Dewey’s – By Anne Barwell #4
“Yes, of course it’s a library. The Laverge public library, although it does share space with the community hall, which opens in the evenings, but I’m planning to be long gone by then.” Hal raked one hand through his hair. “Although with the right company I might be persuaded to change my mind.”
Daniel blinked. Was Hal flirting with him? “I might be persuaded too,” he said slowly.
Hal’s smile lit up his face. “It’s been a long time since I took the time to get to know someone. My apologies if I’m a little rusty.”
“I don’t think you’re rusty at all. I… I haven’t taken the time for a while, either.” Daniel stopped, unsure of what to say.
Bib climbed down from the piano and settled on Hal’s lap. He stroked her. “Hello, pretty girl. I’ve missed you, too.”
“You know Bib?” Daniel asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
“She’s always been here.” Hal leaned in closer and dropped his tone to a whisper. “She’s very long-lived for a cat, but we don’t usually discuss those things in front of her. It’s impolite to ask a lady’s age.”
“Ah, yes, I’ve heard that.” Daniel reached to pet Bib’s paw when she stretched out between them. His hand brushed against Hal’s fingers. His skin was warm, and definitely real.
Just go with the flow and enjoy this while you can.
“So, you’re not leaving town yet?” Hal didn’t move his hand.
“I’ve found a couple of reasons to stay.”
“Oh?” Hal looked intrigued and pleased. “I haven’t heard about a new piano tuner in town. I asked around after you disappeared, but no one seems to have heard of you.”
“I thought you disappeared. Through a door that doesn’t exist.” Daniel wondered if he’d be able to step through it, or if an attempt to do so would make it revert to a wall again.
“The door definitely exists.” Hal bit his lower lip. He looked around and squared his shoulders. “I’m going to ask a question that might seem a little strange. Promise me you’ll answer me honestly. I don’t want to be humored or treated as though I’m weak-minded.”
“I promise.”
“Where are you? Right now, I mean.” Hal sounded strained. Did he have a clue that their meeting was a little… odd?
“I…” Daniel cleared his throat. He’d promised Hal to tell the truth.
“I’m sitting in a bar called Dewey’s, which used to be a library a long time ago.
” He continued quickly, before Hal could comment.
“The man I’m with is one I really want to get to know.
I’m… interested in you, and I haven’t felt like this in long time. Not since… Gus died.”
Hal had flirted with him first, although Daniel wasn’t sure how referring to Gus as his husband would go down. That might be a step too far.
“I wondered.” Hal looked sad. “Sometimes when I’m here alone, strangers sit at the piano and play, but they’ve only ever been glimpses of somewhere else.
Their clothing, like yours, is different, and then they fade away like ghosts as soon as their fingers leave the keys.
You’re the first one I’ve conversed with.
” He grew silent, his voice hoarse. “Am I dead, and haunting this place, but don’t know it?
Is that it? But I remember leaving here, living my life, and then returning to it, so I’m not sure I can be. ”
Daniel clasped Hal’s hand in his, wishing he could put his mind—both their minds—at rest. “Maybe I’m the ghost,” he said quietly. “You’re in your own time and place, but I’m seeing into the past. My past.”
Bib purred loudly. The distinct jasmine scent Daniel had come to associate with Hal grew stronger, enveloping them both in what could only be described as an embrace.
“It’s 1925 for me.”
“It’s 2025 here,” Daniel confirmed. “I can see your door when you’re here, but they walled it up years ago.”
“Thank you for being honest and not running away.” Hal’s mouth twitched into a rueful smile. “My intentions are not nefarious.” His gaze flicked to Daniel’s face and away. “Although they might not be entirely honorable.”
“That’s fine. Mine aren’t, either. Entirely honorable that is, although at present I’m just looking for a friend.
” Daniel recognized the rawness in Hal’s words.
They reflected how he’d felt for so long, although it was finally beginning to soften into memories, good and bad.
“I know about Joseph, and how that feels.”
Hal jerked his hand away, his shoulders shaking. “You’re mistaken. I?—”
“I’m sorry.” Daniel felt like an idiot. Flirting that could be passed off as something else in front of a stranger was one thing. Admitting love for another man in a time when it was illegal was something else. “Gus was my husband.”
“Husband?” Hal looked at him, shock written over his face. “Is that….”
“It’s legal now.” Daniel frowned. “Did you think I’d report you?”
