Epilogue
One month later
A cardinal chirped from a windowsill outside the library. Stella walked toward the window, gazing at the library’s back parking
lot. Arnie and Dana climbed into his BMW with the top down, and Stella watched for a moment longer as Dana leaned back her
head and laughed. Arnie smiled over at Dana and reversed out of his driveway. They were on their way to a weekend getaway
in Wild Dunes, South Carolina.
Sunlight warmed her cheeks, and she sighed. Arnie and Dana being together and happy felt right and good and perfect. Their joy spread to her.
She returned to the circulation desk just as Jack walked through the library’s front doors and across the foyer. He placed
a to-go bag from the deli behind the high desk and pulled a small black object out of his front pocket. “Look what I did!”
“You got a cell phone?” Stella said with a laugh. “Took you long enough.”
He drew her into a quick hug. “Some technology is too out there, but you badgered me long enough.”
Stella poked her finger into his arm. “Badgered is a strong word. Encouraged is the one I’d prefer. Besides, most people understand almost zero about how high-tech gadgets work. I just know they work
and that’s enough for me.” She pointed to printouts on the desktop. “Any more life decisions?”
Jack picked up the papers, a mix of job descriptions, job applications, and college forms he’d printed out earlier in the
week. “A few are rising to the top.”
“Which ones?” Stella asked.
Jack shuffled the papers and handed her two of them. “Licensed practical nurse and massage therapist.”
Stella smirked. “My vote is definitely for massage therapist. I’d willingly be a practice client.”
Jack leaned over and nuzzled her neck. “So noble. Sure you aren’t slanting your opinion for selfish reasons?”
“Never!” Stella teased.
Ariel pushed through the library doors with Liam and his German shepherd, Scout, in tow. Ariel waved dramatically in her canary-yellow
scrubs. Her rainbow Crocs squeaked across the polished tile. “I told Liam it was okay to bring in Scout since she’s so well
behaved.”
Liam carried another to-go bag from the deli and lifted it in lieu of a wave. He gave Stella a questioning glance, asking
with his eyes if it was okay for Scout to be in the library.
“As long as she’s okay with small dogs,” Stella said. Ariel’s face scrunched in confusion. “Toto’s here today.” Stella pointed
toward the story time room, which was presently packed with nearly thirty kids.
“Toto?” Liam asked.
Stella’s smile widened. “Dorothy, the Tin Man, Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, and Toto are visiting today.” Stella leaned over
the desk toward Ariel and whispered, “And the kids love it.”
“Ahh,” Ariel said in recognition. “The impersonators.” She glanced toward the story time room. “How could they not love being entertained by real-life characters from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz? Would you mind if I skipped lunch and hung out with the kids instead?”
Liam faked disappointment. “What will I tell Scout? She’s been excited about this outing all day.”
Ariel leaned down and rubbed Scout’s ears. “Who’s my best girl? You are! I’d never skip out on lunch with you. If it was just
your dad, maybe. But never you!”
“Hey!” Liam protested.
Ariel laughed and leaned into Liam’s shoulder. She tossed a gaze at Stella. “Y’all ready?”
Stella nodded. “Let me tell Vicki I’m leaving. She hasn’t come out of the story time room yet, but I can’t blame her. Those
characters are perfect.” She winked at Ariel.
Stella eased open the door so she wouldn’t disturb the entertainment inside. She was once again amazed by the electrical buzz
that passed over her skin as soon as she saw the fictional characters come to life before her.
After talking through the magic with Arnie, who’d unofficially passed the baton to her, Stella had decided she wanted to use
the magic not just for her own curiosity but for the patrons. If she brought out some of the most beloved fictional characters
and let people experience interacting with them, how much more would kids and adults enjoy the library? Books had the ability
to transport readers to other worlds and times and experiences. Bringing out characters only elevated their enjoyment, creating
lasting memories.
Stella’s first experiment was to bring out characters from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Once they arrived, she explained her plan and her ideas for how they’d mingle with the patrons.
So far, it had been a smashing success. Both the characters and the people reveled in their moments together.
A bonus for Stella was that she could talk with the characters after the library closed for as long as she wanted.
Being a book lover herself, this new life felt like a dream come true.
She already had a list of all the characters she wanted to meet. A very long list.
Vicki saw Stella and walked over. “Sorry, I got mesmerized. How on earth did you find such a young girl who stays in character
like a pro? She’s amazing! They all are. And that lion, seriously, he’s downright real-looking.”
“He is,” Stella agreed. “I’m going on lunch break. You okay to watch the desk?”
Vicki sighed. “No, but yes. Think they do private parties? I’d like to hire them for myself so we can chat about Oz more.”
Stella laughed. “Anything is possible. I’ll be back in a bit.”
She returned to the circulation desk and opened the bottom drawer, then grabbed her purse and notebook. Words continued to
pop up everywhere and at any time, and Stella didn’t want to miss a single one. She kept and respected each one, from the
swarming, agitated words to the fluffy, downy-soft ones. Her current notebook was almost full, and another blank journal waited
patiently to be filled.
Arnie’s copy of Jack’s book, Beyond the Southern Horizon, was in the drawer too. They no longer hid his book with the library stamp and ink pad. Somehow the magic formed that evening
in the moonlight had encased Jack’s book and his life. Ruby Lou and Pearl’s book had disappeared when their lives were lost.
Maria’s story had started disappearing when she hadn’t returned to the source of the magic. But so far Jack’s book and fictional
story hadn’t vanished even though he was now permanently part of the real world. People could still check out Beyond the Southern Horizon anytime they wanted. Jack said it made him feel like a celebrity even though no one had connected him to the character in the book yet.
The moonlight magic had overridden the ink’s sunlight magic, and Stella never went a day without being grateful to have found
a way to bend the magical rules. Jack, Arnie, and Ariel were the only ones who knew how Jack was able to return and stay.
She hadn’t told Percy. She also hadn’t told him about Maria, and the more days that slipped by, the less she felt sure that
telling him offered any benefit. Percy lived a comfortable life in Florida, a long way away from the magic and from having
to think about it on a daily basis. Keeping him as oblivious as possible seemed like the kindest option, especially given
the state of Maria’s book.
When Stella finally asked about it last week, Arnie said there was only one chapter remaining. After more than twenty years,
Stella couldn’t stir up any emotions other than disbelief, anger, and scanty acceptance that she would never know Maria and
didn’t really want to know her now.
Ariel caught sight of the notebook. “How’s the story going?”
Stella exhaled a trapped breath. Thinking of Maria did that to her every time. She grabbed Jack’s hand and walked around the
desk to join Ariel, Liam, and Scout. They crossed the foyer in a group. “I’ve never written so quickly in my life. I’m about
fifty thousand words in, and I finally settled on a title.”
Liam held open the library doors and handed Scout’s leash to Ariel. “Thank you,” she said and looked at Stella. “Don’t keep
me in suspense! What’s the title? Can I add it to my Tbr?”
Stella glanced at Jack, who was smiling at her. “The Charmed Library.”
Ariel shivered and bounced down the stairs. “I have chills! That means it’s the right title.”
“It’s perfect,” Stella agreed as they stepped fully into the sunlight together. Jack squeezed her hand, and the four of them, plus Scout, walked down the sidewalk toward the park. Silvery words floated by on a breeze that offered relief from the summer heat.
Live life. Laugh often. Love more.