Lane Charleson, a librarian at the Port Charles Public Library, was on the phone telling people that the books they had on hold were in, in between checking people and their books out.
She checked out books herself when she thought they might be of interest to her children.
Her older two children had good careers, but her youngest, Toby, worried her. He was in college and majoring in art, which was useless. He played guitar so beautifully when he wanted to, but wasted that talent in a horrid, loud, rock and roll band that a very unfortunate girl name Yvonne Edwards had put together. Lane considered Yvonne unfortunate because: her parents had been divorced, did nothing to stop her from screeching in public as the lead singer of this terrible band, called, appropriately enough, the Dissentors, and seemed to be completely estranged from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Toby would not listen to Lane, either. "Aw, cut it out Mom," was all he said whenever Lane tried to interest him in a computer science or business major or whenever she tried to preach to him the great message of salvation. But she checked out books for him on figuring out who you were and what your career was supposed to be. He took them and returned them to the library later, when she wasn't there. Lane prayed he would find the right career.
Her son Chad was an engineer, doing fine at McKinley Engineering. Lane prayed that he would meet and marry a wonderful Christian girl some day.
Her eldest, her daughter Laraine, was an accountant with a good job, but it was at a modelling agency, and Lane thought she should try for a job at one of the bigger companies, like ELQ or Jax or Alter Corporation, but Laraine liked her company, Deception. Lane got books on self esteem and meeting your one true love for Laraine. Lane was glad her daughter liked her job, but prayed that her daughter discontinue her bad habit of looking at a husband and children as maybes.
Kathleen Connor and her son Brad came to the desk. Kathleen was a teacher, Lane knew, and had often brought her children to the library throughout the years. Now she had only her youngest, Brad, with her. The others had grown up. Lane generally exchanged a little gossip with Kathleen, and so knew that Kathleen's eldest daughter Quinn was a nurse, and married, and her second son just graduated from high school.
Amanda Friel came in later. She was a tutor for the wealthy woman who was an owner of Laraine's employer. Amanda had come in often with that owner's son, a sweet-looking, dark-haired young man, fairly regularly. More recently, Amanda brought a young girl and another dark and handsome man whose presence did not make sense, because he looked too old to be Amanda's student, and between them all, they checked out books that the young girl could read, though some of the subjects were not perhaps what one would expect a young girl to be interested in. He was shy, because he rarely said anything.
Every once in a while, Lane's husband (legally her ex-husband), Kent Breyer, came into the library to look something up for an article he was writing. He was a journalist, and she had first met him in that very same place, when he was doing the very same thing. They had met often in the library during their marriage. He still came in, though he usually studiously ignored Lane or scowled at her.
Lane prayed every day for Kent. Her one true love. Lane was sure God would guide him.
"I felt like I was really having a conversation with Zander," Laraine was telling Gia and Cheryl. They were on lunch break from work, at Kelly's. "But I came away feeling like I knew Mikhail a lot better. I talked to Zander but learned little about Zander."
"I can't get convinced Oksana didn't do it on purpose," Gia said. "Another sign from God. Oksana approves."
"Meant to be," Cheryl added. "You know something? This works. Normally, you date a guy, you only know what he tells you. I like the way he fits into your world as it already is. Knowing he is Oksana's brother, that the same people who raised Oksana raised him, and you know a lot about him already. Zander loves him, obviously. That means a lot. Really, this could work out."
Cheryl had once dated Zander, a long time ago. She still liked him as a friend.
"Yeah, couple of the century," said Laraine. "We're at the stage where maybe we can pronounce each other's names. We have nothing in common. The wedding will be in the year 2050."
"You don't need perfect pronunciation to get through that ceremony," Gia grinned. "I was tripping all over the words in my native language."
"Maybe we can have ours in Russian," joked Laraine. "But let's shut up about this. Even just kidding, it's a jinx."
"No," Cheryl said. "And I'm thinking. You have Oksana in common. That kind of thing counts, too. This can work." Cheryl grinned. "Can I be a maid of honor?"
"The fastest way to scare a guy away," Laraine protested. "And he might not get that we're joking if he heard us, God forbid. Don't joke around like this at the London Underground."
