Chapter Thirty-Three #2
She heard Joe moving aside his curtains. ‘Oh! Yes, the living room light is on. Looks like the TV is on, too.’
‘Really?’ said Chloe with interest. She doubted they had forgotten to switch off the TV and lights when they had left this morning.
In fact, they definitely hadn’t – she and Gwen had gone straight to the graveyard without watching anything.
And they hadn’t needed the lights on when the sun was up. ‘Thanks, Joe. I’ll be back soon.’
‘Want me to ring you if anyone leaves?’ A mischievous, conspiratorial tone entered Joe’s voice. ‘I’ve got a good view of your front door from here. I can wait outside if you like, I’ve got my cane—’
‘That won’t be necessary,’ said Chloe quickly. They had left the car park now, Harry driving, with Mrs Cook and Eric behind them. ‘But yes, please keep an eye on the door. There’s no need to go outside, though. It’s a cold night.’
‘Almost there,’ said Harry, and they turned into the Moorhall neighbourhood. Chloe tried ringing Gwen again, but the phone rang twice before going to voicemail.
They parked outside the house, gravel crunching beneath the tyres. As Chloe stepped out into the cold air, she spotted Joe shuffling towards them, his cane in his hand.
‘No one’s come out of there,’ he reported, looking pleased with himself. ‘What’s going on, then? Are you having a party?’ When he saw Harry, Joe’s mouth fell open and he leaned comically back, his hand over his mouth. ‘Harry Ashcroft!’
‘You two know each other?’ asked Chloe in surprise as the two men shook hands, Harry laughing.
‘I helped him with some repairs a couple of years ago,’ Harry explained, looking delighted. ‘You look well, Mr Richardson.’
‘Everyone, please call me Joe,’ said the old man. ‘Oh, I’m so pleased you and Chloe are friends. Isn’t she lovely, Harry?’
‘Aye,’ Harry grinned as Chloe’s face burned. ‘She’s canny.’
‘Everyone really does know everyone in small towns,’ said Chloe, rubbing the bridge of her nose. It was kind of adorable.
Eric emerged from Mrs Cook’s car. ‘Do you think he’s in there?’ He spotted Joe and quickly hid the glowing book behind his back. Chloe silently prayed Joe hadn’t noticed.
Mrs Cook appeared, looking concerned. ‘So this is where you live, Chloe? What a nice neighbourhood.’ She smiled when she saw Joe. ‘Hello.’
Joe gazed back. ‘Hello.’
Chloe, Harry and Eric glanced at each other, their eyebrows raised as Mrs Cook and Joe stood for a moment, small smiles growing on their faces.
‘I’m Alice,’ said Mrs Cook as she reached out her hand. Joe took it, bringing her knuckles to his lips. Mrs Cook gave a high-pitched giggle more appropriate for a teenager than a woman in her seventies.
‘Erm, I’m going inside,’ said Chloe. ‘There’s something we need to check, remember?’
‘Alice is our boss,’ Eric piped up. ‘She’s divorced, too,’ he added.
‘And, um, Joe is widowed,’ said Harry.
‘You work at the library?’ Joe looked positively charmed. ‘Oh, my goodness. And here’s me buying books for my Kindle. I need to go over there at some point. Do you have the classics?’
Mrs Cook smiled, more composed now. ‘Shelves and shelves of them.’ Was it just the lighting, or had Mrs Cook’s cheeks turned pink?
Leaving the bizarre scene behind, Chloe pushed open the front door of her house, light from the corridor bleeding onto the street. Eric and Harry followed her inside.
The TV was blaring, and Chloe was relieved to hear Gwen’s voice, sounding relaxed.
‘He is here!’ Eric exclaimed when they reached the living room doorway.
There was Gwen, sitting in her usual spot on the couch. The nobleman from the classic book, the man Chloe had met in the library that rainy night, sat in the armchair, ramrod straight. He jumped to his feet when he saw Chloe and gave a hasty bow.
‘It’s nice to see you again,’ said Chloe.
The dark-haired nobleman was wearing a deep-blue tailcoat and polished shoes, his dark hair curling over his spotless collar. ‘It is a pleasure, Miss Chloe.’
Chloe didn’t know how to respond to a bow, so she nodded back at him then said to her sister, ‘Gwen, I’ve been trying to ring you.’
Gwen leaped to her feet too, and pulled Chloe into the kitchen. Harry hastily asked the others to sit, making conversation.
‘I found him standing outside,’ Gwen whispered.
‘He’s going on about some girl. I didn’t know what else to do, so I brought him in.
He nearly had a fit when he saw the TV and the speakers.
I didn’t dare answer my phone.’ She gave Chloe an apologetic look.
‘Sorry. I shoved it underneath the couch cushion. Didn’t want to spook him. ’
‘And switched on the TV ? What are you even watching?’ Chloe craned her neck to see.
‘Look, there’s me again.’ The nobleman was pointing at the screen. ‘Though they have the gardens all wrong. Mine are at least twice that size.’
Chloe was horrified. ‘You’re letting him watch the TV show of the book?’
‘I thought it might give him some confidence,’ Gwen argued.
‘I was in the middle of explaining it to him. Look.’ She strode past Chloe and plopped herself on the couch, squeezing herself between the nobleman and Eric, who quickly made room for her.
‘See how handsome the actor is? You’re super popular in this world. ’
‘He is handsome.’ He appeared deep in thought. ‘And she is lovely,’ he said, when the actress appeared on screen. ‘Though I’m afraid they cannot do justice to her beautiful eyes.’