“No,” Hal said too quickly. “Some of the townsfolk know… knew. They accepted us, and when others who didn’t came to enforce the law, they were sidestepped and given statements that the rumors they’d heard were only that.”
Daniel wondered what it would be like to live in a community like that, in a simpler time.
“What happened to me?” Hal’s question took Daniel by surprise. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t ask. It’s probably not a good thing to know my future, but some days… I want to know I still have one.”
He was looking for hope. Life after love, and not being able to grieve in public, would make an already tragic situation impossible.
Daniel gestured to his laptop, although Hal wouldn’t know what it was. “That’s what I’m trying to find out.”
“Here’s your coffee,” Gerry interrupted. “Would you like something to eat, too?”
“I….” Daniel turned back to Hal, but he was gone as if he’d never been there.
The following week settled into a comfortable routine. Daniel spent his days tuning pianos around town, and casually asking about Hal when he thought his customers might not mind. However, no one besides Esther knew anything, or was prepared to admit they did.
Serena had found Hal’s military records, but nothing later.
A bad flood a few years later had destroyed most of the papers connected to the local history of the time, and searching further afield had come up blank, too.
The local librarian was interested, but couldn’t help either.
She’d only been in Laverge twenty years, so was relatively new to the area.
She’d suggested chatting to Germain Broussard, Gerry’s grandfather, whom Daniel had yet to meet.
At the end of each day, Daniel arrived at the bar, sometimes before dinner, sometimes after, and settled in to wait for Hal, on the pretense of tuning the piano—which was taking much longer than necessary.
“Taking a month to tune a piano is a little unbelievable, don’t you think?” Hal was sitting at their table when Daniel arrived.
“That depends on your perspective.” Daniel unloaded his bag and laptop onto the table. “I’ve only been in town two weeks, and I’m taking my time, as it’s evening for me.” He grinned, unable to hide his delight at seeing Hal. “I missed you last night. I was worried.”
Hal put down the cup of coffee he was nursing. “I’m sorry. I opted for a long walk to avoid a weekend meeting here. There would have been too many people around for us to talk, anyway, and I don’t want to further my reputation as peculiar by being seen talking to myself.”
“Are you the only one in your time who sees me?” Daniel hadn’t thought of that. “This corner is quiet, and out of sight of the door, so I’m rarely disturbed.”
“I don’t see your establishment. From my perspective, you’re in the library,” Hal reminded him. “But no one has ever commented about the stranger in town who sits near the piano, so I’m presuming not.” He frowned. “I don’t understand why I can see you, given that you’re not playing the piano.”
“I’m tuning it.”
“But you weren’t the first few times we met.”
“Ah.” Daniel hadn’t figured that detail out either. “You’re not playing it, either. Maybe now that we’ve connected, the piano isn’t needed?”
Bib wandered over and settled on the floor by their feet. She glanced at each of them in turn and then gave the piano a long, steady look.
“I don’t think our resident cat agrees.” Hal shrugged. “I’ve never been sure what to think of her, either.” He lowered his voice. “Joseph thought she might be the spirit of the library, or music, given her hanging around the piano.”
“I’ve seen Joseph’s piano, but Bib wasn’t there.” Daniel told Hal about Esther and what she’d said. He reached out and placed his hand over Hal’s. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up painful memories.”
“You’ll think me foolish. I’m not sure what I think, actually, but for the first time in a very long time, I’m feeling like myself again, and living my life.
” Hal smiled. He looked around, and then brought Daniel’s hand to his lips and kissed his knuckles.
“Being with you reminds me of the lightness of the world. I never thought I’d feel like this again.
” He sighed and caught Daniel’s gaze. “I want to think that Joseph would want me to linger on the good memories and find happiness again.”
“I think Gus would feel the same, too.” Daniel hesitated and then pulled a photo from his wallet. “I’ve seen a picture of Joseph. This is… was Gus.”
“A very good-looking man.” Hal ducked his head, his cheeks pinking. “As are you.”
“Thanks.” Daniel put away the photo. “I don’t want this to end,” he whispered. “I think… I know what falling in love feels like, and it wasn’t slow last time either. It hit when I least expected.”
“Are you saying what I think you are?” Hal chewed on his lower lip. “I’ve been trying to find a way to tell you, too.”
“I love you.” Daniel brushed his finger against Hal’s lower lip. “There, I’ve said it. We’ve talked about so much since we met, and yet I still don’t know what happened—happens—to you. I don’t want this to end not knowing.” His voice cracked. “I don’t want to lose you.”