Mute (Muted Trilogy Book 1) (9 page)

She looked at Jemma again and blushed. “I’m sorry,” she wrote. “I guess I just really needed to get that out, and you’re a familiar face and you looked like you might be a good listener, so thank you.”

“It’s okay. I hope everything gets better for you soon,” LeVar Burton relayed for Jemma. Mariah nodded and collected her books, looking toward Jemma again and waving before moving out of sight and then out the door.

Alone again, Jemma made a circuit around the library, straightening the almost-perfect section Mariah had been looking through. She took a moment to appreciate her family. Even if she had been unable to hear them, it would have been awkward, painful, but they’d still have been there for each other, would still have been a family. Jemma knew she’d always have people to turn to, even if they didn’t always understand her. She heard the door open and close, and she walked back to the circulation desk.

Jack came in, grinning when he saw her. He approached the desk, finger hovering over the tablet’s volume button, eyebrow arched questioningly. Jemma nodded, and he turned the volume off before typing.

How was your week?
he wrote.

It was fine
, she wrote back.
Slow. I think everyone has wanted to be home.

That makes sense, for those who have someone at home they can Talk to.

Jemma glanced up at him. He was wearing his normal, charismatic smile.

Do you?
she typed.
Have someone to Talk to, I mean.

My dad. He lives next door to me. He’s been sick, so I’ve been working at his house. It’s nice to be able to hear him call if he needs anything. Means I can look out the window while he naps. What about you?

He watched her while she typed.
My family… Mom, Dad, sister. I hope your dad feels better.

He is better, for now. He gets sick a lot, more since Mom died. That’s why I moved in next door. He’s got several good years left in him yet, though.
He tapped the counter next to the tablet as he thought.
Okay, I’ve got to get to work. Fell behind this week. I’ll catch you later.

Jemma nodded and gave him a small wave as he moved up to his table.

***

When the doors opened again a couple hours later, Jemma looked up from her Excel spreadsheet in time to see Cecily, the director of the library branch, come in, a sour look on her face. It softened some when she saw Jemma, whom she quickly joined behind the counter. Jemma remained where she was as Cecily reached for the tablet, turning it to face them and propping it up on the kickstand.

“The tablets were a good idea. The main branch is using them now.” She frowned when LeVar Burton started narrating, then grinned, posture relaxing slightly. When she looked at Jemma, her smile dimmed. Had Jemma done something wrong? “They didn’t tell me we were open,” wrote Cecily. “I thought just the main branch was open. It made sense and seemed easier. I wouldn’t have left you here to shoulder the branch by yourself. I went in to see whether we’d be reopening in two weeks along with the East branch, and I was shocked to learn our branch had been the first to reopen, courtesy of your efforts.”

“It gave me something to do,” Jemma typed. “I didn’t mind. I couldn’t quite manage our normal hours.”

“You’ve been doing all the work yourself and are only ten hours short of hours typically managed by three or more employees. That’s much more than reasonable.” She scowled. “You would think they’d have found a way to contact me. Never could get my work email to connect right at home, and I know I didn’t have my cell phone on file, but if they’d dialed my house number enough times I’d have tried to figure out who it was calling.”

“I think everyone’s been busy playing catch up,” typed Jemma.

“Have we been this deserted the whole time?” asked Cecily.

Jemma shook her head. “We were fairly busy until the telepathy kicked in. It seems like we might start getting back to normal, though.”

Cecily nodded. “One can only spend so long talking to the same person all day. A need to get out of the house is what prompted me to check in with Jessica.” She gestured at the tablet. “The voice is a nice touch. They’re using someone I’ve never heard of over at the downtown library. Reading Rainbow is a wonderful association to have in a library.”

Jemma brightened, remembering one of the things that had turned up during her free time that morning. “There’s an add-on to this app that lets you scan text. I was thinking that if we want business to pick up further, maybe we could have story time here, using this app to read.”

“That sounds like a lovely plan,” typed Cecily. “You’ve been thriving here, haven’t you?”

The computer chimed, and Jemma glanced at the screen to see a message from Jack.

She’s been doing an amazing job, Mrs. Johnson.

Feeling her cheeks warm, Jemma gestured to the computer for Cecily to see.

“Who’s that?” she asked, and Jemma pointed up to the balcony as Jack approached it, waving. When Cecily had dipped her head in acknowledgment, Jack went back to his table. “I’m glad we haven’t lost all our regulars.”

“A lot of them have still been coming in,” wrote Jemma. “Just not this week.”

“They’ll be back,” typed Cecily. “I’m sure of it. You and I can work out a schedule to return to normal hours. I’ve been unable to reach Susan. Her sister had her cell phone when I texted it, and she said Susan and her husband went on one of those end-of-the-world cruises, but I wasn’t able to confirm, and the dratted things don’t have return dates. I wanted to get in touch with you, too, of course, but the employee roster hasn’t been updated since you started. I only knew your work email, and as I mentioned, I had no idea you were already back.” Cecily looked at her watch before she continued typing. “There’s an event downtown tonight for the library directors. Come to it; you’ve been serving as an interim director, after all. I doubt we can change your pay rate for the past couple of weeks, but you’ll certainly be more than welcome tonight.”

Jemma rubbed the back of her neck before reaching for the tablet again. “What sort of an event?”

“It’s a casual dinner at the main library. It’s a fairly regular occurrence. It helps management stay on the same page without having to pay us overtime.” Cecily’s lips twitched, some of her formal demeanor slipping. “I insist. You wouldn’t argue with LeVar Burton, now would you?”

Jemma chuckled soundlessly. “I suppose not.”

