Leaving Liberty

by Virginia Carmichael

  “Hi, Lane!” She paused for the barest second and then waved up at him. She held the door for a young woman coming up the steps behind her.

  He responded, somehow, but felt weirdly aware of his arms and legs. He straightened up from the desk, but didn’t quite know where to put his hands so he jammed them in his pockets.

  “This is my friend, Ana!” She turned and grabbed the girl’s hand and pulled her up the stairs. Ana’s face was creased with laughter and she brushed back wildly curly hair as they reached the top of the steps. She was a California girl through and through. Deep tan, designer jeans, perfect smile.

  “I had to come see for myself what’s so amazing about this place that my best friend gave up her summer. I had plans for us to see every indie rock band in the area, but apparently she’d rather live in the woods and ride a vintage bicycle.” Her voice was soft, polite. She reached out a hand to Lane. “You must be the owner of the cabin.”

  “Sure am.” They shook and he took an instant liking to her. Her eyes showed a cleverness, a light inside, that was a perfect match to Daisy’s own. He could see how these two would get along.

  “Hi, Miss Daisy!” Jasmine had returned from the basement, arms loaded with picture books. Breezy barely lifted her head, still poking out a text on her phone.

  “Hi there. How was Corduroy? Did you like his new adventures?” Daisy leaned down, her blond ponytail falling to the side.

  “Yes and now I know for sure that Kayla is exploring.” Jasmine’s little face was resolute. “She’ll come back as soon as she’s done.”

  Breezy let out a loud sigh. “See? You guys fill her with all these crazy kid stories and then she expects it all to happen in real life.” Her eyes radiated anger. “When she’s disappointed, I get to pick up the pieces. Like always.”

  Lane knew what she must be feeling. Better to be realistic and not expect anything more than the very least. His heart went out to this teenager shouldering responsibilities far beyond her years.

  Daisy straightened up. “I understand and I’m sorry if I’ve made the situation any harder for you. Let me know when there’s a problem and I’ll be happy to talk to her.”

  She snorted and brushed jet black hair from her face. “Let you know? I’ll be calling California in the middle of the night and you can, what? Fly back here and give her a big hug?”

  Daisy’s face tightened and bright spots of pink appeared over her cheekbones. “You’re welcome to call me any time, wherever I am.”

  Rolling her eyes, she walked toward the front door. “Hurry, Jazz. I have to get you to Brenda’s before work.”

  Jasmine pushed her books onto the counter and Nita took them. Daisy moved forward to help. “Ana says she’s going to slave away with me in the library this week. Do you have anything you need her to do?”

  “Oh, Daisy, you take your friend and show her around. We’ll be just fine here.” Nita scanned the books and handed them to Daisy to stamp.

  “No way.” Ana leaned against the counter and flashed a smile. “My friend gives up her whole summer to save the library and I’m not taking her away for a second. We’re joining forces. We’ll be the library version of the Wonder Twins.” She raised a fist and Daisy met it with her own, laughing.

  “The grants are in and we’re waiting for word, so there’s not much to do there. You’re welcome to help with the summer reading classes, Ana.” Nita scanned the last book.

  “Oh, that will be fun!” Ana rubbed her hands together. “But I think we should have another of those festivals.”

  Daisy threw her a look that clearly said ‘stop talking’ but Ana went on. “You know, that one where you have the dunk tank and sell tickets?”

  Nita bagged Jasmine’s books and nodded. “Like we do every year. Lane raises about four hundred dollars all by himself. It’s a wonder people will pay so much just to get someone soaking wet.”

  Ana grinned and shot a glance at Daisy, who studiously ignored her. “Oh, I’d buy a ticket. As long as Lane is still up for the job.” She waited for his answer, but they all knew what he’d say.

  “Tell me when and I’ll be there. Goggles and towel at the ready.” He shrugged. “I wish a dunk tank would pay for the renovations, but it’s really just a drop in the bucket.”

  “A drop in the tank,” Nita corrected. She waved as Jasmine lugged her bag off the desk and through the lobby. “There are a hundred things we need every day to keep this library going.”

