“June!” Linda pulled her into an embrace. “Look at your hair, love. Don’t you look glamorous.”
June touched her hair, still unused to the sensation. She’d plucked up the courage to have it cut a month ago, and now she had a cropped curly bob, too short to ever tie in a bun again.
“Well, don’t be a stranger, come in,” Linda said, and June followed her through into the kitchen. “How was your birthday?”
“It was fun, thanks. I went out for dinner with Katja and some friends from work.”
“How is that gorgeous flatmate of yours?” Linda had met Katja when she came to stay with June back in March. The two of them had got on like a house on fire and stayed up drinking gin until two in the morning, while Linda regaled Katja with embarrassing stories from June’s childhood.
“She’s great.”
“And the job?”
“It’s good. The library is so busy; there are dozens of different activities every week. I’ve been more involved with the literacy training and I’ve set up a cryptic crossword club.”
“Oh, that’s fantastic,” Linda said. “Look who’s come to say hello.”
She nodded toward the door, and June turned around to see Alan Bennett sauntering into the kitchen.
“Alan!” June dropped down on the floor and reached out tentatively toward the cat. He paused and for a moment June thought he was going to swipe out at her, but then he put his head down and nudged it against her hand. “Hey, old friend,” June whispered, and her voice caught in her throat. “I’ve missed you too.”
“Little Lord Fauntleroy has made himself right at home,” Linda said. “I bought him one of those fancy bed things to keep in the lounge, but he likes to sleep on my towels in the airing cupboard. And he loves it when Jackson comes round to play—he lets him stroke him and he’s good as gold.”
“He’s happy here,” June said, scratching behind Alan’s ear. “I’ve never seen him so content.”
“Now, before I forget, I’ve got this for you.” Linda took an envelope off the windowsill and handed it to June. “There’s one hundred twenty-eight pounds from the last car boot sale and what Martin got for your old table and chairs.”
“Thanks so much, Linda.”
“Are you sure you want to give all your mum’s ornaments to the white elephant stall? The fete isn’t until next weekend, so you can still change your mind.”
“I’m sure; I know this is what Mum would have wanted.”
“Good on you, love.”
Before June moved, she and Linda had spent three days emptying the house. The furniture had gone at several car boot sales, and Cherry Tree Retirement Home had been delighted with all the books. June had kept only a few boxes for herself. Matilda and The House at Pooh Corner now sat on the bookshelf in her new bedroom, alongside the china girl with the book.
Linda made them both a sandwich and they took them out into the garden.
“It looks gorgeous out here,” June said, admiring the riot of colorful flowers.
“You should see what they’ve done with your old garden next door,” Linda said. “They’ve cleared all the old weeds and put in a swing set for their little one. I hear him giggling over the fence and it reminds me of when you were small.”
“I met him and his mum briefly,” June said. “They seem nice.”
“They’re a lovely family.”
June took a bite of sandwich and sat back, letting the sunshine warm her skin. She’d been dreading seeing another family living in her and her mum’s old home and had put off coming back to Chalcot for that very reason. But now she was here, it wasn’t so bad after all.
“So, you’re going to this library thing, then?” Linda said.
“Yes, I think so. Although I’m a bit nervous about going in there again—I don’t know what to expect.”
June had exchanged e-mails with Mrs. B and Marjorie to begin with, but once the building lease had been sorted, their messages had trickled off and June hadn’t wanted to bother them. She hadn’t heard anything about the library for months, until last week when she received an invitation to the grand opening this afternoon.
“So, have you got any other gossip, then?” Linda said. “What about that guy from work you mentioned?”
“We went out a couple of times, but I don’t think he fancied me.” In truth, it had been June who wasn’t interested, her mind on someone else, but she didn’t want to admit that to Linda.
“But you’re settled in your new place, are you?” Linda asked. “I’ve been worrying about you.”
June smiled. “It’s taken me a while to get used to it, but I feel at home there now.”
“Your mum would have been so pleased, love. She always wanted you to spread your wings and leave Chalcot.”
“I know.”
“And you know you always have a home here too,” Linda said, reaching across and squeezing June’s hand. “Me and Alan Bennett are your family, and don’t you ever forget it.”
* * *
• • •
The first person June spotted as she walked through the library front door was Mrs. Bransworth, who was standing behind the desk, serving a patron.
“Marian Keyes? Are you sure you want to borrow this?” Mrs. B surveyed a book suspiciously. “I read one of hers once and it was shit.”
“I really like them, actually,” the woman said, snatching the book back.
“Suit yourself.” Mrs. B raised her eyebrows and then spotted June. “Well, well, look who the cat’s dragged in.”
“Hello, Mrs. B,” June said. “I can’t believe they let you deal with the public.”
Mrs. B laughed and gave June a punch on the shoulder. “It’s good to see you again, my friend. What do you think of the old place, then?”
