The Swear Jar

by Osorio, Audra

  “Don’t thank me. I believe they’re from Duncan.”

  “He said they were from the staff. Actually, he said they were a welcome to the library,” Meara mused.

  Meara looked at the chocolate in her hand and popped it into her mouth. She loved chocolate and knowing it was from Duncan made it all the sweeter.

  Lucy said, “I hope we’ll be friends, Meara. I have to say, I’ve never seen Duncan take an interest in anyone like he has in you. I hope you’ll be kind to him.”

  Meara’s ears turned bright red. “I’d like to be your friend. I’m very grateful to Mr. Phillips for hiring me. As far as being kind to Mr. Phillips, I don’t know what to say. I don’t want to hurt anyone and I don’t want to be hurt.”

  “We’re going to be great friends. Tom and I are a little overprotective of Duncan, but you should get to know each other. Whatever is making him a little crazy is affecting you as well.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “It’s the way your voice softens when you speak about him. And you’re eating those kisses like a fiend,” Lucy chuckled. “Do you know chocolate is thought to be an aphrodisiac? Don’t get a horrified look on your face. You’ll be fine. What’s the first order of business for the new Head of Youth Services?”

  Staring at the kiss she was holding, Meara placed it back in the candy dish. “I have to plan the Summer Reading Club. Do you know where the former librarian kept the Summer Reading Club manual?”

  “The what? I’m sorry, dear. I’m not going to be of any help to you. The former librarian was a little disorganized. Check around the office and the desk out there. Sherrie will be in later and she might know where it is.”

  “That sounds good.”

  “What’s in that huge bag of yours? Do you have the kitchen sink in there?”

  “Sometimes I wonder.”

  The sounds of laughter drifted down to the Circulation Desk where Tom and Duncan were opening for the day. The two men stopped, shaking their heads.

  “The two hens are clucking. I guess they hit it off. Good for Meara. Lucy’s a tough egg to crack. I think you’ll get Lucy’s seal of approval,” Tom said.

  Rolling his eyes, Duncan unlocked the front doors. He was secretly pleased. He didn’t need anyone’s approval, but Lucy was like a sister to him. If she liked Meara, it made him happy.

  Tom said, “Let me pop down there while it’s quiet. I’ll see if MISS Meara needs any help.”

  He gave Duncan an impish grin. Despite being older, Tom was like a kid brother Duncan wanted to put in a headlock every now and then. Duncan liked Tom too. Tom paused at the doorway.

  “Holy cow! Are you setting up your own florist shop?” asked Tom. “I’m surprised they fit through the door.”

  Meara had rearranged the bouquet. Spread out, the flowers took over her desk. Lucy had watched Meara deftly put the flowers in the perfect spot.

  “They’re from Duncan,” Lucy replied. “Meara could start a second career with her skills.”

  “From Duncan?” asked Tom. “Interesting. Welcome to our little staff. If there’s anything you need, one of us is bound to have an answer or knows where to get an answer. Or we’ll give your our opinion, like it or not.”

  Meara giggled. “I’m going to love working here. Thank you, Tom. And thank you, Lucy.”

  “Tom,” said Lucy. “Did you ever see a Summer Reading Club manual? Meara needs it to plan her programs.”

  “No, I’m sorry. I have no clue,” Tom replied. “Is it really that important?”

  “The job would be a lot easier if I had it. Let me poke around before I have a panic attack.” Meara was nervously distracted.

  “Let’s leave Meara to look, Tom,” Lucy said. “Don’t worry. I’m sure you can do without it.”

  “I wish,” Meara replied.

  She searched the office like a child looking for a lost puppy. She opened and closed drawers. She shifted through piles of paper. Every public library in New Jersey got one each year. She tried to calm down. Where would she have put it if she was leaving it for the next librarian? Meara walked out to the Youth Services desk. She was on a mission. She went through the desk’s drawers. She found nothing but pencils and scrap paper. She had checked the entire Youth Services Room. Maybe Duncan knew where it was. She walked past the Circulation Desk, waving to Tom and Lucy. She didn’t stop until she got Duncan’s door. She knocked and waited for him to look up.

