Cassandra glanced up from her work and did a double-take. She smiled brightly as Jenkins entered the workroom, a small squat blue china cup carefully balanced on a tiny saucer in his right hand. In his left was a larger saucer filled with Lotus Biscoff cookies. He smiled back warmly as he placed the cup and saucers on her desk with a flourish. A look of surprise fell over the Librarian's face as her blue eyes fell on the cup's contents—a thick layer of creamy foam decorated with an intricate acanthus leaf pattern.
"This is a cappuccino!" she exclaimed, delighted, and turned her face up to him.
"It is," Jenkins confirmed crisply, a look of pride coming to his features. "I don't care for it much myself, but I know you sometimes enjoy a coffee, so I taught myself how to make it properly." Cassandra's shoulders dropped and her expression instantly melted into one of complete adoration.
"You learned how to make coffee? Just for me?" she asked, unable to believe her ears.
"I did." Jenkins nodded, pleased that his efforts had pleased his beloved so much. Cassandra jumped up and ran around her desk so she could throw her arms around her husband and give him a tight hug.
"You're just the best!" she gushed happily into the lapel of his suit coat. By now his long arms were around her tiny body, returning her hug. At her words, she felt him kiss the top of her head affectionately.
"One is aware," he answered in a melodramatically overworked voice, causing her to giggle. She tipped her face up, stood on her tippy-toes and gave his lips a quick peck.
"Do you know how much I love you?"
"Not nearly as much as I love you!" Before she could protest, Jenkins quickly lowered his head and kissed her, his lips lingering on hers. She happily reciprocated.
Only the Library could see the brilliant, gold-white glow that their love produced. Ever since their Sealing the light surrounded the happy couple constantly, growing brighter or dimmer depending on the intensity of their feelings at any given moment. The Library beamed, its very soul filled with joy for the pair. Its walls and ceiling creaked softly as the Library sighed with satisfaction and settled itself around the oblivious lovers.
Do you see now, Judson? I was wise to invite Cassandra Cillian to be a Librarian! the Library congratulated itself. There was a quiet, begrudging grunt in response; at the time she had been invited, the First Librarian had had misgivings about Cassandra because of her tenuous medical condition. But the Library had only laughed when it heard his protests.
Oh, Judson! The Library had chided all those years ago, good-natured but firm, Not only is she an ideal candidate for the position of Librarian, but I just know to the very core of my foundations that she is the perfect match for Galahad…!