Chapter 25
“The bottom line is, in life, sometimes good things happen, sometimes bad things happen. But honey, if you don’t take a chance nothing happens.”
I clicked off the TV. “Those Golden Girls are some wise ladies.”
Winston lifted his head from my lap and barked.
I smoothed my hand along his fluffy back and stood from the couch to stretch. “Enough TV for us, buddy. Three episodes is the limit. And I need to take Dorothy’s advice and go take a chance.”
Winston followed me to the door. I slid on my shoes, then snapped on his leash. “Your people said to have you back by two, so we better hustle.”
We took off down the road and made it to his house within ten minutes. Alden had started allowing me to bring Winston over for some company, even giving me a key to the door, but it was getting harder and harder to return him.
Winston stopped on the stoop and gave me those big puppy eyes.
“They’ll be home soon.” I bent and gave the fluffball a big hug. “Go on now.”
With a soft whine, he obeyed.
“I’d stay, but I have a list to start working on.
First stop: Poe Library and you’re not allowed inside.
Sorry, buddy.” It pained me knowing I couldn’t take Winston on at the moment.
But at least I could keep showing up for him.
I knew how it felt not to have anyone show up.
Alone at the hospital after having Fern, alone in that prison cell, alone on family day in rehab.
“I’ll see you tomorrow. Promise.” I waited until he stretched out in his dog bed, full-on pouting, then locked up.
I went back to the house to grab my bike.
I rolled to a stop and eyed the odd building before me.
Between you and me, Sullivan’s Island had quite a collection of unsightly structures and this library was one of them.
It didn’t start its life as a house of books, so there was that.
It used to be a former Spanish-American war gun battery.
I surveyed the funky building with its white paint and black trim.
Two sets of metal and concrete stairs leading to the roof formed an A right up front and in between the stairs, two air conditioning window units stuck out like buck teeth.
I listened to the units whine, trying to keep up with the demand of the hot day, as I found a shaded spot to leave the bike.
I went around to the side entrance door and stepped inside.
The musty scent of old books and damp air greeted me.
Perhaps I was a weirdo, but I liked the smell of this library, it stirred memories of my youth.
And every time I visited, it felt like I was being allowed into a secret club of sorts.
If this secret club had a password to enter, it would surely be Poe.
Tucked on the shelves were lots of nods to the famous poet.
Paintings of his morose image, well-worn copies of his books on display, even a creepy Poe bobblehead.
I reached out and tapped his comically big head, making it jiggle.
“Good afternoon.”
I searched for the voice of greeting and noticed a petite woman behind the media desk. “Hello.”
“Please let me know if you need any help.”
I moved to stand before her and read her name tag. Delores, Branch Manager. “Actually, I wanted to check out your children’s section and see about children’s programs.”
She handed me a pamphlet. “This is July and August’s schedule. We keep this posted on our website as well.”
I scanned the itinerary. Storytime. Nature Crafting. Saturday at the Movies. “Oh wow. This is great. Thank you.” I motioned behind me. “I’m going to look around, if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all. Take your time.” Delores went back to sorting a stack of books.
I started toward the children’s section, but a book on the staff pick table caught my attention.
I whipped out my phone and took a picture of Too Far Gone and sent it to Henry.
Look what I found in the famous Poe Library!
I immediately regretted it. We didn’t exchange texts.
Henry only sent the morning prayer. But before I could regret it too much, he replied.
I heard that book stinks. Wouldn’t read it if I were you.
Snickering, I thumbed another text. Ha! The staff beg to differ. We’re talking people who read books for a living. Think they have great taste.
Henry didn’t reply and I was glad he wasn’t one of those texters that had to get the last text.
I spent a while roaming around the small building, scanning the shelves. Then I renewed my way-out-of-date library card and set out for my next destination, just up the road from the library.
The triangular monster came into view well before I reached it.
Top portion painted black and the bottom white, the lighthouse always reminded me of a robot with no arms or legs.
I daydreamed of me and Fern exploring it, much like I did as a child.
How she would be fascinated by the vastness and history.
I came to a halt at the base of it and the daydream came crashing down with the addition of a chain-link fence. “What the heck?”
