Chapter 5: Madison's Meteor, Part 5

"What kind of thinking?"

"We've been talking about putting in a proposal to buy the plant and run it ourselves," Jim slid into the chair next to Bruce. "We need someone who knows how to run it."

"You want me to manage the plant for you?" Bruce shook his head, "You've worked for me for twenty years, why would you want to continue?"

"Because you kept the place running for twenty years." Jim looked around. "There's none of us could do it. You might be an ass at times, but you've mostly been a fair boss."

"I'll need to think about it. Talk to Marg. She was going on about moving south to be with her sister."

"That's all we can ask."

"I'll get to the drive today." Frank finished his coffee.

"Tonight will be soon enough." Bruce stood and left the shop.

"There's something I never thought I would see." Herb sat down where Bruce had been sitting. "Bruce acting all human. You're right though. We need him."

"Let's get some numbers put together and we can start roughing out a proposal. We don't want the bank selling it for salvage before we get our bid in." John dragged the men back to their table at the rear.

Alice sat down across from Frank. Alice had never sat down in her own restaurant in all the years he had known her.

"What you said about us working to become what we should be. What did you mean by that?"

"I don't rightly know," Frank admitted. "I don't think we can go back to what we were. So, I guess we have to go forward."

"That's what I thought." Alice smiled and stood up again. "If I weren't married, I'd kiss you. You're a genius Frank."

Frank sat and listened to the buzz in the shop for a while, then went to the library. Jennita waved at him as he came in, then went back to talking to the young men who were standing by her desk. He went back to the table and pulled out a book. He wasn't reading long before he heard Jennita's voice raised.

When Frank ambled out of the shelves he found the young men had cornered her against the desk. One of them looked to be grabbing her arm. The kind of things coming of the kid's mouth made him clench his teeth.

"Excuse me, Miss," he said in his best farmer voice, "I'm having some trouble finding a book."

"There are lots of books, old man, go pick one," the young man said.

"They aren't all the right books."

"What does it matter? Can you read anyway?"

"Better than you, I figure."

"What?"

"I can read the sign asking folks to be quiet in the library."

The young man waited a fraction of a second too long to answer and his friends nudged him then pulled him outside.

"No fun in here. This place is so dead."

Jennita slumped against the desk.

"Thanks, they've been in before and been rude, but nothing like this."

"My name's Frank."

Jennita looked at him.

"I know, Mary told me."

"Figured, but I thought I should introduce myself before taking the liberty of giving you advice."

"Ah, and what would the advice be?"

"I think we should have a cup of your tea, and you can tell me all about it until you stop shaking."

"That," Jennita said, "sounds like excellent advice."

***

In Jennita's office Frank put kettle on to boil and rinsed out the teapot. He didn't say anything until he had completed the last of her whispered instructions and put the full mug in her hands. Just the warmth of the ceramic seemed to steady her. She breathed in the fumes of the brew.

"They're just bored kids from the new development." Jennita said.

"Not just kids," Frank said, "I heard a car driving away."

"They're still kids," she said, "They've never had to grow up. Everything they want is handed to them."

"Seems like an awful way to live."

"Frank, you keep surprising me. Most people would like nothing better than to have everything handed to them on a platter."

"Not you."

"No, not me either." She took another deep breath and a tiny sip. "Strong, just like you."

"Sorry, it's the first time I made tea."

"I'm not complaining. I like my tea strong," She looked at him and smiled faintly. "Like my men strong too." Frank took a careful sip of tea. It was strong, and got better with each sip.

"I lived in a city with my husband and kids. I worked at the central library and never thought how lucky I was to be living my life. Not until there was an accident at Pete's work. The insurance was generous, but money didn't replace the feeling of a warm body on the other side of the bed nor change the fact there were too many things I never told him. I didn't need to go back to work, so I stayed home and tried to tell my kids all the things that I never told Pete." She got up to put her cup in the sink, and stood for a bit with her back to Frank.

"I'm not sure they understood. First one, then the other went off to school, fell in love, made their own way. After my youngest's wedding I gave them the keys to the house and took the first librarian's job that I found. Here in Madison I've remade myself. I am Jennita the librarian, not Pete's widow. I walk in and see all the books, and know this is where I am supposed to be. Here. Now." Jennita turned around to face Frank again.

"You are the first person since Pete died that has made me think that there might be a person I am supposed to be with." Her hands knotted together.