"He won't understand us," Gia pointed out. "Isn't that his great virtue?"
Laraine laughed. "Maybe there is a God," she said. "My mother would flip."
Colleen Delaney had two appointments one afternoon. She put on some coffee, in case the patients wanted some.
Colleen was a licensed social worker in a clinic downtown. She had always wanted to help people and found this to be the way that best fitted her personality. She wore a flowered skirt and sandals, and a dark blue matching top that fit her loosely. She wore her blonde hair up in a bun. Though she was single, she was the epitome of motherliness, to look at her. Her personality reflected this, too. She was fourth in family of nine, and had been the most eager when it came to helping her mother look after little brothers and sisters.
Her first client was another one of Colleen's lawyer sister Melinda's many recommendations; Patricia Polk, who was going through a divorce.
Nothing increased the counseling business like divorce, Colleen thought. Divorce was a terrible thing. It blocked people from dealing with their deeper issues when the surface ones became so pressing. Perhaps that was why Colleen was more than hesitant when it came to marriage. She couldn't keep dating any guy if she realized his underlying issues were going to be blocking him for several years. And that was a frequent thing with men these days.
Patti Polk was full of her ex-husband. He had come to the door to pick up the children for visitation with his new girlfriend.
That was very common, in Colleen's experience.
"I felt like he was trying to hurt me," Patti said. "Yet deep down, I knew he wasn't. He was just thinking of his own convenience. He just thinks of himself."
"That's very insightful, Patti," Colleen said. "I have run into this often and usually there is some feeling that the ex is trying to be deliberately hurtful."
"Yes, well, I feel he might do that, but only if it were to get him something, somehow," Patti said.
"Do you trust him with the children?"
"In basic things, yes, but not in emotional. His example is just terrible. My daughter is 18 and this is what she learns about men! It's bound to affect her, and make it harder for her to trust."
"What about you? Doesn't it make it harder for you to trust?"
"Definitely. After all those years? There is no way to know now, no way to believe it won't come apart at any minute. And yet I don't want my daughter Taryn to think that."
"But why not, if you think it is reality?"
Patti thought for a minute. "I guess I still think that it could go right for her."
"But you? What if you found another guy?"
"I don't think I'd ever trust him to stay forever."
"So he wouldn't be a permanent part of your family?"
"He could only be potentially permanent. Always. The kids would have to come first."
"Because they are kids or because you only look on them as permanent?"
"I guess it is reality in our society that once you have children, you will always be their mother, but your husband could always leave you."
"Or you leave him."
"Yes," Patti said. "I don't think I would do that, though. I wanted to keep to my commitment. But what can you do if the other person does not?"
"Society does not support you."
"Right. Even if he says he will, he can always change his mind."
"He could think that about you."
"Yes," Patti said. "Now, no one can know." Patti was starting to feel depressed. "At least I'm no worse off than anyone else," she said. "I have dated a man. It surprised me. I thought it would be years before I could do it. But he is persistent."
"Do you like him?" Colleen asked.
"Yes, but there's a problem."
"What's that?"
"He's way younger."
"How is it a problem?"
"It isn't when I'm talking to him. It probably wouldn't be for the kids. But Kevin will try to make something of it if he sees he needs an advantage. Kevin has a younger woman. So he'll say I'm just doing it to get back at him. Or he'll have a double standard. You know, the gander can do what the goose can't."
"Yeah," Colleen said.
"Oh, goodness," Patti said. "I don't know how to tell you this."
"What?"
"There's so many of you."
"So many of us?"
"Delaneys. I think you're related to my younger man. Is that a conflict or something?"
"Could be. It depends on how all three of us feel about it."
"I know you have a lot of brothers, but this might be too uncomfortable for you."
"I've been the family counselor for years," Colleen said. "So it would be up to you. You might like to talk to me anyway, if you have issues concerning him. And another counselor. Some ways I can be more helpful than someone who doesn't know him. If you feel like you can't talk freely, that's the key. I'm don't talk to anyone else outside this room, and that includes my brothers, but if one of them starts telling me about this older woman and there's a problem, then we have to all three talk together or we need a new counselor for you."
"OK," Patti said, amazed at how calm and professional Colleen could be about this.