  “Give me a list, I’m ready.” Ana snapped a salute and smiled hugely. Lane couldn’t help liking this girl. She was full of positive energy.

  “You can help me cold call local residents and beg for donations.” Daisy’s voice was hopeful.

  “There may be limits to this friendship after all,” Ana said.

  “There’s always dusting. The tops of the ranges collect dust so fast we should enter them in the Guinness Book of World Records.” Nita held out the feather duster to Lane and he took it automatically.

  “Hey, I was in here for books,” he protested.

  “You can browse while you dust. But start browsing down in the children’s section, if you don’t mind.” Nita gave him a wink and turned to Ana. “We’ll have to get you up to speed on where residents can donate. We have an account set up at the bank. Let me get the information in case anyone is feeling in a generous mood today.”

  Daisy met Lane’s gaze and they grinned at each other. Marie had been the heart of the library, but Nita was the backbone. Daisy looked so happy, so at home, as if this was her place in the world. He felt a warmth travel from his chest to his gut and he quickly turned toward the office area, following Nita. It wasn’t her home, not really. He needed to get that through his thick head.

  Chapter Twenty

  Ana peeked around the corner and whispered loudly, “Is he gone?”

  Daisy rolled her eyes and pretended not to hear. He wasn’t gone. He was upstairs, a giant blue feather duster in one hand and a faded blue towels in the other. Of course she knew exactly why Ana was asking but she really didn’t want to discuss Lane. Now or later.

  Ana crept out and poked Daisy in the ribs. “Cut it out. I know you can hear me.”

  “And so can everyone else, so if we must have this conversation, maybe we can save it for later.” She gave her a look and tried to go back to organizing the summer program sheets at the front desk.

  “He is…” Ana clapped a hand to her heart and fanned her face with a bookmark. “Those eyes! That jaw! That voice!”

  “Yes, I know.” She tried not to be too irritated. Ana was always very appreciative of handsome men, but somehow Daisy hated to be reminded of every bit of Lane’s perfection.

  “Why didn’t you tell me there was a resident hunka hunka? You said a local cop named Lane owned the cabin and you two didn’t really get along but you didn’t mention the tall, dark and whoah part!”

  “Maybe I was afraid you’d buy a plane ticket and fly out to get a better look.” Daisy knew she could tease Ana all she wanted because the girl was a real friend, the kind that thought spending a few weeks in the middle of nowhere sounded like a big adventure.

  “You got that right. I would have bought tickets to Hicksville a month ago if you’d sent me a picture.” She paused, lowering her voice. “He almost lost the ability to speak when he saw you come in. You can’t tell me you didn’t notice.”

  “Actually, I didn’t notice.” Not really. She’d walked in and the only thing she’d noticed was how she loved the way that flannel shirt looked on him and the way his ball cap made him seem so friendly and the way she’d never seen a man look so amazing without even trying. Her heart had started pounding so hard she couldn’t hear her own voice. That usually happened when he was a whole lot closer. He wasn’t anywhere near her. In fact, he’d been clear across the lobby. But one glance and she felt like someone had zapped her with a stun gun. Annoying.

  “Liar.” Ana leaned against the counter and narrowed her eyes. “Someone’s
not giving me the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”

  “Maybe you can’t handle the truth.”

  “Oh, really?” Her brown eyes had gone wide. “That good, huh?”

  She shrugged. “It’s not that important. We just agreed that there’s no reason to hang out together when I’m leaving at the end of the summer.”

  “Hang out? What does that mean exactly? My students say hang out and mean all sorts of things.”

  “You know… spend time together.” Her face was getting hot and she shuffled papers a little more forcefully than necessary.

  Ana said nothing while she watched Daisy’s face as it got hotter and hotter.

  “Okay, fine.” Daisy turned and leaned forward, lowering her voice. “We shared one little kiss and it was very unplanned and very unexpected and very… not going to happen again.”

  “I knew it!” Ana laughed and punched Daisy in the shoulder.

