A Likely Story

by Jenn McKinlay

  “You don’t have any children,” Lindsey said.

  Beth gave Aidan a sour look. “Well, not anymore, I don’t.”

  “No, not your story time kids,” Lindsey said. “You don’t have any children of your own.”

  “Oh, right, no kids,” Beth said.

  Aidan looked at both of them and then at the bundle strapped to Beth’s chest. “So, this one belongs to . . .”

  “The library,” Beth said.

  Aidan looked alarmed, and Beth finally caught on that he didn’t realize it was a doll. She started to laugh and reached into her sling and wrestled Curious George out. She turned him so that Aidan could see his face.

  “See? He’s a library baby,” she said.

  Aidan sagged with relief. “For a minute there, I didn’t know what to think.”

  “I’ll bet,” Lindsey said. She started to walk toward the door, figuring now was as good a time as any to make their escape. “Well, we’d better get back. Ready, Beth?”

  Beth started to follow, but Aidan said, “Wait! If you weren’t here as a mom with a baby, why were you at my story time? And while I’m at it, isn’t your hair usually short and black?”

  “Oh yeah,” Beth said and clapped a hand on her blond wig. She pulled it off and twirled it on her hand. She swallowed and then said, “We’re just working on our parts for the Briar Creek Community Theater. You know, trying to get into character while being out in public.”

  Lindsey closed her eyes. She was pretty sure Beth was the worst liar ever, but to his credit, Aidan didn’t call her on it.

  “Really?” he asked. He was looking at Beth as if he thought she was the greatest thing since the story time bubble machine. “That’s so clever. Leave it to you to come up with something so creative. You know I’m your biggest fan, don’t you?”

  “Huh?” Beth looked bewildered.

  “It’s true. I think you’re amazing, and here you are at my story time. I did okay, didn’t I?” he asked. “I mean, I modeled my whole program after yours.”

  “You did?” Beth asked. Her voice was high-pitched and squeaky.

  “Yes, you did a three-day presentation in my children’s literature class in library school last year about creating story times. It was amazing and easily the best class I took in the entire master’s program. I thought you were awesome.”

  Beth looked completely dazzled and turned to Lindsey and said, “He said I’m awesome.”

  “He’s right,” Lindsey said, trying not to smile. “Do you two need a few minutes to talk shop?”

  “That would be great,” Aidan said. “I have a ton of questions.”

  “Fifteen minutes?” Beth asked, glancing at the clock on the wall. “We can buy extra pastries so our staff will forgive our tardiness.”

  Lindsey knew a losing battle when she saw one.

  “All right, sure, I’ll just go catch up with your director,” Lindsey said. “It’ll be nice to have a director-to-director chat. Meet me out front when you’re ready.”

  Beth nodded, but Lindsey wondered if she’d even heard her. No matter. Lindsey would just text her when it was time to go. She was curious whether Beth would come clean about their real purpose for being there. She had a feeling she would. Beth was not one for secrets.

  Aidan Barker seemed like a nice guy. Hopefully, if Beth was honest with him, he’d find it amusing and not be put off. Maybe he’d even ask Beth out on a date. Lindsey hadn’t seen a ring on his finger either, but then again, he was a guy, and they could be cagey about that sort of thing. She shook her head. What was wrong with her? She wasn’t a matchmaker, really, she wasn’t.

  Lindsey stopped by the front desk and asked to speak with Ellen Clancy. The staff person took her name and disappeared, returning in a few moments with Ellen right behind her.

  “Lindsey? Um, er . . .” Ellen’s smile faltered as she took in her appearance.

  “Oh, sorry,” Lindsey said. She snatched off the wig and glasses and stuffed them in her purse. “I forgot I was in costume.”

  Ellen raised one eyebrow and gave her a sidelong look. “Costume?”

  “Long story,” Lindsey said. “Really long story.”

  Ellen’s lips curved up in a small smile. “Come have a cup of coffee with me and you can give me the abbreviated version.”

