“I can rent her a room if she wants.”
“Really?”
“I have the space. Above the library is a full apartment, two bedrooms, two baths. And it’s just me.”
“Great. Then we’ll see you tomorrow at ten.” We drank our coffee and I ate my Danish. Things were looking up so far.
Seven
The next morning before Becca and Tarryn arrived I cleaned the whole apartment. I moved my things to Gram’s room and left my room pretty bare so Tarryn would have her own space to decorate as she pleased. I hoped she wanted to move in. I cleaned out my bathroom and set everything up in Gram’s. Staring at her queen size bed, I suddenly wished she were lying in it watching Scooby Doo cartoons like we used to.
I pulled off her comforter and threw it in the wash. When it dried, I folded it neatly and put it up. I didn’t feel right using her things. It felt better to put her things up for a while until I knew what to do with them. Her clothes all still hung in the closet and her toiletries still on the sink. I’d have to tackle those another day.
I sat down and emailed Harmony and Dawn to let them know I was still alive and well if they cared to know. I explained how hard losing Gram had been, how it still was. I let them know I wouldn’t be returning to school, having decided to transfer to the online college program that the local college held. Call me lucky to find that they offered my courses I needed, and I could handle the course load until I was done. Although I didn’t mention that their silence after finding out Gram died hurt my feelings and that I heard they already found another roommate on Facebook, what they did didn’t matter anymore. I wasn’t returning to that life and they knew it. I just needed to send this letter to tell them in my own words that I was moving on in my life, that I had no choice.
When I hit send, I heard a knock downstairs. I closed the laptop and ran down the stairs to meet the girls. Becca waved and said, “Good morning. I brought you a coffee.”
I took the steaming hot cup while welcoming them in. “Boy, I’m sure glad I met you.”
Tarryn was standing next to her wearing a nervous smile. She had a short blonde pixie cut with purple woven through it. Her nose was pierced and so was her lip. She was adorable and so punk rock that it made me smile. You didn’t see many people like that here in Bay Ridge. It was nice to see it again. I got used to seeing diverse people in California. They were everywhere you looked.
“I’m Tarryn,” she said.
“I’m Emme. Nice to meet you. Come on upstairs and check out the room and then we’ll go over the library.”
They followed me upstairs, and I showed them the room that would be hers and the rest of the apartment. They didn’t talk much or ask many questions. When I was done, we went downstairs to the library.
“This is my Gram’s library and it’s pretty easy to run, but I’ll need help filing books and helping at the desk while I’m running the children’s story time. If someone needs help on the computer, you might have to help them,” I told her. She nodded and played with her lip ring.
“Looks easy enough. I love books, and this is my dream job actually.” It was the most she had said about herself yet. “How will it work out with pay and rent?”
That was the only part that I struggled with figuring out. Gram set aside money for me, and I had enough to pay her a salary and to pay myself as well for quite some time. It was like Gram knew I’d need help or that she was going to die. I tried not to think about the latter.
“The job pays minimum wage,” I informed her. “It’s five days a week: Monday through Friday. No weekends, so those are free to you. The hours are nine to five.” I paused to make sure she was keeping up. “You’ll have to buy your own food and cook it too. I’m not the best cook. Also if you could take a utility bill or two, I can take the others. I don’t feel like charging rent is fair to you, but I need help with utilities.”
A surprised look crossed Tarryn’s face as she looked to her sister. “That’s fair enough. Right, Becca?”
Becca thought it over for a minute, and I’ll admit I was nervous. I needed Tarryn’s help, and I didn’t want to lose her because I sucked at running a business.
“Sounds good to me, Tarryn. You’ll make enough to cover living expenses and have a little spending money left over. But, Emme, are you sure that’s enough?”
I nodded my head and explained to her that I would be looking into government funding for the library soon. I had come across a website earlier before they had come that explained how to reach out to them for things like this. That seemed to make her more at ease.
The truth was once I saw that Tarryn was good enough at the job, I was leaving and moving to England. I didn’t know Tarryn, but at this point I was desperate. If she did a good job and I taught her whatever I could, she could eventually run this place for me while I owned it. If anything went wrong, I was only a phone call away. It would still stay in my name, and maybe it could actually all work out.
“I want the job. I love the apartment. When can I move in?”
I laughed, “Whenever you want.”
****
I spent the rest of the day filing paperwork for the funding process and preparing to open the library doors on Monday morning. I told Rose and Becca to spread the word. Tarryn had decided to move her smaller items in already, and she was asleep by nine the same night. It didn’t seem strange to me that I had a roommate; instead it made me feel comfortable. I never lived alone before, and I would feel lonely otherwise. Tarryn was quiet, but I knew in time she’d get used to me and I’d get used to her. We just needed to get to know each other first.
Once I was done with the paperwork, I filed the books that were left on the shelf from when Gram was still here. As I placed the classic books on the correct shelves, I felt a longing to finish reading my mysterious book in my nook.