  “Ow, what was that for?”

  “For holding out on me. It took five seconds to see he’s a goner and you never said a thing.”

  “What was I supposed to say? It was random and brief and…” So wonderful it was probably the best kiss she’d ever had in her life. She’d never felt so happy and complete. Of course, utter confusion came right after, but the kiss itself had been pretty great.

  “So, what’s the problem? Was he promised at birth to some small town chick? Did his father accept a herd of cows in exchange for his son?”

  “Funny. Lane will never leave this place. He loves it and is perfectly and completely content here.” Daisy couldn’t help the note of disbelief that crept into her voice.

  “It’s not so bad. I was expecting villagers rampaging with pitchforks. All I’ve seen so far is a cute cop, gorgeous scenery, and a cranky teenager.”

  “Not so bad?” She shot her glance. “You’ve only been here a day. Try living through a weekend when everything closes Friday at three and reopens Monday at nine. A person could starve to death in this kind of town. The café has hours posted, but apparently it’s just a suggestion because half the time I stop by, the place has a sticky note about someone going fishing or taking the day to enjoy the mountains.” She sucked in a breath. “The woman who runs the bed and breakfast also handles the pet control, but they don’t have a pound, so she just brings all the strays back to her place. If you’d stayed there, you’d have cats on your bed and Russell the hound dog as the alarm clock. And then there’s the guy who runs the gas station. He’s also the person who runs the funeral home. Sometimes his son helps out but he plays soccer on the weekends so good luck getting any gas when there’s a game and a wake at the same time.”

  Ana laughed. “Nothing you just said is so bad, really. It’s a small place. People take on as many jobs as they need to.”

  She shook her head. “It’s not all quirky folks. The mayor was elected to office before I was born and he’ll probably die in office, controlling this little town just the way he likes it. There are no secrets here. Everybody knows your business. Sure, it’s nice that the cute cop is also the baseball coach, the landlord and the main attraction at the library fundraiser but think about it. What happens when things go bad? There’s no place to escape. You have a problem with someone and they’re everywhere.”

  “You think that’s what’s going to happen?” Ana’s voice was lower, more somber. “You think if you two didn’t work out, you’d get blackballed?”

  Daisy paused, considering. She’d never looked at being with Lane as anything more than impossible, so she’d never thought of it farther than avoiding him at all costs. Honestly, the man he was, the way he carried himself and protected the people of Liberty, the way he’d refused to bad-mouth his old girlfriend… none of that sounded like a person who would act vengeful and petty. Even contemplating for a moment the person he was made her stomach go warm. She couldn’t imagine ever finding out she didn’t want to be with him. He was perfect in every wa, except one.

  “No, not exactly Lane, that’s not what I meant. Although there’s plenty of gossip around. It’s just the place.” She sighed. “I’m going home. He’s staying here.”

  “Maybe one of you will change your mind.”

  “Well, it won’t be me.” Daisy repeated the paper stacking movement and wished she hadn’t already been over and over this scenario in her head.

  Someone cleared his throat and Daisy whirled around, her face going hot. If Lane had heard them discussing their potential future lives together, she would sink through the floor. Men always complained about how women went from a simple kiss to the prospect of wedded bliss in the blink of an eye.

  “I apprehended an intruder.” He held up a small, threadbare teddy bear. One paw was worn smooth and it had purple marker on the tummy, on the arm, and up the back.

  Daisy put out a hand. “Is it..? Could it be?”

  Lane grinned and passed it over.

  Ana leaned closer to take a look. “Pretty dusty. Looks like she’s been up there awhile.”

  “I was straightening some books and they just wouldn’t go all the way back on the shelf. I reached down to pull out what was blocking them and there she was. Jasmine must have set her down and she toppled behind.”

  Nita came out of the office and peered at the bear. “That’s Jasmine’s, all right. She took him everywhere.” Her eyes grew warm and soft. “Isn’t that the darndest thing? Just when you think something is lost forever, you discover it’s been right under your nose the whole time.”