  Lindsey followed Ellen back to her office, where she enjoyed a quick cup of coffee and commiserated on the intricacies of dealing with library boards and managing wayward children’s librarians, before she left to meet Beth at the front of the library. She didn’t have to text her, as Beth was standing in the rotunda, still chatting with Aidan.

  Beth was talking animatedly, her hands waving wildly in the air as if she were conjuring up a magical spell. One look at Aidan, and Lindsey was pretty sure it was working. He was tall and lean, with close-cropped light brown hair and a matching goatee. He leaned in toward Beth, which caused him to lean a bit over her in a charmingly protective way.

  He said something in response to Beth’s gesture, and they both laughed. They looked natural together, like two halves that made a whole. Lindsey supposed she might be jumping the gun a bit, but Beth’s last relationship had been a catastrophe, and she had been single for a long time. Lindsey figured she was way overdue for a nice guy.

  “It’s all about the presentation,” Beth said as Lindsey approached.

  “I couldn’t agree more,” Aidan said. “Kids are the best audience in the world, but they are also the most perceptive. If you don’t believe what you’re telling them, they won’t either.”

  Beth grinned up at him, and he looked momentarily blinded.

  “Sorry to interrupt the shoptalk, but we have to go,” Lindsey said regretfully.

  “All right.” Beth nodded and held out her hand to Aidan. “It was a pleasure to see you again.”

  “You, too,” he said. He turned and shook hands with Lindsey as well.

  “Bye,” Lindsey said. She and Beth began walking toward the door.

  “Good luck on your audition,” Aidan called after them. “Break a leg.”

  Beth stopped walking and then turned around to face him. She was holding Curious George in her hands and looked like she was strangling him as she twisted him by the neck. Realizing what she was doing, she quickly hugged the stuffed monkey.

  “I can’t do this,” she said.

  Lindsey opened her mouth to stop her, but Beth forged on before she could warn her off.

  “There is no audition,” Beth confessed to Aidan. “I just came to check you out because all of my story time people have left me to come to your story time.” She hung her head. “I’m sorry.”

  Aidan’s eyebrows lifted, as he was clearly taken aback by her confession, then he stroked his goatee, looking thoughtful. He dropped his hand and walked forward until he was right in front of Beth. Lindsey held her breath, wondering what he would say.

  “Well, that changes everything,” he said.

  Beth glanced up at him, looking like she was bracing for him to rip into her.

  “I suppose it does,” she said. She looked so forlorn that Lindsey wanted to hug her and drag her away from Aidan and his stern look.

  “We’re just going to have to get together and adjust our schedules so they don’t compete with each other,” he said. “I’m a novelty act, but you’re the real deal. I don’t want the kiddos missing out on you because I’m the new kid in town. Hey, maybe we can do a cooperative thing where we do our story times together.”

  “I . . . that . . . yeah,” Beth stammered. “That’d be cool.”

  “Great.” Aidan grinned at her, and Lindsey was pretty sure Beth was going to melt into a puddle of goo. “I’ll call you. Wait, forget that. Is dinner tonight too soon?”

  “Um . . . no,” Beth said, then she giggled.

  It was so adorable, Lindsey almost giggled herself. She choked it back and figured she’d better get them out of there before she ruined their moment completely.

  “That sounds gre
at,” she said. “Why don’t you pick Beth up in front of our library at seven?”

  “It’s a date.” Aidan grinned.

  “Excellent.” Lindsey hooked her arm through Beth’s and dragged her toward the door. “Come on. We still have to stop at Cheri’s Bakery or Ann Marie will never let us borrow her van again, and we’re already late as it is.”

  “Bye.” Beth waved at Aidan right before Lindsey pushed her out the door. He waved back as the door shut behind them.

  They climbed into the van, and Lindsey took a left onto Main Street toward the bakery. She had a feeling Beth would want to dissect their encounter with Aidan, so she said nothing, waiting for Beth to start.

  “Do you . . . Did he . . . What does . . .” Beth turned in her seat to look at Lindsey.

  “Do I think Aidan noticed you?” Lindsey guessed. “Yes. Did he mean it when he asked to work together? Yes. What does it mean? He’s clearly warm for your form.”

  Beth gasped. “Do you really think so?”