  Tom and Lucy had watched Meara walk past them. Meara had a worried look on her face. Tom raised his eyebrows. They heard Meara knock on Duncan’s door. Meara disappeared inside.

  “Could this manual really be that important?” asked Tom.

  “I don’t know, but talk about a face like an open book. At least Duncan picked someone who isn’t good at hiding her emotions. He’s so oblivious.” Lucy shook her head.

  Duncan heard a knock. He looked up from his pile of papers to see a distressed Meara. He immediately stood up. He was worried she had decided she didn’t want the job.

  “Please, Miss Meara, come in. You don’t have to knock. What’s wrong?”

  “I have a problem. I’m hoping you have the answer.” Meara wrung her hands.

  Duncan exhaled. Any other time, he would have let his imagination wander about her statements. Her anxious expression threw cold water on any romantic thoughts he would have entertained.

  “What’s the problem?” he asked.

  She rambled. “I can’t find the Summer Reading Club manual and promotional materials. I’ve looked everywhere. I want to get started, not waste time. I can make my own programs, but there’s a CD with this year’s graphics. Please tell me you have the manual and the promotional materials?”

  “Take a deep breath, Miss Meara. Let’s go through this again. There’s a missing manual. What does it look like?”

  Taking a deep breath, she gestured. “It’s a stack of paper with three-ring binder holes and a CD. It’s sent by the New Jersey Statewide Summer Reading Committee each year during the fall. The other missing items are the posters, bookmarks and the banner. Those are usually sent in early spring.”

  “I can settle the mystery of the missing promotional materials. I have those. I had to check the invoice to verify the contents.” He handed the box to her.

  She clutched it in her arms like a baby. “Thank goodness. Do you have the manual?”

  “I don’t. If you’ve looked, I have no idea where it could be. Can you replace it?”

  “I’ll call Erin, the State Youth Services Consultant. I’m sure she can replace it. She’s a miracle worker, but it still won’t get it for a few days. I can’t wait that long.”

  They stood silently, thinking. He watched her eyebrows furrow as she calculated her options. He wished he had an answer for her. He wanted to hold her close and kiss her forehead. He wanted to kiss away her problems.

  “I’ve got it!” she said triumphantly.

  “What?” He shook his head, clearing his thoughts.

  “With this box, I can decorate. If Erin can send me a replacement, great! But if every library gets the manual, why can’t I call the South Branchville Public Library and borrow theirs? If I can’t borrow it, I could at least browse it and take notes. I could create the program flyers and pop the graphics in later.”

  “You want to call South Branchville?” He grimaced.

  “It’s the closest library. Is there a reason why I shouldn’t call them?”

  He sighed. “No, there’s no reason. The towns of Pin Oak Grove and South Branchville have always had a friendly rivalry. Their library director, Russell McMahon, takes the competition a little too seriously. I try to ignore him, but he’s irritating. If you meet him, you’ll understand.”

  “Mr. Phillips, I like to think I’m a pretty good judge of character, but it’s nice to be forewarned. Thank you.” She turned to leave.

  Frowning, Duncan was sad to see her go. Abruptly, Meara turned around and caught him watching her.

  “Mr. Phil
lips? Thank you for the flowers and chocolate. I know they’re from you. Don’t deny it. It was very sweet of you,” she said.

  He opened his mouth to protest, but she waved her finger at him. Her cheeks turned pink as she left. He smiled as he turned back to the paperwork on his desk.

  She stopped at the Circulation Desk. “Do either of you have the phone number for the South Branchville library?”

  “Are you jumping ship already?” responded Tom in mock horror. “What happened? I took a shower this morning. It was Lucy, wasn’t it? I keep telling her not to be so mean. See, Lucy, you’ve lost us another librarian!”

  Lucy handed Meara the phone number. “What are you jabbering about? Tom, I have no idea what you’re talking about sometimes. Sometimes? Try most of the time.”

  Meara laughed. “Thanks, Tom, I needed that.”

  “See?” Tom said. “My work here is done.”

  “Good,” said Lucy. “Go shelve some books.”

  Tom winked at Meara and rolled away a cart of books. A few minutes later, Meara emerged from her office. She knocked on Duncan’s door.