  “We should bring it to her. Didn’t Breezy say she went to Brenda’s daycare?” Lane pulled out his keys.

  Daisy nodded. “But ask Breezy first. I know she’s snarky and a little rude, but maybe she wants to give Jasmine the teddy bear.”

  “That’s a good idea. It may give her some big sister points and bring those two closer together,” he said.

  “Breezy works at Sal’s Diner. You could stop by there on your way to Brenda’s house,” Nita said.

  “I’m so glad you found him.” Daisy handed the teddy over, her throat getting tight at the idea of Jasmine’s happiness.

  “You should both go.” Ana stepped toward the summer reading papers. “I’ll work on these while you’re gone.”

  Daisy shot her a look. She knew exactly what Ana was doing and she didn’t like it. Forcing them together wasn’t going to help the situation. On the other hand, the little teddy bear brought back a lot of feelings about Bun-bun. She would have done anything to have found her stuffed rabbit after he’d been thrown out.

  “She’s right. You two go over there and make that little girl’s day. We’ll handle everything here,” Nita said. She smiled and stood next to Ana at the desk. Daisy narrowed her eyes at the two of them. They were so obvious it was painful. She was sure Lane knew he was being set up and she hated it. She opened her mouth to tell him to go on alone, but he spoke first.

  “Sounds like a plan.” Lane gazed at the little brown teddy. “This is going to be fun. It’s not every day you get to do something so important for a kid.”

  That was the truth of it, really. Daisy pulled in a breath and pondered the situation. She could stay here, in the library, where it was safe. Or she could take a short drive downtown with Lane and be part of a really special moment. She wasn’t an overly emotional person, but the thought of seeing Jasmine’s face when Officer Bennett returned her lost friend… well, it was enough to make a grown woman get a little teary-eyed.

  “Okay, I’m in.” She flashed him a smile and came around the desk.

  Lane handed her the bear. “Hold on to the warrior princess. I hear she’s an escape artist.”

  Daisy tucked him under one arm, noting the familiar floppy limbed feel of a well-loved toy.

  “Hey, does this diner have pie?” Ana asked. “I haven’t had some good pie in a long time. Fresno isn’t really known for its all-American desserts. Tres leches cake or churros, sure, but no pie.”

  “I’ll check it out.” Daisy
gave a wave and followed Lane down the foyer stairs. She may be making a huge mistake by wandering around town with Lane. She’d just been saying how she was going to stay out of his way and out of his reach. On the other hand, she could also be living a full life and that included letting herself experience the joy and sorrows of the people around her.

  He held the door for her and she stepped into the bright sunshine. Will you take all the love you have for me and spread it around? Marie had wanted her to live fully, no matter how much she wanted to keep her heart tucked safely away.

  She glanced at Lane, noting the fine lines around his eyes and the set of his jaw. Life was complicated. This friendship was complicated. But loving a little girl like Jasmine wasn’t hard at all. She wanted to be part of this moment and she would just have faith that opening her arms wasn’t going to be the end of the world.

  ***

  Lane opened the passenger door of his truck and smiled. Without blinking an eye, Daisy had settled her rear on the seat and swung her legs in, the move that had given her so much trouble their first trip together. It seemed like years ago. That day burned in his memory, bright and sharp.

  “You got in this truck like a pro,” he said, sliding into the driver’s seat.

  “It’s not true what they say about old dogs.”

  He snorted. “You’re pretty far from both of those things.”

  She snapped her seat belt on and flipped her pony tail back over her shoulder. “Maybe on the outside, but inside I’m just a stubborn old…”

  He waited, eyebrows raised. Even inside, he couldn’t imagine Daisy as a dog.

  “Okay, I plead the fifth. I don’t want you to think of Russell every time you look at me from now on.”

  “Never.” He flashed a grin and decided he better concentrate on his driving. It was so hard to stay focused when she was around.

  Main street was quiet as they drove. Little white clouds scudded across the sky and the sun shone bright. He couldn’t believe it had been pouring rain just days ago. Maybe the weather forecast was wrong about the new storms headed their way.