Chapter 2. First Blush
At 8:55 am the following day Ariel presented herself at the main door of the Greenpoint Library in Brooklyn. A security guard was at the door and she told him she was starting that day. He checked her name on a clipboard and opened the door for her, telling her to seek out the Library Manager, Mr. Grayson. The man in question, in his late 50s, was behind the circulation desk instructing the Circulation staff on being extra vigilant as there had been a noticeable increase in missing books and he was sure it was a gang of juvenile delinquents taking out adult books that were too mature for them. As she approached he looked at Ariel over his glasses while lowering his head forward.
"Miss, can I help you?" he asked.
"Yes sir," she replied politely. "I am Ariel Black. I was told to report to you at 9 am."
He looked at his pocket watch then at the clock over the door. "It is 8:56 am Miss Black. You are early."
"Yes sir," she confirmed.
"Very well," he said, after very pointedly returning his pocket watch into the vest of his pocket. "Come with me. Mrs. Campbell, I leave the circulation staff in your capable hands."
He walked out from behind the circulation desk and began walking to an office in the back, entering it and sitting behind his desk. Ariel followed him in and he asked her to close the door, then sit down. He pressed his hands together at the fingertips while he looked steadily at her.
"Are you wearing makeup?" he asked.
"Just some face powder to reduce the natural redness of my cheeks," replied Ariel. "Is that permitted?"
"Yes, just don't wear anything more," he said. "No lipstick or eye makeup. Our patrons are here on serious business and they don't need to be distracted by a young woman trying to flaunt her beauty by excessive makeup."
Ariel kept her face as neutral as possible, remembering her training on early 20th century attitudes towards women.
"What you are wearing today is acceptable," he said. "Remember you are presenting yourself as an example of the fairer sex. No trousers, skirts must be below your knees, and if you wear a suit you must wear a blouse underneath. Do you smoke?"
"No sir," she stated.
"Good, we don't want our patrons to smell cigarette smoke on you," he said. "Now, you are part time, which means you are here every Wednesday from 9 am until 5 pm, then Thursday evening 5 pm until 9 pm, and all day Saturday 9 am until 5 pm. If you are late you will have pay docked from your paycheque. If you are late more than three times in a month it will be grounds for dismissal. You have your degree in Library Science?"
"Yes sir, with distinction," replied Ariel.
"Hmph," was his response to that. "You will start with shelving books, relieving on the circulation desk for breaks and lunch. After a month we will assess your work and decide whether to permit you to perform reference work. Come with me and I will introduce you to Miss Warren who is in charge of shelving."
He stood up and Ariel followed him to a back room where there were several carts with books being stacked in order for re-shelving. A woman in her early 30s was taking the books from one cart and organizing them on another. He introduced Ariel to her and left them there. When he was out of earshot Miss Warren looked at Ariel.
"Don't worry about him," she said. "He's just biding his time until he can retire. Stay out of his way and his attention, and you'll be fine. Come with me and I'll show you where to hang up your coat and purse."
After returning they began working together organizing the book carts by Dewey Decimal number then each took a cart out into the library and began shelving them in the correct position in the stacks. About an hour into it, while on her third cart Ariel pushed the cart in between two shelving units deep in the stacks and heard a male voice from the other side of one of the units.
"How is your first day working out?"
She looked between the books and saw the bright blue eyes of Bucky on the other side.
"What are you doing here?" she asked in a low voice.
"Checking up on you," he said. "Did you find out if you're working Friday night?"
"I'm not but I do have to be at work at 9 am on Saturday morning," she whispered. "Now go away before you get me into trouble. Shouldn't you be working?"
"Not enough work on the docks today," he said. He looked both ways and came around to her side. "You look very academic today."
She felt her cheeks get hot which was silly as it wasn't much of a compliment. "Bucky, really, you should go," she said.
"I have a library card," he said. "I'm entitled to look for a book."
He pulled a book out and showed it to her. The Hood Basic Cook Book was the title and he began looking through the pages.
"Mmmm, clam fritters," he said. "Sounds tasty." Ariel started laughing and he smiled that smile at her. Then his face went softer. "What time are you off?"
"5 o'clock," she answered. "Really, go before you get me fired on my first day."
"I'll pick you up, make sure you get home safely," he said, his blue eyes boring into her.