“They closed it to public tours due to structural issues.”
Still straddling the bike, I looked over my shoulder and found Henry sitting on the hill beside the lighthouse. His laptop rested on his lap. “Really? I wonder when this happened.”
“I looked it up. It’s been closed for the past seven years.”
I turned the bike around and walked it over to the foot of the hill. Some sort of military building sat on top, probably within the hill too, but it had always been closed for exploration for as far back as I could remember. “I guess I’ll have to take this off my list.”
Henry closed his laptop but stayed sitting in the grass. “What list?”
I took a seat beside him. “I’m making a fun list for Fern. That’s why I was just at the library, scoping out the children’s programs.”
“What else is on the list?”
“Not much so far. Just the park, the beach, the library. When she’s older, we’ll explore Fort Moultrie.” I drew up my knees and draped my arms over them.
“I think most children would probably be happy with the park and beach.”
“Yes. But I really hoped the lighthouse would be a part of it.” I reclined my head and looked up at the tall building. “Us island kids used to hang out here letting our imaginations guide all sorts of adventures all summer long.”
“Yeah. Like what?”
I huffed a laugh. “Mainly pirates hunting treasure.”
Henry smiled. “Sounds like a great childhood.”
My head bobbed side to side. “Mostly. Because of my Grandma Olla. Cy and I stayed with her most every summer of my childhood.”
“All summer?”
“Yep.”
“Wouldn’t you miss your parents?”
“You have to have something first in order to miss it when it’s gone.” I closed my mouth firmly, for fear something else cynical would fall out.
Henry didn’t say anything for a while. We just pretended to admire the ugly lighthouse.
A family of four rolled up on a golf cart and seemed just as bummed by the fence. They took a few pictures, then drove away.
Henry shooed a fly buzzing around my head.
“Your list for Fern reminds me of something my mom used to do every summer. She bought a mini spiral-bound notebook each spring and we would add a list of things we wanted to do during summer break. We had to pick a theme for our list so everyone had something different.”
“What would your list be?”
“During the school year, our TV time was extremely limited, so I mostly made a list of movies I wanted to watch. Some in the theater, some we could rent.”
“How limited are we talking?”
“We could watch the evening news with my parents and on the weekend we were allowed three hours.”
“Yikes.”
“With my dad being a college professor, academia came before anything else, especially screen time.” Henry placed the laptop beside him and reclined onto his elbows.
“What about your sister? What list did she like to make?”
“Ricki changed her list every year, but I remember one year she made a traveling list.” He chuckled. “I’m talking Paris, Hawaii, places like that. Mom made it happen though.”
“No way. Really?”
“Yes, but in our backyard. We had a luau one week, then the next we had lunch at a little bistro. Summers with Mom were the best.”
“It sure sounds like it.” I plucked a piece of grass. “Maybe I need to rethink my Fern Fun List.”
“You could take it one step further and make a journal of all sorts of lists. Things you want the two of you to do together, now and in the future, like traveling. You could make lists of memories you want to share with her.”
“I like the way you think, Mr. Mystery.” I pushed my shoulder against his and he did the same in return. “By the way, what are you doing here?”
“I’m writing an action sequence where they’re scaling the side of a tall building.” He motioned toward the lighthouse. “I thought this would give me some perspective.”
I stood and brushed the back of my shorts. “Well, I’m going to head to the house.”
“Me too.” Henry shoved his computer and notepad into his backpack. “My mom’s birthday is coming up. I’d love to get her a pair of your earrings, maybe a bracelet to match.”
I perked up at the idea. “I have time now if you’d like to shop through what I already have made or I can even custom-make them. It only takes like a day or two.”
“Okay.” Henry started walking down the street. “I’ll meet you there.”
I hated to take off on my bike, leaving him to walk. “I’ll get everything pulled out for you to look at.” I sped toward the house and hurried upstairs. Henry had seen me make earrings and such, but this was different so I took my time displaying the pieces like I would at Bek’s.
Soon, Henry arrived and I showed him into the workroom.
“Let me know if you have any questions.”
He straightened his glasses and leaned forward, inspecting my offerings. “She likes turquoise jewelry.”