Chapter Fourteen
‘W HAT ?’ C HLOE ’ S JAW dropped open in surprise.
Mrs Cook let out another chuckle that became a delighted giggle that made her seem suddenly years younger.
She gestured around them. ‘The library and its magic. Being able to meet characters from the books. I’m so pleased you can do it, too, and that you’ve finally realised it’s not all in your head.
It took the last woman who worked here six months to tell me. ’
Chloe was stunned. ‘You mean . . . it’s not only . . .?’ She flushed, not wanting to give voice to the words. She had assumed it was only her who could do it, that she had some kind of powers that had manifested on their own. ‘Anyone here can pull out characters?’
‘Well, it’s different for everybody.’ The librarian shifted towards her, setting the book she was holding fondly on the pile of undamaged tomes.
The rain was letting up outside now, though the roof still dripped.
‘And it doesn’t work for everyone. The library chooses, Chloe – it knows how much you love books, how much you care for the stories all around us. ’
Chloe thought back to the box of tissues when she sneezed, the occasional sigh of warmth she felt or the scent of chocolate and cinnamon.
‘It’s a magical library,’ she said, feeling a rush of excitement.
It felt like a secret between her and Mrs Cook.
A wonderful, delicious secret. Some of the tension, the part of her that she had kept to herself until now, loosened in her shoulders.
‘Who have you met?’ asked Mrs Cook with enthusiasm. ‘Who came out to visit you?’
Chloe told her of the three men she had pulled out, one by accident in the middle of the night, one on purpose, and the third who had helped them at the café.
‘Oh! But that day in the café, when that boy tried to rob it. Um, the reason nothing bad happened is because I pulled out someone who helped.’ She told Mrs Cook about the superhero dispatching the would-be robber before things could get out of hand, and about sending him back without anyone noticing.
‘I don’t think Hannah – that’s the café’s manager – knows.
She was in the backroom when I sent him home. ’ Chloe fidgeted. ‘Is that a problem?’
‘It sounds like the right book was with you at the perfect time, Chloe. I wouldn’t call that a problem.’
Nearby, the curtains fluttered as though in agreement.
‘So it only works for some people?’ Chloe asked. ‘I suppose the library would be quite famous if it happened to everyone who came here.’
‘As far as I know, it’s only for people who love books enough to work here,’ said Mrs Cook. ‘And even then, it hasn’t worked for everybody. Only a few employees like you have confessed it to me, and it doesn’t seem to have worked for Eric.’
‘What hasn’t worked?’ The younger boy reappeared behind them, carrying a tray of tea and custard creams.
‘Oh, you are a star.’ Mrs Cook plucked a biscuit from the plate. Chloe copied her. ‘We were talking about the magic in the library, and Chloe meeting some characters.’
Chloe almost choked on her biscuit. ‘Eric knows, too?’
‘He was there when I was on a stepladder, trying to get a book on a higher shelf. The library pushed the book closer to my hand so I could grab it. It was either tell him the truth or try to convince him he had hallucinated. And that would have been mean.’
‘I haven’t seen a book glow,’ said Eric sadly. ‘Nor pulled out any characters. I wish it would happen for me. I’m glad it’s happened for you, though, Chloe.’ Eric perked up. ‘Mrs Cook asked me not to say anything to you. She said you had to experience it for yourself.’
‘If you could pull a character out of any book, who would it be?’ Chloe asked him.
She didn’t know if Eric actually liked to read books or he simply worked here for the money, though earlier he had said he liked reading.
Eric seemed to think hard about it, nibbling at the corner of his biscuit like a child.
‘Maybe I’d like to meet Arwen or Galadriel from The Lord of the Rings . Or Storm.’
‘Storm?’ asked Mrs Cook.
‘You know, from the Marvel X-Men comics.’
‘So, good-looking female characters.’ Chloe laughed, and the tips of Eric’s ears turned red.
‘Well, how about you?’ he asked. ‘What’s your type?’
Chloe dodged the question by asking, ‘Tell me more about yourself, Eric. What do you want to do after sixth form?’
She already knew he was finishing his A-Levels and came to work here on his days off, mostly Saturdays and the occasional morning or afternoon he didn’t have lessons.
‘I’d love to go to university and study English literature, though my dad thinks it’s a waste of time.
He’d rather I went straight into a trade, like plumbing or electrical work.
Says there’s no point in university these days, and most degrees are useless anyway.
’ He held up a book, inspecting it. Satisfied it hadn’t been damaged, he placed it carefully on the pile of undamaged books, which was admittedly much larger than the collection of wet ones.