So, instead of going to bed at a decent hour, I climbed into my cozy space and picked the book back up. I didn’t open it right away. Instead I inspected the outside for any sort of title. I found nothing of the sort. I flipped to the title page once more, trying to find my place, and that’s when I saw the word on the page. It was just a simple “The” typed out on the once blank title page. I ran my finger across it and realized it was printed in ink as if the press had done it. I was sure the night before it was blank, but then again, I was sure my dream about being with a man was real. So I wasn’t really a reliable source at the moment.
I found the spot where I ended with a dog-eared page. I absolutely hated doing this to the book and didn’t remember it at all. I usually had a nice bookmark, but this seemed to be the only thing to mark the page before I had fallen asleep. Running my fingers across the crease at the corner of the page, I settled back and started reading.
I woke up once again facedown, this time I was in grass. I blinked my eyes and felt the blades of grass tickling my nose and lips. I pulled myself up and took a deep breath. I looked around and saw the fields upon which I had dreamt of the night before. I was back in England. I was dreaming the same dream. How odd.
There were times when I had thought I had the same dream over and over again, to only find out that it was my mind playing tricks on me. This was no mistake. I was, once again, in the same place.
“Emmeline, are you all right?” I looked up and blocked the sun from my eyes. The man from before was standing in front of me. “You…you disappeared. It happened so fast that I fear I cannot explain to you how it happened. Now you’re here once again.” He sounded really confused and, to put it lightly, so was I.
This dream felt way too real. It was exactly like before. So real and tangible that I couldn’t explain it even if I tried.
“I…I don’t know how I’m here again,” I mumbled.
He reached out to steady me as I swayed to the side. “You’ve been gone for days. I worried I was going mad, t
hat your presence was one of my imaginings. I dared not to speak a word to anyone about it. I have to admit, Emmeline, I’ve been going slightly crazed since I saw you last.”
His hair was disheveled and he had grown a slight beard that only enhanced the sexiness of his strong jawline. His deep set blue-green eyes looked weary, and for that I felt awful.
My sudden disappearance had made him fall apart, that was apparent.
“I’ll tell you, I feel like I’m going crazy too. Trust me,” I admitted. “Can we sit somewhere? Out of the sun?”
“Of course.”
He held my arm and led me to a tree in the center of the field. Once underneath the large tree, I felt instantly better. I looked down at my clothes and saw that I was, once again, in my own clothes. This time a little better than before. I was wearing yoga pants and an old T-shirt.
“I can’t explain how or why I’m here. Hell, I don’t even know your name, but I’m here again and I’m beginning to think that this isn’t a dream. That I’m really here, with you,” I said as I touched his arm. “I’m not from…here.”
I didn’t know how to explain it to him, but I did the best any girl who was somehow traveling through time could. I didn’t have answers or explanations, but I had a gut feeling.
“I’m from a different time as you. As you can tell by my lovely clothing, I’m not from 1893.”
He placed his fingers on my lips, stopping me, while shaking his head.
“This isn’t right, Emmeline. Trickery at a time like this isn’t fair,” he said as he stood up fast. “I am leaving soon. I shall not have you doing this to me.”
My mouth fell open in shock and I stood. “Do something to you? Listen here, buddy, I didn’t ask for this. I sat down to read a book and then boom, I’m stuck in England with a stranger.”
I pointed at myself. “Look at me. Do I really look like I belong here?”
He looked at my clothing and up to my hair, and I could see his cheeks redden.
“You are dressed very indecent, I suppose. No woman I’ve ever met wears trousers. Nor do they wear clothing that fitting.”
I laughed. He thought this was indecent, he should see some of the dresses I had worn to parties. They were nothing like the dresses he was used to seeing on a woman. We absolutely didn’t dress ladylike anymore. My sexy little black dress that currently hung in my closet would definitely shock some of the people of this era for sure.
“I don’t know why I’m here. I’m absolutely not trying to, I don’t know, hurt you or anything. I don’t know how to go home.” I slumped back against the tree. “I wish that I could prove to you that I’m not lying to you, but I cannot. You’ll have to just believe me, I guess.” It was as simple as that. He could either believe this bat-shit crazy explanation or not. One way or another, I didn’t care. I just wanted to go home.
“I don’t know why, Emmeline, but I feel as if I should say that I do believe you.” He ran a hand through his thick hair, mussing it up. “I just don’t know how else to explain your abrupt presence. One minute you are here and the next you’re disappearing into thin air. I read many books on fiction, so I suppose it could be true.”
“Well, I may know someone who knows something. She works for the lucky bastard that owns that house,” I told him pointing to the house where Nancy was the last time I saw her. She was probably cooking something again for her master.
He smiled. “That house?”
“Yes. Her name is Nancy.”
“Ah. Nancy. And who is this Nancy woman you speak of?” He continued to smile as if this was a joke, but I ignored it.
“She’s a cook. I met her on my last visit here,” I explained. “She’s not the nicest person I’ve ever met, but I think she has some answers.”