Cecily smiled. “It starts at six, but you can come after you close, unless you had something else planned. I’d like to discuss something with you and Jessica.”

Jemma nodded, and Cecily reached out her hand. They shook, and then Cecily left. Jemma scratched her head. Seeing her immediate supervisor use the patron entrance was odd. Her computer chimed again with another message from Jack.

CapJack284: Didn’t mean to intrude. You should come sit up here some time while the tablet is speaking. It’s almost as loud up here as it is right next to it. Must be something about the shape of the building.

LibraryOneWest: It’s all right
.

CapJack284: Not really. I think that’s twice now I’ve probably come across as a bit oblivious to boundaries. We’re here a lot, and I would hate to make you uncomfortable
, he sent.
With that electronic voice, I couldn’t tell whether she was upset with you or not. No inflection. She seems like a fine person, but she’s not often complimentary. I HAVE heard her sarcastic, though, so… I just thought it might help.

LibraryOneWest: I appreciate it
.

Jemma glanced at the lower right of the screen.

LibraryOneWest: We close in an hour.

CapJack284: Aye, aye ;)

She switched back over to her spreadsheet, finishing it quickly and running the evening reports, logging the small amount of foot traffic in the appropriate book. At quarter of five, her computer chimed again, twice in quick succession.

CapJack284: I bet she wants to talk to you about a promotion.

CapJack284: I’m sorry. Boundaries. You’ll let me know if I cross them?

She smiled and responded.

Don’t worry, you’ll know if you do.

CapJack284: Actually, can you tell me BEFORE I cross your boundaries? I suspect upsetting my librarian could be traumatizing. I might be permanently affected by the scolding.

LibraryOneWest: Ha! Okay, sure, I’ll let you know if you get close to making me uncomfortable.

CapJack284: Whew. That’s a relief.

CapJack284: Also, I’m glad you didn’t say “LOL.” That might have damaged my trusting nature, saying you’re laughing out loud when you’re silent.

LibraryOneWest: That would be unfortunate.

Jemma felt a little off-balance. She bantered like this with her sister, but she never had with a patron. She held her hands over the keys for a moment before she sent another message.

LibraryOneWest: What are people saying now, anyway?

CapJack284: Well, it depends. I’ve seen LS (laughing silently), LOTI (laughing on the inside), and WLOL (would laugh out loud). I don’t really frequent a lot of sites with those acronyms though, honestly. I just try to keep up with technical slang since I feel a bit like a poser if I don’t know them.

LibraryOneWest: Makes sense. I do the same thing with books I have no interest in. My patrons might need me to know.

CapJack284: Exactly.

Jemma glanced at the clock again.
Closing time.

CapJack284: Yes ma’am.

Before she could respond, there was a notification that he’d gone offline. She shut down her computer, and he came down the stairs. They left the library together, and he waved and walked to his car while she locked the door. When she started walking to her own car, he waved again and drove off. She was watching him pull out in his little station wagon, reaching for her door handle when she heard a clattering noise from the far end of the parking lot. As had been the case the other night, when she looked, she saw nothing. Unsettled, she got in her car, locking the doors and heading toward the downtown library as soon as she’d gotten buckled.

CHAPTER NINE:

Moving Up

After settling her nerves from the unexpected noise, Jemma turned her mind toward the upcoming meeting and gathering. What did Cecily want to talk to her about? Jack’s suggestion of a promotion was a possibility, and certainly one of the only options she could think of that made much sense, but now that Cecily had returned, Jemma didn’t think that was the case. It was possible this was just to discuss a policy change, but Jessica could have easily used email for that.

She considered and discarded a dozen possibilities on her drive, some more far-fetched than others. When Jemma finally entered the main library, Cecily gestured to her from Jessica’s office. Jemma joined her, sitting next to Cecily on the other side of Jessica’s desk. Jessica was on her computer, and two tablets with keyboards were opened up to an instant messenger on the nearer side of the desk. Jemma waved at Jessica and Cecily, then set down her purse and turned her attention to the screen in front of her.

JessicaTLibrary1: I’ve set up a conference so we can speak.

LibraryLibrarian011: It’s for the three of us.

LibraryLibrarian012: Hi, Cecily. Hi, Jessica. How are you doing this evening?

Jemma watched the other two as they typed their responses to her question. They seemed themselves, best she could tell.

LibraryLibrarian011: Just as well as I was when I saw you last, thank you.

JessicaTLibrary1: I am doing well. I hope you can help me be even better.

LibraryLibrarian012: How can I help?

Cecily started typing while Jessica watched, letting her answer the question.

LibraryLibrarian011: The events of the past couple weeks have made me reevaluate my life. I still want to work, still want to stay at the library, but I’m no longer comfortable devoting the vast majority of my waking hours to work. I’ll not admit to being old for many years yet, but I AM increasing in age. I’m missing things in my grandchildren’s lives, missing seeing them grow up.

JessicaTLibrary1: We were hoping that you could take over, officially, as director of the west branch.

LibraryLibrarian011: I will, of course, retain my position until we find another suitable candidate, if you are unwilling to assume the position.

JessicaTLibrary1: But you’ve been doing such an excellent job that you were the logical first choice.

Jemma looked between the two women, unsure. It wasn’t that she hadn’t been enjoying the job, but…

LibraryLibrarian012: I’ve only been working for the library for a few months. Surely there’s a seniority issue?

Jessica shook her head.

JessicaTLibrary1: With the staffing shortage, the city has given me free rein to hire the person best suited to the job, regardless of whether they meet our typical requirements. You may be new, but you have never been lacking. After this event and your ability to work through it and compensate for it, I can’t think of a single person better suited.