‘Of course they can’t,’ said Chloe, her mind racing.
How would this affect his character? What if he came across a part in the show that hadn’t happened for him yet?
The characters remembered her when they came out of the story, that much was clear.
What if they took memories back to the story?
Would it change the book? This wouldn’t do at all.
She reached for the remote to switch off the TV , feeling that was the first problem they could solve.
‘Oh, no, don’t!’ said Gwen. ‘This is a good part.’
‘You’ve watched it?’ Chloe asked, grumbling as she set the remote back down.
‘Of course I’ve watched it. Just because I haven’t read the book.’ Gwen tutted then said, ‘Look, this part is great. She didn’t like him at first. But she does in the end. Enemies to lovers, a classic trope.’
Chloe snorted. What did Gwen know about tropes?
The nobleman, sandwiched between Gwen and the side of the couch, watched the TV in riveted silence. ‘Remarkable,’ he said finally. ‘I remember all this happening. It’s like a dream.’
‘I think we need to talk,’ said Chloe firmly. ‘Gwen? How about you make everyone some tea?’
The sisters stared at each other for a moment. ‘Fine,’ Gwen sighed.
‘I’ll come,’ said Harry, then grabbed Eric’s skinny shoulder. ‘C’mon, let’s help Gwen make tea.’
They all made as much noise as they could in the kitchen, clattering mugs and talking loudly about nothing.
The nobleman gave a little groan of disappointment when Chloe finally switched off the TV , but she sensed it would be a bad idea to let him watch any more.
It was irresponsible of Gwen to let him in the first place.
Gwen had even less knowledge of the magic of the library than they did.
Eric’s hand appeared around the corner of the archway leading to the kitchen, holding the glowing book. Chloe hastily plucked it from his fingers then set it in her lap, taking a seat in the armchair.
She found she didn’t want to send him back right away. Instead, she asked, ‘This must be very strange. Are you all right?’
The nobleman looked thoughtful. ‘Well, this is indeed all very strange. Will it happen again?’
‘I don’t know. I don’t fully understand it myself,’ Chloe confessed. She hesitated, then asked, ‘And . . . um, what about the lady you mentioned last time we met? Did she see past the first impression?’
His face lit up. It was a marvel to see his brown eyes twinkle with joy at the mention of the woman he loved, a sight that made Chloe’s heart warm.
‘Oh, yes. It was a torment. I had to learn so much. But I realised the inferiority of her rank, my family’s wishes, none of it matters.
I’m afraid I blundered it quite horribly.
When I try to express my feelings, I end up saying the wrong thing.
’ He looked both sad and angry at himself.
‘This dream, or vision, is quite a relief.’ He pointed at the now black TV screen.
Chloe was torn between wanting to send him back to his story and to reassure him things would all turn out all right.
The kettle was boiling in the kitchen, Harry and Eric talking about football.
Part of Chloe wanted to keep him here for a bit longer; everyone was here, and there were no more characters that needed sending back. But . . .
‘I think it’s time you went home,’ said Chloe finally. ‘I can’t explain it all, but it’s been a busy day, and there were a lot of people like you here.’
‘Like me?’
‘From other places,’ said Chloe.
‘Do you have any advice for me? About the woman I love?’
Chloe hesitated. How much could she tell him? ‘What happened the last time you talked?’ If she could work out exactly where in the story he was . . . ‘What were you doing before you found yourself here?’
‘We had a disagreement. I was writing her a letter. Her family has acted appallingly, but I haven’t behaved much better. Then I found myself here. That lady – Miss Gwen? – found me. And then . . .’ He gestured towards the TV .
Chloe brightened, knowing which part of the story he meant.
It was the turning point of their relationship, the beginning of the enemies becoming lovers.
Chloe couldn’t help tensing up, hugging the book to her chest as a giggle burst from her.
She was suddenly in her first year of university again, the story a comfort to her after the heartbreak with Liam, knowing that the happily ever after was just around the corner.
‘Please don’t worry,’ she said. ‘She will forgive you.’
‘You think so?’ He didn’t look convinced.
‘I know so. Just . . . keep doing what you’re doing. All I can say is that first impressions don’t matter, not that much. So long as you get a second chance.’
‘And what about you?’ he asked, to her surprise. ‘Have things improved for you?’
Chloe glanced to the kitchen, where Harry was laughing about something. ‘They have,’ she said, her voice soft. ‘Tremendously.’ She opened the book. ‘Let’s send you home.’
‘Aw, already?’ Gwen had appeared in the archway, a cup of tea in each hand. ‘Won’t you stay for tea?’
‘Thank you, Miss Gwen, but I’m needed elsewhere.’ The nobleman rose to his feet. ‘Miss Chloe, I thank you for your help and your advice.’
Harry and Eric appeared, and they all watched as Chloe confidently read aloud the nobleman’s last line in the book. Sure enough, he faded, and the glow on the book did, too.
Gwen sighed slowly, setting down the teacups and collapsing on the couch. ‘Looks like we’re done.’
‘Where’s Mrs Cook?’ asked Chloe, realising the elderly lady hadn’t joined them.
‘Still outside.’ There was a smile in Eric’s voice as he peeked through the curtains. ‘Look.’
Mrs Cook was still chatting with Joe, both of them laughing about something. Chloe had never seen Mrs Cook look so flustered. Joe said something that made her giggle, her hands over her mouth.
‘Well,’ said Harry, joining her at the window. ‘Who would have thought it?’