"We can do it now, if you want," Colleen said. "My colleagues are all wonderful."
"I don't think – I think I'll stick with you for now," Patti said. "It would be silly to change if nothing comes of this relationship. It has that one strike against it already."
"Well, generalized rules aren't always fitting," Colleen said. "Each relationship should be considered on its own. If you have a good relationship, that's better than a bad one with someone your age."
"That's very objective," said Patti. "I feel like a hypocrite, just a bit, since most of my complaining about Kevin relates to him leaving me for a younger woman."
"If he left you for a woman your age, would it feel different?"
"I think it might," Patti said. "It would be a kick in the teeth, but it wouldn't have that extra edge, you know, that I'm older and can't be young again."
"Kevin can't either," Colleen said. "Keep that in mind. And he left you for her. In your case, it doesn't involve cheating on your spouse."
Colleen wondered if she could manage to have a practice in Port Charles, after today. Her very next client had a brother issue, too.
Amanda Friel had been recommended to Colleen, but as soon as Amanda came in and saw her name, she realized that Colleen was Jackson Delaney's sister. Amanda had known Jack for a while and had even gone as his date to a wedding.
"Come in anyway, and we'll have a chat, at least," Colleen said to Amanda.
Amanda said her issue was dealing with her mother's death, but part of that was that she didn't get involved with relationships very well.
"Well, OK, that doesn't involve Jackson specifically," Colleen said. "If you are comfortable with it, I am. If you get more involved with him, it could get tricky, but then we can just refer you out, or bring him in on it."
"So you've done counseling of your own brothers and sisters?"
"Yes, at first they were my initial clients and practice guinea pigs," Colleen said, grinning. "It's why they are all so emotionally healthy."
Amanda smiled, and said, "Then you have confidence in your abilities!"
"I hope so. But a counselor in the family is a good thing. Especially a huge one."
"My younger sister, Amy, is in Matt's class," Amanda said, of yet another of Colleen's brothers. "He gave her this great assignment one time. She said something and he picked up on it and made her back up her words."
"He's a great teacher if I say so myself," Colleen said.
Patti took Tony and Dasha to the public library. She wanted them to read books over the summer. This was not a problem for Tony. He liked reading. Dasha was a little more difficult when it came to reading, but Patti hoped it might improve.
"Hi, Lane," Patti said, to the librarian as they checked out. When Patti was a little girl, Lane had babysat for her and her brother Paul.
"Patti Whitman," said Lane. "That is, Patti-"
"Polk," Patti said. "How come you are using your maiden name? Your name plate says Charleson."
"I got divorced," Lane said, sadly.
"Me too," said Patti. "I hadn't even gotten around to thinking about that."
"I decided it was best," Lane said. "To start over."
"Yes," Patti said. "I think I'll just keep it Polk – it will match the kids."
"They're still in school, so that will be helpful," Lane said. "Mine are all out of school."
"Yes, Toby is in that band, right? My daughter dated him for a while."
"Oh, Toby never tells me about his life. You have an older daughter?" Obviously Dasha was not dating yet.
"Yes, she's eighteen," Patti said. "Just graduated from Mercy High."
"Praise the Lord, you must be so proud," Lane said.
"Very," Patti said. "She has grown into quite a young woman. How about your daughter?"
They talked about Laraine the accountant for a little while. Laraine still wasn't married. She was two years short of thirty, Lane lamented. Patti said someone was sure to show up eventually, feeling hypocritical after all she had said to Colleen earlier that day.
"Since you're divorced like I am," Patti said. "Don't you ever wonder? You know, should your daughter get married? It doesn't always work out. It just makes me more anxious."
"Oh, no," Lane said. "I pray for the right man to come along and I'm sure the Lord will bless me with a good son-in-law. Good daughters-in-law, too."
"Oh, yes," Patti said. "I think that, too."
"Why does that lady talk about God so much?" Tony asked Patti, when they were out in the parking lot.
"She must be grateful for everything she has," Patti said. "And be extra aware of it." She hugged Tony, then Dasha. "And I am too. I'm going to light a candle to some saint tonight to prove it."
The children laughed as they climbed into the car.