Caroline woke, bleary-eyed, cold and stuffed into the hotel chair two hours after dozing off. It wasn't even eleven, but her mind stumbled as though it were the very darkest pit of the night. The moon was long gone and the sun still hours away. She rubbed at her eyes and looked around the still-fully lit room.
She blinked and reached over for her phone. Nothing from Melanie. It had only been a couple of hours. Perhaps on the outside of when she might expect to hear, but – but she had zero frame of reference for this situation.
'Please let me know you're safe and headed back.' She sent the text off into the digital void and mentally crossed her fingers. She'd relayed the highlights of the story to Gillian over the phone, and then to Robbie. Who'd gone quiet when she'd mentioned Nigel Pullings and urged her to contact the police - right away. She intended to. As soon as she heard from Melanie.
She was having a hard time reconciling the soft green-eyed children's librarian she felt an instant attraction to with this cloak and dagger version of Melanie, who felt like a stranger to her. What signs did she miss about her life? Was she off target from their very first meeting? She tilted her head back again and thought of their early days. What she might have missed – what she might have rationalized away.
Caroline stood shifting her weight back and forth in line at the post office, lost in thoughts of all the errands she had to do that busy November evening. There was only one clerk on duty and she knew it was going to take longer than she expected. She also knew that if she didn't do it now, the birthday gift she needed to post to Ginika would never arrive in time.
She lurched forward as someone bumped her from behind, almost dropping the box containing the serving platter she'd so carefully picked out. She spun around, ready to make a snide comment and was surprised to find Melanie Wysocki, newest object of her imagined affections, struggling to pick up the parcel she'd dropped while trying to keep a firm grip on the two others in her hands.
"I'm so sorry!" exclaimed Melanie before she had a chance to look up and see Caroline smiling down at her.
"Oh. Hullo, Flora's mum."
Caroline forgot the mental list that previously had her wishing she were anywhere other than standing in line. She was now exactly where she wanted to be. She'd been trying to wrangle another chance to take Flora to the library and she couldn't believe her good fortune at seeing Melanie again so soon.
"Hullo Melanie. Do you need a hand?"
"Why yes – if you don't mind."
Caroline scooped up a box wrapped in red and placed it on top of the stack Melanie carried.
"Why the long line this time of day I wonder?" Melanie looked around but didn't sound annoyed in the least.
"I was just wondering the same thing. I really need to start just ordering presents from the web and arranging for them to be shipped directly rather than going through this routine. It seems so antiquated – and inefficient."
Melanie shrugged. "I don't know. I think there's something more personal about picking out a gift with your hands rather than with fingertips on a keyboard, wrapping it and then going through the ritual of posting it. Somehow makes you and the recipient feel more special, don't you think?"
"Hmmm. When you put it like that, I have to agree. So who are you trying to make feel special?"
"My Mum. It's her birthday this month."
"Where does she live?"
"Kerala."
Caroline paused and scowled, then her expression lit with curiosity. "India? How often do you get to see her?"
"Not often enough."
"And you're sending three packages to India?"
Melanie snorted a little as she laughed in response. It didn't make her less attractive. "Since I can't send myself, yes. Actually, I thought I'd send my holiday parcels at the same time. I wrapped things separately so she'd only open her birthday present now."
Caroline watched in anxious amusement as the pile of parcels shifted with Melanie's generous laughter.
"How about you?" Melanie adjusted her grip and snuck a hand up to nudge her burgundy glasses, offsetting her green, green eyes.
"Flora's grandmother, my mother-in-law, is having a birthday next week and lives in New York."
Before Melanie could respond, it was Caroline's turn at the counter. Talking to Melanie, the wait had flown by.
As she turned to walk up, Melanie asked if she had a minute to wait for her so they could walk out together when she was done posting her boxes, and checking the mailbox she kept there. Caroline's heart skipped a beat.
"Yes – of course."
As they walked out side by side into the light dusting of dry, early snow, Melanie turned her head toward Caroline's. "I'm sorry about your wife. And I know you know Flora's such a very sweet child - and lucky to have you and Greg."
"Thank you." There was something about the way Melanie lowered her eyes to look at her snow boots that pushed Caroline the rest of the way forward.
"I'd like to take you on a date Melanie. Sooner, rather than later, if you're interested."