  He looked up. “Yes, Miss Meara?”

  “Mr. Phillips, I’ve spoken to Mr. McMahon. He’s willing to lend me the manual. Apparently, he has no idea what his library is doing for Summer Reading. Interesting man.” She rolled her eyes. “He didn’t know you had replaced the last librarian. He’s eager to meet me. I’m not sure if I should be flattered or worried.”

  “Russell is unique,” he replied. “You have to meet him to believe him. One year, we had a small, successful fall festival. The next year, Russell had to have a bigger, better one. His staff was responsible for all the work, but he took the credit. I shouldn’t influence your opinion of him. Did dear Russell have anything else to say?”

  “He said hello and wondered if you were going to the next consortium meeting. I can’t imagine what he’s like at those meetings.”

  “I’d rather be at a Board meeting than at a consortium meeting with Russell.”

  “That’s not good. This is going to be fun. I’ll go now while he remembers I spoke to him,” she smiled.

  She headed off to the South Branchville library. She wanted to plan a great Summer Reading Club for the children. She respected Duncan and wanted to repay his trust in her. She didn’t want to disappoint him. Duncan came out of his office and stood with Lucy at the Circulation Desk. Tom strolled over with an empty cart.

  Duncan was concerned. “Do we know if she has directions?”

  Lucy chuckled. “She has a cell phone if she gets lost.”

  “It’s less cheerful with her gone,” said Tom. “Not that you don’t brighten up the place, Lucy.”

  “Shut up, Tom,” Lucy joked. “I hate to admit it, but you’re right. Duncan, did you warn her about Russell?”

  “Yes, I did.”

  “I hope Russell isn’t a jerk with her,” Lucy said.

  Tom grimaced. “If he is, I’d worry about Russell. I can’t see our Miss Meara taking Russell’s shenanigans.”

  “That’s twice in one day I’ve had to agree with you. Go shelve some more books!” said Lucy.

  Tom rolled a cart of books into the Youth Services Room. Lucy turned to Duncan. He stared as if he hoped Meara would reappear by magic.

  “Duncan,” Lucy said gently. “I spoke to Meara. She and I are going to be friends. You and I have been friends for a long time. So I should tell you something. Just this once.”

  Duncan turned to Lucy. “Yes, Lucy?”

  “Meara likes you. Take it slowly and you’ll both be happy.”

  “She likes me? Friend like or boyfriend like? Would she want more than friendship? She’s lost her husband. I’m older than her. I don’t know if she’s attracted to me. I sound like a teenager.”

  “You can’t be that oblivious, can you? Yes, she’s lost her husband, but she’s still a woman. Yes, you’re older than her. She doesn’t notice that. If you can’t tell Meara’s attracted to you, then I can’t help you. You’re hopeless. Nice touch with the flowers and chocolate. There’s no doubt in my mind that things will happen when they happen.”

  “On Friday after the farm, she gave me a bag of my favorite cookies. I kissed her hand.”

  “What did she do?”

  “She blushed and didn’t say anything.”

  “You’re doing fine on your own and don’t need my advice.”

  “Will Meara see through Russell’s façade? He’s rather charming when he wants to be.”

  “Like a snake. You can’t seriously be jealous already?”

  “For a little while, I had her all to myself.”

  “If you keep thinking like that, you might as well give up now.”

  Chapter Eight

  Meara arrived at the South Branchville Public Library in record time. As she drove into the parking lot, the fieldstone building reminded her of a hug. There was a central entrance and a wing to each side. It was a charming building. It was twice the size of her library. But as she approached the Circulation Desk, she felt it lacked a homey feel. The Circulation staff didn’t smile. She smiled sweetly and asked to speak to the director. She looked around while she waited. The library was divided into boxes and lacked an open feel. She wondered what architects thought when they drew up library plans. She was getting claustrophobic.

  “Hello Meara Martin! Welcome to South Branchville!” said a charming voice.

  Meara turned to see Russell McMahon. He was taller, slimmer and younger than Duncan. He had reddish blonde hair and blue eyes. He wore a tailored suit and tie. It was obvious he didn’t like to get his hands dirty. Even though Duncan wore slacks and a dress shirt, he wasn’t afraid to roll up his sleeves and help out. Russell was smiling like a lunatic. He might be good looking, but he was full of himself and a cheesy comedian.