June turned to survey the library, bracing herself for a painful rush of nostalgia. But the room was almost unrecognizable from the last time she’d been here. The shelves on the back wall had been replaced by a counter with a coffee machine, and half of the floor space was taken up by small round tables, all occupied with people chatting. Vera was standing behind the counter, manning the till, and next to her Leila was placing cakes onto a plate. The computers had been moved to the front and Marjorie’s office had been turned back into a stockroom, with a shiny new trolley sitting by the door. The Children’s Room looked like it had been redecorated too, and she could see Jackson in there wearing a badge that said volunteer children’s librarian. But the main thing that caught June’s eye was a huge framed photo on the wall above the door. It had been taken during the occupation and it showed Stanley, June, and Mrs. Bransworth standing outside, a large save chalcot library banner above their heads. Their arms were round one another’s shoulders and they were all grinning at the camera. Seeing Stanley brought a lump to June’s throat.
“It looks so different,” she said.
“It’s been a hell of a battle. We nearly didn’t raise enough money, but Marjorie managed to secure us a sponsor just in time.”
“Is she here?”
“Of course. I can’t get rid of the old battle-ax, even if I wanted to.” Mrs. B nodded toward the stockroom, and as June got nearer she could hear her old boss berating an elderly gentleman.
“I know it looks prettier organizing books by their color, Donald, but the Dewey decimal system has been refined over decades and is a highly efficient classification system. Please try to use it next time.”
“Hi, Marjorie,” June said.
“I’m going to kill one of them,” Marjorie muttered as the volunteer walked away. “They all think they know best and it’s driving me mad. God, I miss you.”
June was pretty sure this was the first time Marjorie had ever paid her a compliment. “The library looks great.”
Marjorie wrinkled her nose. “It’s not the same—we can’t run half the
activities we used to—but I’m proud of what we’ve achieved, especially given how hard it’s been to raise the money.”
“And you’re still volunteering here?”
“Actually, I’m paid a salary to work part-time. It’s all thanks to our donor.”
“What donor?”
“Haven’t you met him yet? He’s over there.” Marjorie pointed across the room to a man talking to Chantal. He was tall and wearing an expensive-looking suit, his dark hair salted with gray. He looked up and caught June staring at him, then crossed the busy library in long strides.
“Are you June?”
She nodded. There was something vaguely familiar about this man, but she couldn’t think where she’d seen him before.
“I’m so happy to meet you,” he said, giving her a warm smile. He had a slight accent, although June couldn’t place it. “They told me you weren’t involved with the library anymore, so I thought we’d never get the chance to meet.”
His eyes were blue and intense, and June felt herself blushing under his gaze. He really was very handsome. “I’m sorry, but who—”
“Could I get everybody’s attention?” Mrs. Bransworth’s voice rang out across the library. She paused, waiting for the room to quieten, and June and the man both turned to listen.
“For those of you who don’t know me, I’m the chairperson of the Friends of Chalcot Library. For the past seven months, FOCL have fought tooth and nail to set up this library. Those Dunningshire Council bastards have made life difficult for us at every step of the way, and we nearly gave up several times. So, it’s wonderful to be able to welcome you all here today for the grand opening of our community library.”
A small cheer went round the room.
“I’ll keep this quick, but there are a few people I need to thank. Firstly, to my fellow members of FOCL. Thank you to Chantal and Jackson, who’ve brought a much-needed dose of youth to this place, and Vera and Leila for running the café. And in particular thanks to Marjorie; you and I may have had our differences over the years, but it’s thanks to your expertise and hard work that we’re here today.”
June looked across and saw the five of them standing together, grinning.
“I’d also like to thank our solicitor, Ellie Davis, who’s worked pro bono to help us with the legal side of things. I hate lawyers, as a rule, but Ellie is one of the good ones.” Mrs. B nodded toward a pretty blond woman, and June felt her stomach drop. So, this was Alex’s flatmate. They’d exchanged e-mails about Stanley’s will and the lease, but June had never met her before. She looked lovely.
“Where’s June?” Mrs. B said.
June raised her hand partially in the air until Mrs. Bransworth spotted her.
“Now, anyone who used the old library will remember June, who was so timid she wouldn’t say boo to a goose. But what many of you won’t know is that June was one of the fiercest defenders of this place, right from the very start. I gave her hell for a long time, but if it wasn’t for her we’d be standing in a bloody Cuppa Coffee right now. So, June, I know you’ve got a new home and life, but you will always be a true Friend of Chalcot Library. Thank you.”
June smiled, too overwhelmed to speak.
“There’s one last person I need to thank, and that’s our donor, who’s committed to help fund the running costs of the library going forward. He saved our arses when it became clear that our fund-raising efforts weren’t going to be enough.”
June glanced sideways and saw the handsome man smiling, and suddenly she felt her heart stop. The bright blue eyes. The slightly gappy teeth.
Mrs. B cleared her throat. “Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in saying a huge thank-you to our biggest supporter, the son of our much-missed Stanley . . . Mark Phelps.”
Everyone burst into applause, but June was too stunned to move. Stanley’s son was here, in Chalcot, helping the library. How was that possible?
