tortoise-shell glasses. Leaving a paperback on her seat, she walked over to James.
"Did she say that you worked at the library?" she inquired in a
pleasant alto.
James nodded. "I'm the head librarian."
The woman gave him a bright smile. "I'm Fern Dickenson.
I'm supposed to have an interview with you at two." She gestured
toward her table. "I just ordered and since there aren't any open
seats, would you like to join me?"
"That would be great," James answered, feeling well disposed
toward the thoughtful young woman already.
Over lunch, James proceeded to ask Fern all the questions he'd
been saving for the afternoon's interview. Fern told him that she
worked as a freelance photographer for a dozen Virginia publications but was having a hard time making ends meet without a
steady paycheck. She loved all areas of the Humanities, was well
read, and extremely personable. She'd had experience serving the
public during her two years working part-time for the Virginia
State Parks Department and while she enjoyed the job, she was
ready for a change.
From what James could tell, Fern had a great sense of humor,
a solid work ethic, and a deep love of reading. She was perfect for
the job.
When Dolly arrived to clear their lunch plates, Fern excused
herself to use the restroom.
"Isn't she a little young for you, Professor?" Dolly wiggled her
eyebrows and then laughed, her whole body shaking in mirth.
James waved her off. "She's going to be my new part-time librarian. This meal became an impromptu interview."
Dolly was beside herself over being the first to hear such interesting news. "You all need to celebrate. Be back in a flash!"
Before James could protest, she was gone. By the time Fern returned from the restroom, two dessert plates containing slices of
Blueberry Dream Pie had been placed on the table by the diner's
exuberant proprietor.
"On the house!" Dolly told Fern. "And welcome to Quincy's
Gap. We're mighty glad to have you. Are you movin' to our town?
Are you on your own or do you have a significant other?"
Fern accepted Dolly's welcome and took her questions in
stride. "Thank you. I'm glad to be here. As for my living situation ... I'm apartment hunting and I'm single. I'm an only child
and my astrological sign is Libra. Blood type is 0 Negative." She
looked quizzically at James. "Wait, does this mean I got the job?"
"It's yours if you want it," James declared. When Fern nodded
enthusiastically, James gestured at his plate. "Shall we toast with a
forkful of pie?"
Dolly hadn't budged during this exchange and James didn't
dare offend her by turning down her gift of pie, so he loaded up
his fork, clinked it against Fern's, and popped it in his mouth.
A blend of cream cheese, fresh blueberries, and sugar coated
his tongue. Sighing as the fresh berries popped between his teeth,
he waited for the feeling of intense pleasure to overpower him, to
create that high he was accustomed to experiencing when eating a
sweet food, but it didn't happen. He enjoyed the treat, but wasn't
so focused on it that he couldn't pause between bites to converse
with his new employee.
"When should I start, Mr. Henry?" Fern inquired once she'd
cleaned her plate. "I'm available whenever you need me."
James wiped a blueberry smear from his cheek. "How about
tomorrow? I'll have Scott show you the ropes. I believe you two are
going to get along very well."
CUCUMBER & FETA SALAD
AFTER SPONTANEOUSLY HIRING FERN
over lunch, James returned to the library
with a light step. He hummed quietly
all the way into his office, stopping only
to listen to his voicemail. Jane had left
a message saying she'd filed a police report earlier that morning and the officer
she'd spoken to promised to have a car
assigned to patrol her neighborhood for the rest of the week. The
helpful lawman had also removed the dead crow from her front
door and buried the sad creature in the far reaches of the back
yard.
"I feel so
"Did she say that you worked at the library?" she inquired in a
pleasant alto.
James nodded. "I'm the head librarian."
The woman gave him a bright smile. "I'm Fern Dickenson.
I'm supposed to have an interview with you at two." She gestured
toward her table. "I just ordered and since there aren't any open
seats, would you like to join me?"
"That would be great," James answered, feeling well disposed
toward the thoughtful young woman already.
Over lunch, James proceeded to ask Fern all the questions he'd
been saving for the afternoon's interview. Fern told him that she
worked as a freelance photographer for a dozen Virginia publications but was having a hard time making ends meet without a
steady paycheck. She loved all areas of the Humanities, was well
read, and extremely personable. She'd had experience serving the
public during her two years working part-time for the Virginia
State Parks Department and while she enjoyed the job, she was
ready for a change.
From what James could tell, Fern had a great sense of humor,
a solid work ethic, and a deep love of reading. She was perfect for
the job.
When Dolly arrived to clear their lunch plates, Fern excused
herself to use the restroom.
"Isn't she a little young for you, Professor?" Dolly wiggled her
eyebrows and then laughed, her whole body shaking in mirth.
James waved her off. "She's going to be my new part-time librarian. This meal became an impromptu interview."
Dolly was beside herself over being the first to hear such interesting news. "You all need to celebrate. Be back in a flash!"
Before James could protest, she was gone. By the time Fern returned from the restroom, two dessert plates containing slices of
Blueberry Dream Pie had been placed on the table by the diner's
exuberant proprietor.
"On the house!" Dolly told Fern. "And welcome to Quincy's
Gap. We're mighty glad to have you. Are you movin' to our town?
Are you on your own or do you have a significant other?"
Fern accepted Dolly's welcome and took her questions in
stride. "Thank you. I'm glad to be here. As for my living situation ... I'm apartment hunting and I'm single. I'm an only child
and my astrological sign is Libra. Blood type is 0 Negative." She
looked quizzically at James. "Wait, does this mean I got the job?"
"It's yours if you want it," James declared. When Fern nodded
enthusiastically, James gestured at his plate. "Shall we toast with a
forkful of pie?"
Dolly hadn't budged during this exchange and James didn't
dare offend her by turning down her gift of pie, so he loaded up
his fork, clinked it against Fern's, and popped it in his mouth.
A blend of cream cheese, fresh blueberries, and sugar coated
his tongue. Sighing as the fresh berries popped between his teeth,
he waited for the feeling of intense pleasure to overpower him, to
create that high he was accustomed to experiencing when eating a
sweet food, but it didn't happen. He enjoyed the treat, but wasn't
so focused on it that he couldn't pause between bites to converse
with his new employee.
"When should I start, Mr. Henry?" Fern inquired once she'd
cleaned her plate. "I'm available whenever you need me."
James wiped a blueberry smear from his cheek. "How about
tomorrow? I'll have Scott show you the ropes. I believe you two are
going to get along very well."
CUCUMBER & FETA SALAD
AFTER SPONTANEOUSLY HIRING FERN
over lunch, James returned to the library
with a light step. He hummed quietly
all the way into his office, stopping only
to listen to his voicemail. Jane had left
a message saying she'd filed a police report earlier that morning and the officer
she'd spoken to promised to have a car
assigned to patrol her neighborhood for the rest of the week. The
helpful lawman had also removed the dead crow from her front
door and buried the sad creature in the far reaches of the back
yard.
"I feel so
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