  “Hello, Mr. McMahon. Thank you for seeing me on such short notice.” She tried to smile.

  “I would never pass up an opportunity to help our friends from Pin Oak Grove!” he replied. “How is OLD Duncan holding up these days?”

  “Mr. Phillips is doing quite well, thank you,” she said icily.

  Hitting the wrong chord with her, he quickly recovered and changed his tune. “Let me show you the Youth Services Room. I can introduce you to the staff. I didn’t know Pin Oak Grove had replaced their librarian until I got your call. When did you start?”

  “Today is my first day,” she replied.

  “Trial by fire, is it? You’re a real go-getter! We could use someone with that kind of initiative here. Unfortunately, our librarian retired in the beginning of the year. Our two library assistants are wonderful, but we’re missing the magic touch of a strong youth services advocate.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  As they entered the Youth Services Room, Meara noticed the lack of hustle and bustle she thought this library would have. Two library assistants stood by the desk, whispering to each other. They looked nervous as Russell and Meara approached.

  “Meara, I would like to introduce you to Susan and Marie,” said Russell.

  The three ladies exchanged greetings while Russell stood nearby. Susan and Marie looked uncomfortable. Meara thought quickly.

  She asked, “Mr. McMahon? Was that a passport office I spotted inside the library?”

  “Yes! We’re lucky to be the only library in the county with a passport office.”

  “That’s fantastic! My sister, her husband and my niece need to apply for passports. Would you please be so kind as to pick up three applications for me?”

  “I would be delighted! I’ll be right back!”

  As soon as Russell was gone, Meara asked, “What’s up, ladies?”

  “We’re trying, but we’re shorthanded. We never learned how to do this. We’ll get through the summer, but he’s quite demanding. We’re a little overwhelmed,” said Susan.

  “Don’t worry. Here’s my email address. May I borrow the manual and the CD? If you still need them, just tell me.”r />
  “They’re all yours. We can manage the programs and the performers. How do we keep track of the reading statistics? Where do we get prizes for the kids? How many prizes do we get?” asked Marie.

  “Don’t worry, ladies,” Meara said soothingly. “We’ll get through this together. I’ll send you copies of the system I’ve used before. It’s not so hard once you see how it works. As far as prizes go, I’ll have to make up my own orders, so we will figure out how much you should order. Here he comes. We’ll talk more.”

  “Thanks!” said Susan and Marie at the same time.

  They were much happier now than when Meara had first arrived. They were bubbly when Russell returned.

  “How are you lovely ladies getting along?” Russell said, holding out a stack of papers.

  “Just fine, Mr. McMahon,” Meara said. “I’ve got the manual and CD. The ladies have my email address. I was wishing them a great summer. Thank you, Mr. McMahon, for the passport applications.”

  He beamed. “Let me walk you out, Meara. You worked magic on Susan and Marie. They were a little overwhelmed this summer. We need someone like you around here. I don’t know what you said, but I’m grateful.”

  She blushed. “I was only trying to help. They’ll be fine on their own. It’s a shame you don’t have someone in charge. I hope you’ll be able to find someone soon.”

  “Perhaps that’s something we could discuss over lunch?” he asked. “Duncan must let you have lunch.”

  “Could I take a rain check? I need to get going on my Summer Reading plans,” Meara replied, blushing deeply.

  “A go-getter and professional to a fault. I hope Duncan realizes how lucky he is. I’m going to recommend you for Chairperson of the Youth Services Committee at the next directors’ meeting,” Russell said.

  “Thank you, Mr. McMahon. I’m not sure what to say,” she replied.

  “Don’t say anything. I hope to see you again soon. I’ll be calling in that rain check after Summer Reading is over.”

  Smiling weakly, she made it out to the parking lot. She didn’t like Russell. He made fun of Duncan, flirted and acted smarmy. She would get along with him for the sake of Duncan. She liked the idea of chairing a committee, but Duncan, her library, and Summer Reading were her priorities.