Chapter 16 #2
pine tar, but I’m pretty sure that’s because Percy used too much molasses because we didn’t have brown sugar.”
Jack laughed. “I doubt Percy was the best teacher for cooking.”
“Definitely not. He excels at everything except cooking. Hence why I’m a whiz at the microwave.” She bit into the biscuit.
“This is delicious. Teach me how to make these first.”
They finished breakfast and carried their dishes to the sink. Stella paused when she glanced at the calendar Arnie had pinned
to the refrigerator with an I’m a Librarian. Don’t Make Me Shush You magnet. Arnie had drawn a blue circle around Saturday’s date. Stella stared at the circle trying to understand the significance
of the day.
“Tomorrow is the Blue Sky Valley Festival,” she blurted. “How has it gotten here so fast? I forgot to talk to Arnie about
it yesterday because I was so focused on the magic.”
Jack took the plate from her hands, ran it under the water, and scrubbed it clean. “What needs to be done?”
“Arnie always spearheads it. With the town committee, of course.” Stella rubbed the back of her neck.
“There’s so much that goes on. So many vendors and people and activities.
Some people use the library and others will be out on the grounds.
I don’t have a map or times or anything.
I bet it’s in one of the folders at the circulation desk.
I also need to get my booth arranged for the military care packages. ”
Jack dried the plates and placed them back in the cabinet. “You’ve been his copilot for years. You can do this,” he said.
“Do you know where he keeps the folders?”
Stella nodded, grabbed her unfinished coffee, and drank the rest in a few gulps. She walked toward the kitchen window and
stared out at the lawn between the cottage and the library. The space would be crowded with people expecting a completely
functional festival tomorrow. A car pulled into the back lot and parked. The library wouldn’t open for a couple hours, so
they were either extremely early or using the parking lot as a temporary spot.
“You’re right,” Stella said, facing Jack. “He’s so organized. I’ll go through the folders and call the head of the committee
and ask her to give me a rundown. She might already know about Arnie, but she might not. I hadn’t thought to call her.”
Jack grabbed Stella’s hands. “First thing you should do is go home, shower, and change clothes. Call Vicki and Dan to make
sure they plan to help out on Saturday. If you have time and you think he’ll be awake, you can swing by the hospital and talk
to Arnie about specifics. I’ll clean up here and meet you in the library. Tell me where the folders are, and I’ll look through
them while you’re gone.”
The image of a silver hook flashed into her mind. “I’ve been so distracted, I forgot about Hook!”
Jack wiggled his eyebrows playfully at her. “A good distraction?”
Stella blushed and then sobered. “I’m serious. We can’t have him running amok during the festival. What if we can’t find him?”
“I’ll handle it,” Jack assured her.
Looking at him lessened her worry. Her expression softened.
“What?” he asked.
She kissed his lips gently. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For making me feel like we can actually make this work,” she said.
Jack reached for her. “I have no doubt that we will make this work. Our goal will be to make this the best festival yet.”
A fist hammering on the door sounded, and Stella’s heart leaped into her throat. She looked questioningly at Jack, and he
appeared as surprised as she was.
She whispered, “Maybe they’ll go away.”
The knocking persisted.
Stella shook her head. “I can’t open the door.” She pointed to her bare legs.
“I can see movement in there,” a man’s voice called through the door. A shadowy face pressed against the wavy glass window
in the door.
“Percy?” Stella said. Without thinking, she unlocked the door and flung it open.
Her older brother stood on the doorstep with a cross between a scowl and a look of bewilderment on his face. He wore a teal
golf polo and pressed khakis with a pair of white loafers, looking every bit the beach preppy she expected. Percy scanned
her clothes—or lack of clothing—and his dark eyebrows lifted.
“What are you doing here?” he asked.
“What are you doing here?” she repeated.
“Arnie had the hospital call me,” Percy said and stepped into the cottage without being invited.
“I took a late flight from Sarasota and got home last night, but you weren’t there.
I assumed you were out, but when I woke up this morning, you still weren’t home.
I texted, but you didn’t answer, so I thought I’d check the library.
It’s locked. Why are you staying in here? ”
Stella babbled, “Late night at the library, and the weather was bad, so—”
“Who are you?” Percy asked, catching sight of Jack. “Stella, tell me you’re not shacking up with boyfriends at Arnie’s.”
“What? No!” Stella protested.
Percy glanced around the room at their scattered clothing and the rumpled blanket on the couch. “Stella,” he said, his voice
taking on a disappointed edge.
“It’s not what it looks like,” Stella said quickly.
“Yeah? So those aren’t your clothes on the floor and nothing happened on the couch and you’re not having breakfast in your
morning-after pj’s?” Percy asked.
“I’m Jack.” He held out his hand, but Percy didn’t move to shake it.
“I’m Percy. Stella’s brother. You know this isn’t her place, don’t you? It belongs to the librarian who’s in the hospital recovering from a heart attack.”
Percy’s gaze lingered on Jack’s face. “Do I know you?”
“Possibly,” Jack said. “I know this is Arnie’s home. We’ve been friends for a long time.”
Percy cocked an eyebrow. “He doesn’t mind you being in his house?”
Jack shook his head. “Nope.”
“Where do I know you from? School?”
Stella stepped between them. “Percy, I’m sorry to have worried you, but you could have texted me yesterday to tell me you
were coming.”
“It was a last-minute decision,” Percy said. “I didn’t mean to interrupt your party.”
“Oh, give it a rest,” Stella snapped. “It’s not like you’ve never had a girl on the couch before.
I’m not a child, and I don’t have time for your judgment.
I’m heading to the house to get changed and ready for work.
With Arnie out, the library is a lot to handle, and we’re preparing for the festival this weekend.
So if you don’t mind, stuff your disdain for a while and find something else to do, like go visit Arnie. ”
Percy’s shocked expression held him quiet for a few seconds. “I suppose you don’t want me to mention that you’re using his
place for sleepovers.”
Stella waved her hands in the air. “Do what you want, Percy, but I suggest you quit acting like such a brat. I’m happy to
mention to Arnie that you and your friends are the ones who set fire to his favorite tree beside the cottage in high school.”
“You wouldn’t,” Percy breathed in disbelief.
Stella opened the door and pointed. “Try me. Now go see Arnie. I’ll be in the library later if you want to have a civil conversation.”
Percy walked out the door, shaking his head. “What has gotten into you, Stella? You’re acting like someone I don’t even know.”
Frustration flared hot. “This might come as a surprise to you, Percy, but honestly, you’re right. You don’t know me very well.”
Percy’s shoulders straightened. “Is this about the Miami job?”
It was way too early in the morning to have a life discussion with Percy, especially after the night she’d shared with Jack.
“I don’t want to do this right now,” she said. “But yes, that’s one indicator.”
“Do you even know what you want?” Percy asked, his voice less harsh.
Stella gripped the edge of the door. “Actually, yes. And I’m getting there.”
He scrubbed his hand through his curls. After casting a side-eye at Jack, he sighed in surrender. “I’ll keep your secret if
you keep mine.”
Stella half smiled at Percy and closed the door. Jack stared at her with a grin of his own.
“Another plot twist. Remind me how everything is going to be okay,” she said.
“After everything we’ve handled together so far, we’ve got this in the bag.”
All she had to do was successfully help execute a major festival that would draw in hundreds of people, make sure Captain
Hook didn’t ruin the event or kidnap any unsuspecting women, explain what was happening to her best friend, keep her brother
from asking too many questions, and not fall in love with Jack Mathis, who would be gone from her life in a matter of days.
Easy, right?