"I'm very interested, Caroline. I thought you'd never ask." Melanie looked up with a delighted grin that crinkled her nose and melted Caroline's heart. "And please, you can call me Mel."
A lazy flurry of powdery winter snow tumbled at Caroline's office window as she sat surrounded by warm yellow light, frustrated and unable to focus on the sea of numbers and columns in front of her. Try as she might, between the approaching end of term and Flora's schedule, the sooner she'd hoped for hadn't materialized. Two weeks later she'd a time and a place fixed firmly in her mind as she rang Melanie. They'd been texting, not making progress on setting a date, and it hadn't satisfied Caroline in the least.
She heaved a breath in and out and picked up her mobile, tapping her pen on her desk.
"Hullo Melanie - Mel. It's Caroline. How are you?"
"Oh it's the job to be chipper full-time, can't say I mind it!" Not a hint of trepidation in Melanie's tone, or the sense she was surprised or put off by the call.
Caroline felt any anxiety over ringing Melanie drain away. It wasn't Melanie herself making her anxious. Just the opposite. It was the thought of how quickly Caroline knew she'd want to lock herself alone in a room with the ebulliently sexy woman that set off the butterflies in her stomach.
"I was calling to see if I could help with the Library's holiday fundraising carnival next weekend. Do you need any volunteers?"
"Oh, gosh. I was just hoping you'd come with Flora! I think we're all set for volunteers but we do need lots of kids to attend. Any chance you could rent about ten more to bring with you? Make it stand-in for detention this week?" It wasn't hard to hear Melanie smiling at the other end of the line.
It made Caroline feel like smiling right back, and she did. "I'm sure I could persuade Gillian to come over with Calamity."
"Calamity?"
"Sorry. My step-sister, Gillian, and her granddaughter, Jane. Calamity is an unfortunate nickname that has stuck."
"Well that's not unfortunate. I love it! And the more the merrier." Melanie paused and Caroline waited, nerves tingling. "And – since you're so hard to pin down, perhaps we could grab a drink after the fundraiser?" Again, Melanie was so relaxed as she asked, so cheery about the whole call that Caroline almost doubted whether she took her romantic meaning.
No matter. Her meaning would be clear soon enough. Caroline raised a fist in the air in triumph. "That would be lovely. If you think you'll have the energy I'm up for it." She clicked off and spun once in her office chair, before settling back in to finish out reviewing the waiting pile of accounts.
The library carnival was in full swing when Caroline and company arrived. The grey day and drizzly mist made the bright lights and sounds drifting from the event widen Flora and Calamity's eyes even from the car park. Flora stamped her feet on the shining black asphalt and giggled as they approached.
They walked through the doors and Caroline instantly remembered why she loved Sulgrave Heath so well. Screams and shouts and laughter echoed off every wall in the place, complemented by carnival music. All louder than she would have ever permitted. She braced herself against the cacophony with a smile as Gillian rolled her eyes and corralled Calamity, who at every turn tried to dart off in a different direction.
The stalls and tables were set up throughout the Fairfax Community Center, many of them in the gymnasium and a small riser stage centered at the end. Also prominently featured were the sticky and sugary treats Caroline tried, to varying degrees of success depending on her stamina that day, to steer her daughter away from.
But slowly, as she broadened her evaluation, she was struck by how choreographed the chaos all appeared. They strolled on, Flora's hand tight in hers as her daughter adjusted to the unfamiliar din. She saw Melanie at the center of it all near the stage in the gym. Jeans and trainers and a 'Harrogate Central' grey hooded sweatshirt, clip board in hand, pencil tucked behind her ear, and two pens sticking from the loosening bun of her thick dark hair.
She and Flora made their way over to her to say hello and to introduce Calamity and Gillian. Mel turned toward them and a luminous smile broke out on her face. To Caroline it was brighter than the room itself.
"Welcome to our merry little hurricane of fun ladies. I hope you took an aspirin or two before you arrived!"
She quickly gave them the lay of the land, and a copy of a crayon-drawn program. "I think you should start at the clown who makes the best hats out of balloons. And whatever you do, don't miss the magician's show at noon."
The girls instantly dragged Gillian off by both hands as they ran to the clown and the multi-colored balloons only a few feet away.