  “Yes, otherwise why would he have looked so down in the mouth when he thought you might be married and have a baby?” Lindsey asked.

  “Oh wow,” Beth said. “Oh no, what do I do if he asks me out?”

  “Call me crazy, but I think he already did, and you said yes,” Lindsey said.

  “I did?”

  “Well, I did for you, but same thing. Seven o’clock tonight at the library, and he’s picking you up.”

  “But I haven’t dated in forever,” Beth said. “I won’t even know what to do.”

  “It’s like riding a bike,” Lindsey said. “It’ll come back to you.”

  “What should I wear?”

  Lindsey glanced at Beth’s flouncy skirt and the blond wig she had plopped back on her head. “Anything but that, and I think you’re good.”

  And so continued their discussion during their stop at the bakery and all along their drive back to Briar Creek. By the time Lindsey pulled into the library parking lot, they had thoroughly scrutinized Aidan’s every look, every word, and every gesture. She hoped she was right and that Aidan thought tonight was a date, too, because she didn’t think she could stand to watch Beth be disappointed.

  Beth must have been thinking the same thing, because she looked at Lindsey as they let themselves in the back door of the library and said, “What if he doesn’t show up? What if he cancels? What if this is just a work thing for him and not a date?”

  “He’ll show up,” Lindsey said. “And the rest of it will figure itself out. Relax.”

  “But—”

  “No buts,” Lindsey said. “It’s clear he is in awe of your mad story time skills, and he definitely noticed you in the boy-meets-girl sense, if you get my drift.”

  Beth put a hand over her heart. “Oh, I hope you’re right. I—”

  “Well, how good of you to join us,” Ms. Cole said as Lindsey and Beth entered the workroom. “I was beginning to think we needed to send out a search party.”

  “Really?” Lindsey asked. She was not at all intimidated by the lemon’s bluster. “I called and spoke to Ann Marie, and she assured me that everything was running perfectly in your capable hands.”

  Ms. Cole looked both pleased and puckered at the compliment.

  Beth held up the bakery box. “Cupcake?”

  Ms. Cole peered into the box and carefully lifted out a carrot cake cupcake and then turned away and strode back toward the circulation desk. “Mr. Tupper never left the library in the middle of the day and brought back cupcakes. Pity.”

  Lindsey and Beth exchanged a wide-eyed look.

  “Did she just . . .” Beth began, but Lindsey interrupted.

  “Disparage Mr. Tupper,” Lindsey said. “Yes, but let’s not say anything for fear of jinxing it.”

  “Agreed,” Beth said. “I’m going to let Ann Marie know we’re back and put these in the break room.”

  Lindsey nodded and went straight to her office. She had already eaten two cupcakes and was feeling the sugar rocket through her system like jet fuel. She knew when it wore off she was going to want to nap long and hard.

  She had just stored her purse, removed her wig and kicked off her orthopedic shoes in favor of her comfy loafers when the door to her office opened. Milton Duffy stuck his head in and gave her a concerned look.

  “You’re back,” he said.

  “Just walked in,” Lindsey said. “We brought back treats from Cheri’s Bakery. They’re in the staff room. Make sure you get one.”

  “I’m not staff,” Milton said.

  “No, but you’re on the library board, you hold a chess club here every week and you’re dating a staff person, so I think you qualify for a treat,” Lindsey argued her point.

  Milton’s bald head flashed a bright shade of red, and he cleared his throat. “Yes, well, thank you.”

  Lindsey changed the subject to ease his embarrassment. “Has there been any news about Stewart Rosen?”

  “Nothing official,” Milton said.

  “But . . .”

  “Sally Renault told me that Kari Lassiter told her that Tom Hardaway said he saw someone who looked like Stewart walking through town at two in the morning last night.”

  “Why didn’t he call the police?” Lindsey asked.

  “Tom said it was because Stewart vanished before he could make the call, but Kari suspects he didn’t want his wife, Linda, to know he was just leaving his poker buddy’s house at two in the morning,” Milton said. “Other than that, there’s been no sign of him. It’s as if he vanished.”