“I must argue that Miss Nancy is more than a cook. She’s also the lady upon with which I trust my household while I’m gone. She’s more of an aunt than a housekeeper,” he said as he took my hand in his. “It’s very nice to finally introduce myself to you, Emmeline Bailey. I’m Jack Ridgewell or you may just call me the lucky bastard.”
Eight
We walked up to the grand house, and I couldn’t help but feel like a complete ass. He was Jack Ridgewell, of course he was. Sure my life needed more complications, and I needed to deal with a young rich guy who thought I was making him go crazy. We’ll just pile that on top of all of the other crap I had to deal with. And we’ll throw in the fact that he’s drop dead gorgeous as well.
He led me up the staircase that took us to the front of the house where a very burly man held the door open for the both of us. Sure enough, I smelled something cooking, and it smelled divine. Burly Guy closed the door and hung up Jack’s hat and coat on a small hook behind the door.
“If you’d follow me, please,” he said as he walked into the kitchen.
“Who’s that?” I asked Jack.
“The doorman, of course. His name is Thornesmith.”
Oh, the doorman. Duh.
As we walked, I noticed plenty of other workers tidying up the place or ordering them around. It was like watching Downton Abbey. I realized then just how rich Jack was. My hands began to sweat, and I ran them through my frizzy hair to try to tame it. The English weather was doing me no favors. I could feel my hair grow like it was a weed. It had a mind of its own.
“Miss Nancy, you remember our guest, don’t you?” He pointed to me, and Nancy’s eyes grew wide. She dropped her ladle on the stone floor and gasped. A young girl picked it up for her and Nancy didn’t even notice.
“This isn’t possible. How are ya here once again, lass?”
“That’s what we came to ask you,” I told her simply. “You knew about my great-grandmother and Mr. Lockhart. So it only makes sense that you’d know why I keep coming here.”
As I spoke, she waved her hands wildly and shook her head.
“No. I’m not going to get involved in such a mess. I told ya the last time, I only met them that one time. Then they left for good. It was a while ago now. Jack was very young then.”
“Miss Nancy, you must know something more. I beg of you,” Jack pleaded. “You knew I wasn’t well and you hid this from me all while watching me go insane.”
His eyes looked so sad. He had a point. If he thought he was going crazy, then she should have told him. His puppy dog look did a number on her, and I found even myself feeling sorrow for the man. He was good.
She gave me a pointed look and said, “I told you not to speak to anyone! Now look what you’ve gone and done.”
“It’s not my fault. He spoke to me.”
She looked to Jack and patted his face. “I hated to see you in such pain, but I couldn’t tell ya. I was hoping you’d go to America and forget all about it. I never dreamed she’d be back.”
I should have felt awful that he was going nuts here, but I actually thought it was adorable that he thought about me.
I do admit I thought about him more often than I wanted to. But I thought it was just a dream—a beautiful one.
Thinking back on what Nancy told me about meeting Mr. Lockhart, I remembered that she said he said he combined science and the magic of old to travel here. So Gram was right, magic was real and it existed in these books. That was explanation enough for how they arrived and how I got here. But the whys weren’t known yet. What made them travel here and why this time period?
I sighed and leaned against the wall, feeling the effects of the heated kitchen and the day outside drain me. I would never get used to living in this year, not without air conditioning. All I could do was hope this was a short trip.
“Are you ill, Emmeline?” Jack asked coming toward me.
“I’m just really hot. I’m not used to the weather. It’s cold where I’m from, and I think it’s getting to me.” I plucked my clothes away from my b
ody and suddenly wished for a small bikini. Anything would be better than what I was wearing.
Jack took me by the hand and led me through the door and out of the kitchen with Nancy following. We came to a small sitting room and Nancy opened the windows. A gust of wind blew in through the small window and I felt better. I could still use some air conditioning in this house though. What the hell did people do in this heat, besides die?
“The air is better in this room. You’ll see that you will cool off faster,” he said. “Nancy, sit!”
His voice was calmer but firm. Nancy knew something and she was hiding it. If he didn’t get her to talk, I was pretty sure I could make her. I cracked my knuckles and settled my eyes on her. I tried for the tough chick look; I’m sure it did no good. With my frizzy hair and sweaty head, Nancy probably saw a train wreck of a girl in front of her.
She sat and played with her apron. “I remember that they told me the pages of the book were special. Mr. Lockhart was working on time-travel. Such a notion is ridiculous but nonetheless true.”
I leaned forward and asked, “Did he say anything about the book itself? Why the pages are special?”
She shook her head.
“I’m sorry, lass. Just that he was trying to make history and Grace was the only one who could use the book. It was she that brought Mr. Lockhart. That’s all I know. I swear it. May I go?”
“Yes. Ask Henrietta to bring Emmeline something to drink.”
She shuffled off like a scared child while I leaned back against the uncomfortable chair.
“That makes no sense, but I’ll deal with it when I get home. Lockhart might have some books in my library that will explain this.”
The Librarian Page 6