"Fine but please leave me alone until then," she begged.
"Is there more toil? Since thou dost give me pains, Let me remember thee what thou hast promised," he whispered, then he smiled, put the cook book back in its place and left, walking past her while trailing his fingertips across hers as he passed by.
The man quoted Shakespeare at her, and not just any line but a line spoken by Ariel in The Tempest. She watched him saunter away and wondered what his fingertips would feel like tracing a line from her lips down her neck. Shaking her head to remove the thought she resumed shelving the books on her cart. When her lunch break came she ate the sandwich she had in her purse and put a nickel in the jar to have a coffee from the urn in the little staff room. Two others that were working in the processing office came in for their lunch break and introduced themselves. Alma Flett and Irina Jacob were both recent college graduates and considered themselves lucky to get a job in their neighbourhood. They leaned forward towards Ariel.
"Did Bucky Barnes come back to see you?" they asked in a low voice. "You know about him, right?"
"Know what, exactly?" asked Ariel, making sure her brooch was turned towards them to pick up their conversation.
"He's a Tom cat," said Alma. "I mean, he's easy on the eyes but he's out for one thing and it isn't your good reputation."
"Actually it is," giggled Irina. "He's out to ruin it."
"He's been a gentleman to me," said Ariel.
They looked at her as if she were crazy. "Just be careful," cautioned Alma. "Don't get caught alone with him. Especially not in a dark place. Although I heard his kisses are dreamy."
"He's walking me home after work," said Ariel, noticing the shocked expressions on their faces. "That's safe isn't it?"
"Stay on the sidewalk," said Irina. "Don't go into an alleyway with him."
They were interrupted by Mr. Grayson who looked sternly at all of them and they ate their meal in silence as he pulled his lunch out of the icebox and sat at another table with a newspaper. With a minute left to go in her lunch Mr. Grayson looked up from his newspaper and focussed his attention on Ariel so she stood up, straightening her clothing and went back to the shelving room where there were more carts of unsorted books waiting to be put into order. She bent herself to the task and by the time her shift was over she and Miss Warren had managed to shelve three quarters of the books. Picking up her jacket and purse Ariel stopped in the ladies room and was in the stall when she heard Irina and Alma come into the space.
"Can't believe he was in the Shakespeare section looking up The Tempest," said Alma. "Well, I hope she knows what she's letting herself in for."
"A good time?" giggled Irina. "Seriously, what does he see in her? Your hair is so much nicer than that nest she has. I wonder if he'll drag that creepy Steve out to walk her home. Can't stand that little runt."
They washed their hands and whispered something that made them each giggle then Ariel heard them leave. She wondered herself if Steve Rogers would show up on the walk home and was curious to see him in the flesh, knowing what would happen to him later. After flushing the toilet and washing her hands Ariel put her jacket on and walked to the front door of the Library. Bucky was waiting for her, leaning against a lamp post. Beside him was a smaller blonde man. He had to be the runt referred to in the ladies room.
"Ariel Black, meet my friend Steve Rogers," said Bucky. "He was walking by and I said he might as well walk with us."
"Hi Steve, nice to meet you," said Ariel, extending her hand.
He looked at Bucky who nodded encouragement and he shook her hand. "Ariel, nice to meet you, too," he said, then he coughed nervously. "You're Mr. Burnett's niece?"
"Yes, I am," she said. "I just arrived from Montana yesterday. Bucky carried my trunk up the stairs to the apartment. Such a gentleman."
Bucky threw a big smile at his friend and placed himself on the outside of the sidewalk, beside the traffic as Steve placed himself on the opposite side of Ariel as they started walking.
"What's Montana like?" asked Steve, cautiously.
"Lot's of prairie, open sky, mountains," she said. "Brutal winters. Hot summers."
"Not much open sky here," he replied. "I'd like to see Montana, someday."
"I'm sure you will," said Ariel, then she looked up at Bucky. "Two of my coworkers talked to me about you."
"Alma and Irina," he stated flatly. "They warned you off me, didn't they? I have a bit of a reputation but my intentions are always honourable."
Steve smirked and Ariel found it difficult not to smile. "I'm sure they all start out that way," she commented, then placed her hand in the crook of Bucky's left arm.
