Lark left Jasper with a smile on her face. She could not imagine how hard his life had been. Not just the things he had endured in the war, but the predjudice of others. She hoped he found balance between his two beings. She had a feeling he was in good hands with Steward Lang.

  Lark took her time walking through town. She wandered down to the docks and bought some fish scraps for Boon and Thud, and checked in on Ian. He was bored out of his mind behind the desk at the shoe shop, but his arm was out of the sling and he was showing a great deal more movement at his elbow. She gave him a few exercises to help strengthen his arm, which he agreed to with much excitement. As she left she measured the space between the door and a bench that sat under the window. She had an idea for the planter box she had promised and she was eager to try some things out. She had found some wonderful varieties in the seed box that would be perfect for this partial sun spot.

  She continued on through town and when she passed the tavern she saw the Letty was walking some ways in front of her. She caught up with her in front of the locked up library. Letty stood in front of the closed doors and peered into the dusty space. She sighed a deep sigh as Lark came to stand next to her.

  “Do you know when they closed it?” Lark asked.

  “Oh!” Letty said, “Oh I’m sorry, I was in another world, I guess.”

  “I’m sorry,” Lark said. “My new boots are just to quiet. I’ll have to complain to Ian,”

  Letty giggled then looked back into the library. “It was several years ago, before I moved here.” she said. “I’ve never even been inside.”

  “We could sneak in,” Lark said with a grin.

  “Oh no,” Letty said. “I wouldn’t want to break the rules, especially not in a library. The library in Provential, where I grew up, was run by very strict librarians. But it was suck a quiet, peaceful place, and it always smelled so good. Would you think I was strange if I said I just wanted to go in and smell it?”

  “Not at all. My grandfather had a bookshelf in the corner of our cottage, and sometimes I would put my nose up to the books and fill my lungs with it. Maybe we are both strange.”

  Letty smiled.

  “You know,” Lark said. “You might make a great librarian.”

  “Oh no,” she said. “I barely finished secondary school. I’m not educated enough to work somewhere like this.”

  “You seem to be a pretty avid reader,” Lark said.

  “Oh you know, just novels and poems and such.”

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  “It sounds like you are more than qualified. Besides, a librarian is much like a hostess or a waitress, only you help people find books instead of beer.”

  This made Letty laugh outloud.

  “It is a shame about this place. It needs someone. Maybe this is the reason you ended up here?”

  Letty’s joyful expression dropped. “I ended up here because my parents died in the war and my uncle is all I have left.”

  “Your cousins are a big help to him at the tavern. I’ll bet he could spare you. Just becuase what brought you here was a dark cloud, doesn’t mean there’s not sunshine to be found on the other side.” Lark heard her grandfather’s words come out of her mouth. She had heard him say things like this to so many people. He was always a comforter, and a friend. Lark reached into the pouch at her waist.

  “I have something that I think you might need.”This is a silvershade bloom. It’s the first one I’ve found since coming home and they are special.”

  Letty’s eyes grew big as she took the small flower.

  “You just need to put it in some water. A small vase or a cup will do. It won’t last long, and when it fades it will disappear. It’s just to enjoy for a short time.”

  “Your first flower, oh I don’t think you want me to have it. It’s very special.”

  “It is special, and so are you. Put it on your bedside table or on a windowsil, somewhere special to you.”

  “I have a space on my bookshelf that would be perfect. I can enjoy it tonight while I read before bed.”

  Lark grinned. “Perfect. And now, what do you think about going to the city hall building and asking about the library. Just a few questions to see if maybe they have someone coming to care for it?”

  “Yes,” Letty said with conviction. “This town needs it’s library back.”

  Letty tucked the flowerbud inot a side pocket of her bag and the two women walked the block to the town hall building. The building was tall and impressive, if not large. It was made of local stone and redbrick with lovely carved wood doors, wide windows and brilliant white steps. Inside was a reception room with chairs for anyone needing to wait and a middle aged woman sat behind a big desk organizing some papers and looking back over her shoulder through a doorway every few seconds. She was so fixed on what was behind her she did not see Lark and Letty walk in and she gave a jump when she turned and saw them.

  “Oh my, girls, hello,” she said. “Oh, you’re Lark Truedale,” she said with a genuine smile. “I’m Margaret Millington.”

  “Good afternoon, Mrs Millington, this is Letty Frame.” Lark said.

  “Good to meet you, Miss Frame. I’ve seen you about. I should really get more involved in our new people, but we’ve been so busy here lately. Mr Wheeler and Mr Green generate much more paperwork than our late mayor and his councilmen.” She nodded as she spoke and looked a little sad.

  “Mr Thomas was a wonderful mayor,” Lark said.

  “He was, child. Now, how can I help you ladies?”

  Lark opened her mouth to speak, but Letty spoke first. “Mrs Millington,” she began. “I am curious about the Library.”

  Mrs Millington’s eyes lit up. “Oh yes, Miss Frame. I’m afraid the pay is low and the work load is heavy.”

  “That would be acceptable,” Letty said. “I have lodging with family, I am able to work for extra funds if needed for my uncle, and I think, when called, the community will come to help with some of the work of getting the facility up and running again.”

  Mrs. Millington stood, “Let’s go talk to Councilman Green, he is here today and is also very found of libraries.”

  Letty squeezed Lark’s hand. “Thank you, my friend. I shall keep you posted.” She smiled so big that her glasses slid up her nose.

  Lark smiled back and left her new friend to forge ahead.