Caroline held her jacket draped over her arms and wished she'd found someplace to stash it. It made her look frumpy, and it hid the jeans and boots she'd so carefully picked out that morning.
She glanced around. "Sure you'll still be up for drink at the end of all this?"
"Will it just be you and me?" Mel pushed up at the bottom of her glasses with a pen, face earnest and eager. Caroline wondered if she'd looked just as fresh and sweet every day of her life.
"Absolutely. Gillian's on duty for tea time."
"Then I'll definitely be bright eyed and bushy tailed."
Caroline laughed. A big laugh and not a second of it felt forced, and it felt like it was coming from places inside her that had been dark and building rust for years.
Melanie laughed back. Caroline tucked her long bangs away from her face. "See you in a few hours then. I've a place in mind. Would you like to ride with us?"
"No no, I know you've a full load. I'll have Janet give me a lift, I'll meet you there. Text me the spot?"
"Mummy!" Flora crashed into Caroline's leg and then danced around her. "Look. I've won. I've won!" She held up a plastic bag filled with water and a small, brilliant orange fish.
She hadn't intended for Melanie to see a look quite as stern as the one she wore now before they'd even had a first date. But she supposed it was a good barometer of future success.
Melanie's eyes danced and she shrugged off Caroline's ire. "The kids love it. It's always a guaranteed money maker."
"Hmmm. Well it's going to make a little more money for another table as I quickly divert young miss here to another game while Mr. Goldfish is reunited with his previous owner."
Another stern look toward Melanie, but this one muddled by a persistent upward twitch of her lips she couldn't hold back.
Mel shrugged again and turned to a woman clearly in dire straits as she held up a white table cloth covered in something neon green and gooey.
Caroline laid a hand on Melanie's shoulder and leaned in close, delighted by the way her breath lifted the dark hair tucked behind Melanie's ear. "See you in a few hours then. Good luck."
They played ring toss, pinned the tail on the donkey, threw darts at a balloon, almost walked their way to winning a cake Caroline would have had to decline, and generally giggled their way through all the games that hadn't changed in any way since Caroline and Gillian were Flora's height.
By the time the magic show was about to begin, Caroline and Gillian were glad for an excuse to sit down. They secured spots well back in what was becoming a healthy sized crowd. As soon as they settled in Caroline took a look at the young magician and recognized him as a former student from Sulgrave Heath.
Chester the Jester, class clown of the everyman. He was a handful and Caroline and every teacher in the staff lounge had raised a mug of tea on his last day three years ago. He gave the Weasley twins a run for their money singlehandedly, a ginger himself to boot.
Throughout his routine he called kids up at random to be part of the act. Eventually he noticed Caroline in the audience and as soon as she saw the crooked smile and the glint in his eyes appear, she knew she was destined for a hard time.
"For my last demonstration of other-worldly wonder and miracles, I'd like to call on one of our most esteemed parents up to the stage. Dr. Dawson? How about assisting me with the famous – or should I say infamous, milk trick?"
Before Caroline had a chance to say no, Flora, Calamity and Gillian were pulling her to her feet. At the side of the crowd stood Melanie, clipboard still in hand and smile splitting her entire face.
"What I'm about to do is take this pitcher of milk -" he held up the brimming pitcher - "and pour it into this newspaper without it spilling." No response from the crowd.
"Did I mention that I'll be holding the newspaper over Dr. Dawson's head as I pour?" Chester smiled as the audience hooted and clapped. Caroline tried to laugh as she stepped up on stage.
"I hope it works as the last time I tried this my volunteer got covered in milk. Please have a seat Doctor."
"Okay boys and girls, this is a brand new one for me. I've only just learned it and I'm hoping it works today. I've never gotten it right yet." He gazed around the assembly with wide anxious eyes, and the kids responded with wide eyes and anticipation - that he might again fail.
With a flourish, he took a section of newspaper and rolled it into a cone.
"Doctor, would you look inside the cone and tell me if you see anything in it?" Before she could answer, her took the cone and shoved it into her face so she looked like she had a pointy nose. High pitched laughter filled the gym.
As he pulled the cone away, Caroline gave him a well-worn look implying he'd do well to plan his impending death. He ignored her.
"And is there anything in this glass?" He swept a glass off the table and held it upside down over her head.