He lifted his left hand across his body in response then looked down at her and smiled putting his other hand on top of hers for a moment before returning it to his other side. She looked sideways at Steve who also seemed more relaxed.
"So, what do you two do when you're at loose ends?" she asked. "My uncle isn't within earshot so you can speak a little more candidly than yesterday."
Bucky laughed lightly and looked down at her again. "We do what I told you yesterday but I go to the jazz clubs a couple of times a month, or to a dance hall," he said. "Do you dance?"
"Not well, unfortunately," she said. "I'm not a fan of square dancing and that is common in rural Montana. I prefer slow dancing. I do like jazz. I could listen to Billie Holliday and Duke Ellington all night long. What about movies? What do you two fellas like?"
"Just about anything, except the real weepy ones," said Steve. "Adventure, detective, westerns, war movies. Bucky has a younger sister that we have to take with us every so often so we've seen Wizard of Oz, which was interesting, and Fantasia. It was alright."
"How many brothers and sisters do you both have?" she asked, already knowing the answer but playing her part.
"None," said Steve. "I'm an orphan. Bucky just has Rebecca. You?"
"None," she replied. "I'm an orphan as well. My Mother died of the Spanish flu when I was little and Dad died of a heart attack last year. Uncle Merton is my Mother's brother and when my job fell through in Missoula he said I was welcome to live here and help him in the antique store. Have you known my Uncle long?"
"Ever since he opened his store," said Bucky. "It was much smaller then but he always had odd jobs for both of us, cleaning the floors, polishing silverware, that sort of thing. He had some interesting books as well that he lent me, fiction and non-fiction." He stopped talking for a bit then cleared his throat. "Some people think he's queer as he never seems to date but he's never come on to either of us. If he is it's none of our business."
"To be honest, my Dad always thought there was something queer about him but he's always been kind to me and that's what's important right?" stated Ariel. "Besides, I've heard stories about cowboys out on the range with their herds that would make your hair curl."
Bucky laughed out loud and shook his head. "You are an interesting woman," he said. "You looked so prim and proper in the Library but I'm guessing you know a lot of things that a young lady of your age shouldn't."
Ariel didn't give him an answer on that one as she realized she almost let slip more than she should have for the depth of their acquaintance. She was unaware that Merton had provided books to Barnes but it made sense that he would encourage the self education that the man was known for, although it bordered on interference in the timeline. Later, once she shut her recording devices down she would bring it up. The three of them continued walking and she noticed both men seemed to be watching out for her. They passed a construction site and Bucky waved at a couple of the men. On the way to the Library in the morning she received her first catcalls from this very site. She could understand why women of the time would cross the street under such onslaughts of sexually suggestive comments. Now that Bucky was with her there were none and she glanced at him, noticing the intensity of his gaze at the work site.
"Interesting," she thought. "He obviously has enough influence to stop the comments when we're together. I wonder if I'll get any now that they've seen me with him."
"That's strange," she said out loud. "I received all sorts of comments this morning on my way past here. Now, nothing."
"They won't, not while I'm with you," stated Bucky. "I'm sorry for the wolf whistle I gave you yesterday. That's usually the most I'll do when I see a pretty lady. These guys go too far and they know it."
She stopped walking. "You don't get into fights over that do you?" she asked innocently.
His face flushed and he looked away. Ariel looked over at Steve who had a bit of a grin on his face.
"He's usually intervening when I get into a fight," he said. "I don't know when to stay down and keep my mouth shut sometimes. He's come to my rescue a few times. Bucky's a very good boxer, three years YMCA welterweight champion."
"Really?" she asked, squeezing Bucky's arm. "Were you good enough to turn professional?"
"I am good enough but it's not the most clean sport," he replied. "The mob has their fingers in it and they would likely want me to take dives against their preferred fighter. I'm too honest for that so I just box for the fun of it now."
They approached a pet store with several puppies and kittens in the window. Ariel pulled her hand away from Bucky's arm and stood in front of the window, trailing her finger along the surface of the glass as the young animals jumped up against the barrier.
"My goodness, they're so cute," she said, noticing Bucky standing close to her again with his hand lightly on her back. "I should ask Uncle Merton if he minds if I have a pet. I had a dog in Missoula but I left him with a friend as he was used to being outside all day. I didn't think it was fair to keep him cooped up in an apartment in the city."