  Lindsey felt a chill creep over her skin, and she shivered. She tried to shrug it off. People didn’t vanish.

  “Do you think whoever killed Peter got Stewart, too?” she asked. It was the nagging worry that had been dogging her ever since they’d left the island.

  “I don’t know,” Milton said. “I saw Sully this morning at the coffee shop. He said when you got to the island Stewart’s boat was tied up but when you left it was gone.”

  “It could have been Stewart,” she said. “Unless the killer was on the island at the same time we were and took the boat while we were occupied.”

  The shivery feeling returned, but Lindsey staunchly ignored it.

  “That’s a terrifying thought,” Milton said. “I’m thinking you and Sully were lucky not to have arrived any earlier than you did. We can’t discount that the killer and Stewart are one in the same, however.”

  “Do you think Stewart killed Peter and fled?” Lindsey asked. She knew that she didn’t see Stewart as a killer, but she was curious about what Milton thought.

  “Anything is possible, I suppose,” he said. He sounded as reluctant as she was to believe the worst of Stewart.

  “I was just going to make some tea. Would you care for some?” she asked.

  Robbie usually popped in a couple of times a week to have afternoon tea with her. And right now she found that she missed his lighthearted companionship.

  “That would be nice,” Milton said. “We should discuss what to do about Sandra Lippins and her many issues. Also, I can tell you about my time with the collectors Perkins and Hodges.”

  Sandra Lippins was a new library board member, and as far as Lindsey could tell, she was only on the library board because she wanted to create a hullabaloo over their current hours to make herself feel important—that and Sandra clearly enjoyed the sound of her own voice as she droned on and on and on. Lindsey did want to hear Milton’s take on the collectors, however.

  “We might need something stronger than tea. Come on. You can pick out a cupcake while I get the water ready,” Lindsey said.

  Together they entered the break room. Lindsey left Milton to pick out his pastry while she filled the kettle and went back to her office to plug it in.

  She glanced out the window and noted that it was still gray and cold out there and it felt as if the sky were a giant gloved hand pressing down on their little town. Maybe it was just her own projected anxiety about the Rosen brothers, but st
ill, her heart felt heavy.

  The kettle whistled, bringing her attention back to the task at hand. She was just putting the cozy on top of the ceramic teapot where the loose-leaf brew was steeping when Milton returned.

  He took the seat across from Lindsey’s desk, and they debated how they could structure the board meeting so that Sandra would have her say without holding the rest of the board hostage as she proselytized about library hours and policies and how she wanted it all changed.

  Lindsey poured the tea while Milton polished off his cupcake. They agreed that they would implement a timekeeper at the next meeting so that things could keep moving forward instead of spending an inordinate amount of time on one nonissue and not getting to the rest.

  “We have the minutes from the last meeting,” Lindsey said. “We can start documenting the discussions should we need to point out the problem to Sandra more directly.”

  “Let’s try keeping time first,” Milton said. “If she doesn’t take the hint, then we can approach her more straight on.”

  “Excellent,” Lindsey said. “I think this will work well. I hope it will. I don’t want to embarrass anyone.”

  Milton sipped his tea with a thoughtful look on his face.

  “Is something else bothering you, Milton?” she asked. “Do you have another idea on how to curb Sandra’s enthusiasm?”

  Milton glanced up from his teacup with a grin. “I like the diplomatic way you put that. But no, I’m afraid my thoughts circled back to Stewart. I just can’t get his disappearance out of my head.”

  “I know,” Lindsey said. “I don’t know what happened at the house, but I’m worried that he’s out there somewhere, lost and confused.”

  “Or on the run. As you said, we don’t know what happened,” Milton said. “Stewart’s never been out of Briar Creek. If he is off-island, I suspect he won’t have gone far.”

  “I’m sure Chief Plewicki and Detective Trimble are searching everywhere,” Lindsey said. She finished her tea and put her cup aside.

  “Not that it will do them much good. Stewart has been roaming the town at night for years. He probably knows all of its nooks and crannies,” Milton said. “If he doesn’t want to be found, he won’t be. There’s really no way to lure him in.”