‘Though I’d like to experience university life, too. The degree is just a bonus, really.’
‘Speaking of trade work,’ Chloe murmured, glancing at the leak. ‘We should probably ring someone to come and fix the roof.’
Her heart felt lighter now she had shared her secret with the others, and relieved that they knew about it as well. With Mrs Cook’s agreement, Chloe googled the nearest construction companies and found one called Ashcroft Construction.
A crisp female voice answered, and Chloe explained the library roof needed fixing as soon as possible.
The woman promised to send someone over that afternoon.
Relieved, they finished separating the damaged books and decided to check the bookshelf wood tomorrow to see if there was any permanent damage.
At least the rain had stopped, and now the worrying flow had reduced to a dribble.
As Chloe worked, her thoughts strayed to her sister.
She wondered if she should call to check up on her, but Chloe, aside from being a bit harsh, hadn’t really done anything wrong.
Gwen’s clumsy attempt at making dinner had only ended in them fighting.
Gwen should be the one to apologise first for disturbing her evening, destroying her kitchen and ruining her book.
Chloe snorted. Like that would ever happen.
‘Bless you,’ said Mrs Cook.
The doors opened later, and Chloe called over her shoulder, ‘Sorry, the top floor is closed today, but you’re welcome to explore the ground floor.’
‘Chloe.’
She turned in surprise to see Harry. He held up a toolbox. ‘Someone told me you have a leaky roof?’
She stared at him. ‘You’re a construction worker?’
‘Aye, the last time I checked.’
‘No.’ She shook her head. ‘I rang Ashcroft Construction.’
‘Yes, that’s me. Harry Ashcroft.’
Chloe felt her face was on fire. She’d had no idea that Harry owned Ashcroft Construction.
‘Through here.’ She tried not to look too agitated as she left Eric in the reception lobby and led Harry upstairs.
Clementine was on top of the bookshelf, trying to drink from the bucket. Chloe pointed. ‘The leak is up there.’
‘Right. I’ll need to inspect it,’ said Harry. ‘Could you give me some time?’
All too happy to escape, Chloe nodded and retrieved the cat.
Clementine meowed in annoyance, displeased, but she took him downstairs and gave him some fresh water in his bowl.
What were the chances it was Harry’s company she had rung this morning?
She dearly hoped he didn’t think that was intentional.
When she stepped out, she saw a woman and a little girl heading for the children’s section. She gasped in delight and rushed to them. It wouldn’t do to shout in the library, after all.
‘Hi, Hannah,’ she said, poking her friend gently in her back.
‘Chloe!’ said Hannah happily. ‘I’m so glad you’re working today, I hoped I’d be able to see you. This is my daughter, Lily.’
The three-year-old had her mother’s hazel eyes and a curtain of dark brown hair. She waved shyly at Chloe, half-hiding behind her mum’s leg. ‘Hi, Lily.’ Chloe knelt, seeing so much of her best friend in her daughter. ‘Nice to meet you. Do you like books?’
Lily glanced at her mother, then gave a non-committal shrug.
‘Of course you do.’ Hannah looked a little embarrassed. ‘She’s just a bit shy, Chloe.’
Clementine wandered in just then, licking his chops. He meowed softly.
‘Oh, a cat!’ exclaimed Lily, pointing. Clementine ignored her, trotting off.
Chloe laughed. ‘He’s a grumpy boy, but he’s lovely once you get to know him. Would you like me to find you some books about cats?’
Lily nodded and took her hand, and they played in the soft play area for a while. Books about cats seemed abundant on the children’s bookshelf all of a sudden, and Chloe glanced upwards at the rafters and the arched windows, silently wondering if the library was giving them what they needed.
‘And you can take some of these home with you, if you like. It’s free,’ said Chloe, after they had finished reading some of them. Hannah wasn’t wrong, Lily was a shy girl, but she managed to coax a few words from her and even a peal of laughter when they read a funny story about a naughty kitten.
‘This was fun,’ said Hannah later. ‘It’s so nice to have somewhere to bring her that’s, um,’ she lowered her voice as though embarrassed, ‘free. And dry when it rains. Plus, I needed a break from the café, you know.’ She raised her eyebrows and Chloe gave a sage nod.
‘This is exactly what a library is for,’ said Chloe sincerely.
‘Can we come again sometime?’ Lily asked.
Chloe put her hand on her chest. ‘Oh my gosh, she is just adorable.’
‘Of course we can,’ Hannah promised. ‘Now, which of these books would you like to take home?’