"What kind of dog?" asked Steve.
"A mutt," she said. "He was big and had wiry fur. His name was Walter." She blinked her eyes and willed some tears to her eyes as she turned away from the window. "Sorry, I'm missing him right now."
Both men took a handkerchief out of their pockets and she smiled sadly at them both, then took hers out of her purse, deciding not to favour one of them over the other. After she put her handkerchief back inside her purse she placed her hand on Bucky's arm again and looked up at him. A kind smile was on his face and he squeezed her hand lightly with his other. She noticed that Steve had the same kind smile and she wondered if they were that attuned to each other that the younger man wouldn't even try to compete but let Bucky be the dominant male. Impulsively she reached out with her left hand and placed it in the crook of Steve's right arm. Immediately he looked to Bucky who smiled with encouragement. Steve bent his arm to accommodate her touch and they walked together as a threesome until they delivered her safely to the antique store. They stood outside the store then Steve said he was going in to talk to Ariel's uncle. Bucky stood out on the sidewalk with Ariel, towering over her.
"That was a nice thing you did for Steve, taking his arm like that," he said. "Not many girls care for him."
"He's nice," she said. "A gentleman, like you."
"What's your work schedule like?" he asked. She told him and he nodded. "I'll stop by on my lunch break and see you here tomorrow."
He pulled her away from the window and opened the door to the stairwell, pulling her inside and closing the door so they were blocked from view. As Ariel leaned back against the wall he leaned over her, his right hand resting on the wall above her shoulder.
"You know I like you," he said in a low voice that surprised her with its physical effect on her. The man had presence. "How are you getting home after work tomorrow night?"
"Uncle Merton is picking me up in the van," she said.
He nodded as if he understood. Gently he took a section of her hair between his fingers and played with it as he gazed at her with those intense blue eyes. Lowering his lips to hers he kissed her softly, with the barest touch of his tongue on hers. She could taste cigarette tobacco but on him it seemed natural, part of him, like the clean smell of soap on his body. Her fingertips grazed his chest lightly and she felt him smile during this chaste kiss. Then he stood up to his full height.
"I'll see you tomorrow," he said quietly and opened the door to the street, leaving her leaning against the wall.
Steve was waiting on the sidewalk and smiled at her. Stepping out she watched the two men leave, noticing Bucky looked back at her several times before they were out of sight. Then she walked into the store where Merton was closing up. He was grinning.
"Well, that was interesting," he said. "You might get a pet tomorrow, a kitten. Steve did the asking but I'm guessing Bucky will buy it."
"He kissed me in the stairwell," she said. "It was very nice and respectful. I'm guessing it will escalate. Steve just stepped away and let him make the first move although Bucky didn't show any jealousy when I took Steve's arm. Interesting dynamic between them. They both know you're gay, by the way. Figured it out early but said since you didn't come on to them they thought you were alright. How do you manage that in these times?"
"I go on buying trips every so often," he replied. "I have acquaintances and we keep it low key. I never bring anyone home here. That would be asking for trouble."
"Bucky said you gave him books to read," she asked. "Wasn't that pushing the boundaries a little?"
"Not at all," he said. "I had them on display and he indicated he wanted to read them so I lent them to him. He is a voracious reader and is surprisingly well educated."
"Bucky came to see me at the Library," admitted Ariel. "Quoted a line from The Tempest. That surprised me."
"Expect more of those," he said. "That's why I didn't want to say anything to you before. Both men are surprising in many ways. I expect Steve will draw a portrait of you. He is a talented artist, went to art school for a year and I believe both men will consider going to art school again next year."
She helped Merton count out the day's sales and set up the cash float for the following day, locking the cash drawer and the proceeds in a safe under the counter. Then they both turned off the lights and Merton pulled over an expanding steel gate from each side of the store front over the windows and door, locking them into place. He allowed her into the stairwell first and they went up the stairs together. Over dinner she discussed her first day of work in a Carnegie library and they spent another hour discussing sex roles in the early 20th century. By the time Ariel got into bed she was filled with anticipation for the possibility of a pet being gifted to her. She was also anticipating the next kiss. As Alma mentioned, Bucky's kisses were dreamy.