“Where are you going next?” Miguel asked.
Rosa had a destination in mind, but she wasn’t about to tell Miguel.
“I’m going home,” she said. It wasn’t a lie so much as a tad misleading. She was going to go home eventually.
16
Rosa parked across the street from the Santa Bonita Library, willing her pulse to calm down. Pulling a handkerchief from her purse, she pressed its cool surface against her forehead. She was perspiring because she was yet unused to the persistent California heat. It had nothing to do with that building.
Whatsoever.
Closing her eyes, Rosa inhaled deeply through her nose and slowly released it through her mouth. She was being silly. She’d already been in Miguel’s company far more than she’d dreamed since her arrival in Santa Bonita. How hard would it be to face the ghosts of the past?
Hard.
But, Rosa told herself, she was stronger than she thought, and after the first few minutes inside, once the onslaught of the memories was over, she could put it all behind her. She glanced at the empty seat beside her, wishing she had her furry deputy to talk to. Diego would purr appropriately and encourage her to get on with it.
It’s just an ordinary library, nothing more nor less.
Rosa rallied her reserves of strength and opened the driver’s door of the Bel Air. Just one step at a time was all it took.
Suddenly she was in her school outfit, a slender skirt that landed mid-calf with a kick pleat at the back, a white blouse, and a scarf tied in a bow at her neck. Her hair was longer, with the side pieces pinned up into curls on the top of her head and the back smoothly curled under.
Like now, Rosa’s heart beat as strongly then, because in those days visits to the library no longer meant studying for exams, but clandestinely meeting up with Miguel.
Pulling on the brass handle of the heavy wooden door, Rosa stepped inside and was immediately accosted by the comforting smell of books. The Santa Bonita Library wasn’t large, and reminded Rosa more of a large West Coast house that had all the utilities and walls stripped out of it, and couldn’t compare to the vast and ancient British Library. But it serviced the small community well and due to the community college, also had a good collection of non-fiction trade books.
Inside, nothing had changed. The shelves were situated exactly the same way as a decade before, with the same tables in the same places. Even the librarian, Miss Cumberbatch, a slender lady who, except for shorter hair and a few more lines on her face, seemed unchanged.
Her serious expression took on a look of surprise when she spotted Rosa. With a husky, low voice imitating a whisper she said, “Miss Reed?”
Rosa took quick strides to the checkout desk, and keeping her voice low, replied, “Hello, Miss Cumberbatch. Is it still Miss Cumberbatch?”
The side of the librarian’s mouth twitched. “It is. I suppose you’ve got a new name, though.”
“Actually not. I’ve not yet married.”
Miss Cumberbatch’s eyes shone with something akin to camaraderie. “What brings you back to Santa Bonita?”
“My family. I thought it was time for a visit.”
“Of course. You are part of the Forrester clan.”
“That’s right.”
“Can I help you with something? Or are you here to browse.”
“I’m here to browse, thank you.”
Rosa knew this library like the back of her hand, and knew exactly where she wanted to go.
And where she didn’t. Specifically, the area behind the lesser-visited section of the ancient history tomes. Even turning her back to that corner couldn’t keep the memories flooding in. The very first time Miguel had spoken to her, and how enamored she felt to be found of interest by an American soldier. Miguel almost always wore his uniform in those days, with a service hat on a closely shaved head.
She’d been undone by his smile, and those dimples! Rosa was amazed her weakened knees were capable of holding her up at all.
She’d lacked the wisdom that comes with age and hard knocks, and had steadfastly ignored all the warning signs that clearly yelled that their young romance was doomed, and that she’d suffer for far longer than the short amount of joyous time she’d so readily signed up for.
Shaking off the reverie with a violent shudder, Rosa went to a section on the opposite side of the library, to the shelf where books about the topic of electricity and electrical engineering could be found.
Running her fingers along the spines, Rosa removed a textbook of interest and opened the cover to the page that held all the copyright information. On the flyleaf, a pocket added by the librarians held the sign-out card. Each borrower’s name was written on the card, along with a notation of the date it was due back to the library, the most recent borrower listed at the bottom.
Rosa’s heart stopped. The last person to check out the textbook was Gloria Forrester!
Rosa quickly removed another manual, and then a third, and her horror built. Gloria’s name occurred in each one.
What on earth was Gloria doing with these textbooks? Surely she had no interest in the science of electricity? At least not beyond the scope of one book.
“Rosa?”
Rosa startled at the sound of her name. More accurately at the voice which spoke her name.
The textbook in her hand slipped to the floor.
“Miguel? I thought you were headed to the Lobster Bar?”
“I thought you were going home.”
“I am. I just thought I’d stop in the library first.” A nervous laugh followed. “You know how I like to read.”
Miguel picked up the textbook and gave her a knowing look. “It seems great minds think alike.”
Which explained why Miguel was in the same section. They both wanted to educate themselves on the mechanics of the crime that had resulted in Victor Boyd’s death.
Rosa selected the two books still on the shelf. “Well, I think these will do.”
“You know that you’re not officially on
