimly lit corridor. ‘I really appreciate you letting me come back to see the building.’
‘No trouble at all. What exactly would you like to see?’
‘Everything!’
‘Right you are. Come with me.’
Edwin showed me all the old classrooms and the large hall, which he said was used for assemblies, school lunches, sports and other activities.
If everything went to plan, this would be the main library area. I hoped to use the classrooms for different things. Maybe we could knock down a wall between two of them to make one larger room for a bookshop .
I’d also like to have a reading and relaxation zone on the first floor, where people could hang out with their favourite book and a drink. The views upstairs were amazing, and it’d be great to take advantage of that. So maybe we could have a book cafe with a terrace where in the summer readers could relax on daybeds with comfy cushions and a book and read whilst enjoying panoramic sea views. Then at night it could transform into a bookish wine or cocktail bar.
That would have to be part of phase two of the library, though, because I wasn’t sure I had the budget for that.
At the back of the building, there was a large concrete space that used to be the playground. I wasn’t sure yet what that could be used for.
Then I reminded my brain that I hadn’t even secured this building yet, so I was getting ahead of myself thinking what I could do with another one.
‘What’s down there?’ I pointed to a stairwell.
‘The basement.’
‘Can I have a look?’
‘Of course!’ Edwin led the way. He had to push against the heavy door a few times before it opened. ‘I haven’t been down here for a while. Hopefully the light works.’ He flicked the switch, and after a few shaky flickers, the bulb illuminated the small room.
Edwin moved some sort of rock on the floor, then used it to wedge the door open.
There were rows of filing cabinets and bookcases with different folders and files stacked on them.
‘Do you know what’s in those?’ I pointed.
‘As far as I know it’s just old paperwork. Probably not very interesting. ’
‘Would you mind if I took a look?’
‘Don’t see why not.’ Edwin shrugged, then looked at his watch. ‘How much time do you think you’ll need? I have to leave in about fifteen minutes.’
‘I won’t be long. Probably half an hour or so. An hour, tops.’
‘I see. When you’ve finished, pull the front door shut, then on my way back into town in a couple of hours, I’ll lock up properly.’
‘You sure?’
‘Not a problem! I appreciate your enthusiasm for this building. It’s very special to me, so it means a lot that you want to learn more about it.’
It was definitely a good idea to come here.
‘If I’m given the chance, I’d like to preserve the history of this place. It’s clear that it’s an important part of the community, and I’d like to honour that.’
‘I’ll leave you to it.’ Edwin smiled diplomatically, then left. I supposed he couldn’t be seen to be playing favourites.
After resting my handbag on one of the filing cabinets, I started sifting through the files.
A lot of the documents inside were old invoices. I coughed as the dust tickled my throat.
‘Oh!’ I said as I spotted a thick hardback yearbook.
I pulled it out.
Seaview High Secondary School 1979.
I dragged out an old box from the corner and sat down on it as I started flicking through the pages.
Ha! I swore that boy looked like Bob, the pub landlord we’d met last night. I scanned the names and sure enough it was. I wondered how many other Sunshine Bay residents I’d recognise.
Just as I continued flicking through the pages, I heard footsteps. Must be Edwin coming to say goodbye.
‘So this is where you’re hiding,’ a deep voice boomed.
My head snapped up. It was Theo.
‘What are you doing here?’
‘I was going for a walk and spotted Edwin in the car park, so he invited me in. Said you’d been looking around the place and it was only fair that he gave me access too.’ Edwin and his bloody impartiality . ‘What you looking at?’
‘An old yearbook.’
‘Let’s have a look. Hold on. I’ll get a box to sit on too.’
His gaze flicked behind the door, where there was a big metal box. He started pulling it out. It seemed heavy, but with Theo’s muscles it wouldn’t be a problem.
Theo dragged it out at full force. But as he did, he pushed against the door, causing the rock that was holding it open to move and the door to slam shut.
‘Oops.’
‘Best to keep it open,’ I said, suddenly feeling claustrophobic.
‘Okay.’ Theo pulled on the handle, but the door didn’t move. ‘Just needs a good tug!’
But when he yanked it again, the handle came off in his hand.
My jaw dropped.
‘Please tell me that can go back on again!’ My heart raced.
Theo attempted to reattach the handle, but it didn’t work.
He started feeling around the door’s edge for another way to open it, but when I saw the look of panic on his face, my stomach bottomed out.
‘Slight problem. I can’t get it open.’
‘You’ve got to be joking!’ I jumped off the box, stormed over to the door and tried to pull at it. Why I thought I’d be better at it than Theo considering his strength I didn’t know, but I had to try. No big surprise that it didn’t move. ‘Shit! We’re trapped!’
‘Don’t panic. Edwin can’t be far away. I’ll give him a call.’ He reached in his pocket and casually pulled out his phone. His smug look quickly disappeared.
‘What? What’s wrong?’
‘I don’t currently have any reception, but I’m sure if I go over here it’ll be better…’ He held his phone in the air as he moved around the room.
‘So?’
‘Nothing…’
I grabbed my bag and pulled out my phone.
Nope. Same. Zero bars.
‘What the hell are we going to do?’
‘First, you need to calm down. Getting worked up won’t help either of us. Edwin’s got to come back to lock up, right? And when he does, he’ll realise we’re still here.’
‘No, he won’t! I told him I’d only be here for an hour tops and he said to just pull the door behind me when I left and he’d lock up on his way back. He’s not going to come looking for us. Fuck!’
‘Oh.’ Theo slumped on the box. ‘Looks like it’s going to be a long night.’