The applause died down as Mark stepped to the front. “Thanks for your kind words, Mrs. Bransworth. I’d just like to say something quickly, if that’s okay?”
The room hushed and waited for him to speak again. Mark took a moment to compose himself.
“As some of you may know, my father and I had been estranged for many years, which is something I’ll always regret.” Mark’s voice was quiet, and June strained to hear him. “When I learned about Stanley’s death last year, the person who wrote to me also included the log-in details for his e-mail account. I thought this was a bit odd, but when I logged into it, I discovered two hundred and eighteen messages, all addressed to me. None of them had ever been sent.”
“My god, all those hours Stanley spent at the computers . . .” someone said, but Marjorie shushed them.
“His e-mails were extraordinary: funny, honest, heartbreaking. In many of them he talked about his love of Chalcot Library and the battle to save it from closure. He wrote with such passion about this place and why it was important to him, and it brought back lots of fond memories. You see, even when things were really bad with my dad, he still used to take me to our local library. He loved to read me stories, Winnie-the-Pooh and Roald Dahl, and he’d do all the voices. I think they were our happiest times together.”
Mark hesitated, and June watched him fighting with his emotions.
“One thing that struck me about his e-mails was the way he wrote with such affection about one particular person, someone who’d always shown him kindness and compassion, and who’d been a true friend to him long before the library was threatened.”
Mark glanced down at his hands for a moment, anguish written across his face. When he looked up again, his eyes found June.
“June, I’ll never forgive myself for not making contact with my dad when he was alive, especially now I know the conditions he was living in. But it gives me huge comfort to know that in the last years of his life, you cared for him and showed him unconditional friendship. He loved you like a daughter.”
June felt tears spring to her eyes, but she didn’t try to wipe them away.
“Everything Stanley wrote about you reminded me that libraries aren’t made by books; they’re made by librarians. And so, whilst my father may not be here to see it, I want his legacy to be that there’ll also be a paid librarian here in Chalcot, someone to help people in the way June helped him.”
He stopped talking and the room erupted into thunderous applause. June joined in with them, smiling at Mark as she did, and so it took a moment for her to realize that the cheers and clapping were for her.
* * *
• • •
The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur. June talked to Mark and there was wine and laughter as she caught up with the old patrons. She’d spent so long trying not to think about Chalcot Library and Stanley, so it was wonderful to share happy stories and memories without feeling that familiar stab of pain.
“Vera and I are running café here,” Leila said, handing June a slice of cake.
“All the money we raise goes toward the library costs,” Vera said. “I’ve never been so busy.” She turned to serve a customer, a smile on her face.
“I’m starting university in September,” Chantal told her. “Marjorie helped me with my UCAS form. I’m doing a degree in social work.”
“Oh, Chantal, I’m so pleased,” June said, giving her a hug.
“Come on, there’s a photographer from the Gazette who wants a group shot,” Mrs. B said, grabbing June on her way to the door.
Outside, the Friends of Chalcot Library gathered in front of the library, with a crowd of onlookers watching.
“Is that everyone?” The photographer had a camera up to his face.
“I still think we should have invited Rocky,” Vera said.
“Okay, everybody say cheese!” the photographer said.
“Down with the Tory government!” Mrs. B shouted.
&
nbsp; “For goodness’ sake, Mrs. Bransworth, will you ever give it a rest?” Marjorie said.
“Never. Mary and I are off to a protest up north tomorrow, another council trying to close their libraries.”
“Mary?” June said.
“Mrs. B is spending a lot of time with that woman from the Dornley WI,” Vera whispered to June. “I think she might be one of those les—”
But June didn’t hear the rest of what Vera said, because at that moment she spotted a figure standing at the back of the crowd. June hadn’t seen Alex since the day of Stanley’s funeral, nine months ago, and the sight of him made her stomach somersault. He caught her eye and smiled, and she walked over to join him.
“Hey, stranger,” he said when she reached him. “How are you? I like your hair.”
“So, I’ve got a bone to pick with you,” June said.
Alex looked at her in alarm. “What have I done?”
“I finally read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies a while ago, and I have some major reservations about the plot.”
Alex’s face broke into a grin. “What are you talking about? It’s an amazing book, much better than Jane Austen’s boring original.”
They both laughed, and June felt her heart lift.
“Doesn’t this place look great?” Alex said. “And Ellie just told me Stanley’s son is here. This must be so strange for you.”
“This whole thing has been completely surreal.”
“I hear you’re not working here anymore?”
“No, I’ve left Chalcot. I work at a library in Kent now.”
“Wow, that’s fantastic,” Alex said, and then he frowned. “Why didn’t you reply to any of my texts?”
“Sorry. I meant to but . . .” June trailed off, unsure what to say. I was embarrassed because I’d assumed Ellie was your girlfriend and I’d made a complete fool of myself? I thought you wouldn’t want to have anything to do with me now you’d gone back to your old life? She took a deep breath. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
The Last Chance Library Page 25