Page 99 of The Charmed Library

Ariel leaned down and rubbed Scout’s ears. “Who’s my best girl? You are! I’d never skip out on lunch with you. If it was just your dad, maybe. But never you!”

“Hey!” Liam protested.

Ariel laughed and leaned into Liam’s shoulder. She tossed a gaze at Stella. “Y’all ready?”

Stella nodded. “Let me tell Vicki I’m leaving. She hasn’t come out of the story time room yet, but I can’t blame her. Those characters are perfect.” She winked at Ariel.

Stella eased open the door so she wouldn’t disturb the entertainment inside. She was once again amazed by the electrical buzz that passed over her skin as soon as she saw the fictional characters come to life before her.

After talking through the magic with Arnie, who’d unofficially passed the baton to her, Stella had decided she wanted to use the magic not just for her own curiosity but for the patrons. If she brought out some of the most beloved fictional characters and let people experience interacting with them, how much more would kids and adults enjoy the library? Books had the ability to transport readers to other worlds and times and experiences. Bringing out characters only elevated their enjoyment, creating lasting memories.

Stella’s first experiment was to bring out characters fromThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Once they arrived, she explained her plan and her ideas for how they’d mingle with the patrons. So far, it hadbeen a smashing success. Both the characters and the people reveled in their moments together. A bonus for Stella was that she could talk with the characters after the library closed for as long as she wanted. Being a book lover herself, this new life felt like a dream come true. She already had a list of all the characters she wanted to meet. A very long list.

Vicki saw Stella and walked over. “Sorry, I got mesmerized. How on earth did you find such a young girl who stays in character like a pro? She’s amazing! They all are. And that lion, seriously, he’s downright real-looking.”

“He is,” Stella agreed. “I’m going on lunch break. You okay to watch the desk?”

Vicki sighed. “No, but yes. Think they do private parties? I’d like to hire them for myself so we can chat about Oz more.”

Stella laughed. “Anything is possible. I’ll be back in a bit.”

She returned to the circulation desk and opened the bottom drawer, then grabbed her purse and notebook. Words continued to pop up everywhere and at any time, and Stella didn’t want to miss a single one. She kept and respected each one, from the swarming, agitated words to the fluffy, downy-soft ones. Her current notebook was almost full, and another blank journal waited patiently to be filled.

Arnie’s copy of Jack’s book,Beyond the Southern Horizon, was in the drawer too. They no longer hid his book with the library stamp and ink pad. Somehow the magic formed that evening in the moonlight had encased Jack’s book and his life. Ruby Lou and Pearl’s book had disappeared when their lives were lost. Maria’s story had started disappearing when she hadn’t returned to the source of the magic. But so far Jack’s book and fictional story hadn’t vanished even though he was now permanently part of the real world. People could still check outBeyond the Southern Horizonanytime theywanted. Jack said it made him feel like a celebrity even though no one had connected him to the character in the book yet.

The moonlight magic had overridden the ink’s sunlight magic, and Stella never went a day without being grateful to have found a way to bend the magical rules. Jack, Arnie, and Ariel were the only ones who knewhowJack was able to return and stay.

She hadn’t told Percy. She also hadn’t told him about Maria, and the more days that slipped by, the less she felt sure that telling him offered any benefit. Percy lived a comfortable life in Florida, a long way away from the magic and from having to think about it on a daily basis. Keeping him as oblivious as possible seemed like the kindest option, especially given the state of Maria’s book.

When Stella finally asked about it last week, Arnie said there was only one chapter remaining. After more than twenty years, Stella couldn’t stir up any emotions other than disbelief, anger, and scanty acceptance that she would never know Maria and didn’t really want to know her now.

Ariel caught sight of the notebook. “How’s the story going?”

Stella exhaled a trapped breath. Thinking of Maria did that to her every time. She grabbed Jack’s hand and walked around the desk to join Ariel, Liam, and Scout. They crossed the foyer in a group. “I’ve never written so quickly in my life. I’m about fifty thousand words in, and I finally settled on a title.”

Liam held open the library doors and handed Scout’s leash to Ariel. “Thank you,” she said and looked at Stella. “Don’t keep me in suspense! What’s the title? Can I add it to my TBR?”

Stella glanced at Jack, who was smiling at her. “The Charmed Library.”

Ariel shivered and bounced down the stairs. “I have chills! That means it’s the right title.”

“It’s perfect,” Stella agreed as they stepped fully into the sunlight together. Jack squeezed her hand, and the four of them, plus Scout, walked down the sidewalk toward the park. Silvery words floated by on a breeze that offered relief from the summer heat.

Live life. Laugh often. Love more.