"It appears to be empty." Caroline tried not to wince, but smiled, attempting to look sincere in her good-natured acquiescence to the situation. Her obvious failure seemed only to fuel the delight of the ranks of children and parents now gathered.
"Very good!" He handed her the glass.
"Now, my adoring audience, I'm going to hold this paper over her head like this and then pour in the milk." He inched the pitcher toward Caroline's head. The adoring audience responded with awed delight.
"Oh wait, I forgot something."
He placed the pitcher and paper back on the table and then reached down and pulled out a pink plastic shower cap out of a box on the table.
"How about if we have my lovely assistant here put this fetching cap on her head to protect her hair in case the milk spills?"
The kids howled as they saw that it was also covered with yellow rubber ducks. He pulled it askew over the top of her head so that her hair completely covered her face. Caroline adjusted the cap and her hair so that she could better see her humiliation reflected in the faces of the crowd.
Internally she waged a war of logic, convincing herself that the trick wouldn't be a trick if she ended up covered in milk. However Chester might decide it would garner far more laughs if he 'failed.' Which was Chester seeking? Approval for his magical skill, or approval for his showmanship? She cringed against the outcome.
Chester resumed his position with the pitcher and the newspaper cone teetering over her head. Just as he was about to start pouring, he stopped again and announced that since he always tends to spill the milk he thought he needed to offer her something to keep her top dry. This time he pulled from his box of tricks a child's bib with a clown face on it and draped it over her chest. It offered hilariously little in the way of protection.
As he posed for the third time to begin pouring the milk, he stopped again to offer her a pair of large, purple goggles to protect her eyes from any milk that might splash on her. He wrapped them around the shower cap and immediately flipped a switch on them so that the windshield wipers on the front started swishing back and forth.
Caroline took a full inventory of her current outfit and realized the extent of her ridiculousness. She also realized that the majority of the parents in the audience were snapping pics on their mobiles. The number included Gillian. And Melanie.
Though she could barely see him now, she felt Chester approach and she braced for him to actually start pouring. She couldn't see what he was doing over her head, but registered that she was still blessedly dry as he announced that he had poured one-half of the milk into the cone so far.
He poured the rest of the milk into Caroline's previously empty glass. She heard him place the pitcher on the table and imagined the scene inches from her head as he held the newspaper cone carefully but precariously in both hands.
"Okay boys and girls, this is the moment of truth. As I open the paper, we'll see if any milk spills out on our doctor here. Let's count together and I'll open it on three."
"One."
"Two."
"Three!"
The crowd counted down in unison, volume climbing with each number. With a final flourish, he opened the cone over her head and to the amazement of the kids and Caroline's great relief, there was no milk and the newspaper was dry. A huge cheer filled the entire gymnasium.
For the final part of the act, he took the glass of milk from Caroline and placed it on the top of her head. Watching the video later on Gillian's mobile, Caroline, along with the giggling audience, watched the milk disappear from it as the pitcher in his other hand starting to fill back up again.
Kids and parents alike roared and clapped. Chester disentangled Caroline from her props and thanked her for her assistance, assuring her that she'd never looked lovelier or been a better sport. In an act of contrition, he kissed the top of each of her hands as he took them to help her down off the stage.
"I'm awfully glad you weren't doused in milk."
"That makes two of us."
"Well if you were you might not have been able to make our date. I would have been crushed." Melanie ducked to the side and grinned. "You were a good sport. I had no idea he'd been one of yours. Glad he was as good as he claimed to be."
Caroline's fiery blue eyes wrinkled at the corners. The rowdy afternoon and the adrenaline-inducing magic show had her blood up. She basked in the good cheer and perpetual well of energy pouring from Melanie as they stood less than a meter apart. She wasn't sure if it was the gym or Melanie herself that smelled so sweetly of kettle corn. The dull roar of excited children faded away as they talked.
"Mmmmm. Well. No harm no foul. And I'm warm and dry and certainly ready for that drink. See you in about – " Caroline checked her thin sterling silver watch – "an hour?"
Another flash of brilliant white teeth from Melanie. Caroline found herself having a hard time looking away from the woman's mouth.
'If I can't kiss her by the end of the day, I'm going to go absolutely stark raving mad.'