Page 237 of That Rush

“An inspiring summary of my profession.”

Poppy examines the stamps. “I read more than twenty.”

“This is my celebration,” Josie tells her.

“I’m only saying.”

“Then you can have your own celebration.”

Sadie presses her lips together. Axel watches them, a slow grin spreading across his face.

I raise my glass of lemonade. “To Josie, for finishing twenty books and having strong opinions about every single one.”

“They made bad choices.”

“Frequently.”

Everyone lifts a glass. Josie accepts the attention with a grin, then returns to the reading chair with Poppy to compare dragon stickers.

The family moves between the library and porch, and the gathering stays the intimate size I'd intended. Deven asks about the final summer-reading numbers. Hudson tells me the shelves could hold another thousand books if I arrange them properly.

“I do arrange books properly.”

“Then you might fit twelve hundred.”

Aiden takes the ice-cream scoop away from his father. “Stop reorganizing her library.”

“I’m estimating capacity.”

“You’re done.”

Hudson accepts the correction and steals half of Aiden’s cupcake.

I laugh with Adrienne, rescue a napkin from Silas, and explain to Sadie why the romance shelf will require its own ladder eventually. Every conversation flows toward me. I'm the center of this space, not an addition to theirs, and the difference is a quiet, steadying hum beneath the chatter.

By eight fifteen, the overlapping voices begin scraping at the edges of my concentration.

Aiden notices. He always notices now. His gaze meets mine from across the porch, but he stays beside the cooler and lets me decide what happens next.

“I’m taking twenty quiet minutes,” I announce. “The porch remains open. The library does not.”

“Can I come?” Josie asks.

“Not this time.”

She considers that. “Is the door going to be locked?”

“Yes.”

“Then we have to wait,” she tells Poppy. “That’s the rule.”

I scan their faces for any sign of offense but find none. Deven simply gathers the empty plates and leads everyone outside. Aiden holds the door until the last person crosses the threshold, then pauses beside me.

“Take your twenty,” he says.

I close the door and turn the lock.

The room quiets immediately. I settle onto the window seat, remove the paper star from my dress, and open the book beside me. Laughter rises through the screened window. I read three pages, then close my eyes and let the silence return me to myself.