She rolled her eyes again, though this time it was as much with amusement as it was exasperation. "I may have hurt the apple industry but I've more than made up for it with the lightbulb folks."

"You gonna be okay?" he asked as he walked across the office and stopped just before the door.

"I am. Thank you." And she meant it. Before Milo Wentworth had arrived in her office she'd been the epitome of the desperate female. His calming voice and clear thoughts had been the only thing to talk her off the cliff.

"You had it in you the whole time, Tori. Your eyes just got a little cloudy for a minute." He nodded at Nina. "Good luck you two."

And then he was gone. A sense of determination and hope left in his wake.

"We can do this, Nina." She looked at her assistant, knew the optimistic smile she saw on the woman's face was a mirror of her own. "But I need you to do something for me."

"Anything."

She grabbed a pad of paper from the top of her desk and wrote ten children's titles on the top page before ripping it off and handing it to Nina. "Can you find these books for me and place them in a pile by the head table?"

Nina's gaze skimmed down the page, a light twinkling in her eyes. When she reached the bottom of the list she looked up and nodded in satisfaction. "Consider it done."

And then she, too, was gone.

Buoyed by the confidence of both Milo and Nina, Tori flipped off the light switch and headed into the hall, her mind focused on the task in front of her. The children's room was a no-brainer. It simply made sense-from a standpoint of utilizing a perfectly good room and from the board's desire to bring some fresh ideas and positive change to the Sweet Briar Public Library.

She was simply backing up the very reason they hired her. And in less than a month. All she needed to do was lay out her idea in as persuasive a way as possible. The rest was out of her hands.

Knowing that made it easier to walk down the hallway and face the people who'd hired her for this position. Winston Hohlbrook, the board's president, had been high on her from the very first interview. And if Lincoln Porter and James Polk had had any initial reservations about bringing in someone from up north, those were gone by the second interview.

The one commonality between all of their feedback? They liked her enthusiasm for books and her passionate ideas for reaching the community through various literary endeavors. The children's room should simply be seen as the first concrete step in fulfilling those initial impressions.

"Good evening, everyone." Tori smiled as she walked into the branch, a hush falling over the assembled crowd as she stopped to shake a few hands before taking her place at the head table beside the board members.

As she looked out over the larger-than-expected crowd of Sweet Briar residents she felt her mouth go dry at the sight of Investigator Daniel McGuire in the front row-Leona Elkin at his side and Dixie Dunn at hers.

She swallowed over the lump that sprang into her throat. Who was she kidding? The board hadn't gotten a young librarian with fresh new ideas and energy to spare. They'd gotten a murder suspect.

A quick motion to the left of the investigator brought Milo within sight-the man who'd single-handedly rallied her mood. A raspy cough pulled her attention even farther to the left, to a group of women who'd come to support her efforts. Lifting her hand in a tiny wave, she felt her eyes grow moist as she smiled at Rose, Debbie, and Margaret Louise.

You can do this, Tori.

"I'd like to welcome everyone to the Sweet Briar Public Library's monthly meeting." Winston Hohlbrook stood behind his chair, his shoulders arched back as he addressed the crowd. "I'm not quite sure when we last saw this many people at a library meeting but I, for one, am thrilled.

"Now I wish I could say the turnout is for me and my ease with a crowd but as much as I hate to do it, I need to acknowledge you're not here for me." Winston gestured to Tori, encouraging her to stand and face the audience. "I believe you're here on account of our brand-new librarian, Victoria Sinclair."

A polite smattering of applause sprang up around the room, followed by an ear-piercing whistle.

Margaret Louise.

"People are naturally drawn to a train wreck," mumbled Dixie beneath her breath.

If anyone in the room heard the former librarian, they gave no indication.

"Victoria, would you like to take over?" Winston pulled out his chair and lowered himself down, his genuine smile giving no indication he was fazed by the murder talk making the rounds of Sweet Briar.

Forcing herself to disregard Dixie's slam, she clasped her hands together and looked out over the crowd. "Yes, thank you, Mr. Hohlbrook. Although I haven't been here three weeks yet, I can honestly say I love this library. I love the collection the board has built, I love the patrons, and"-she gestured to Milo-"I love the students who have been visiting our branch on a weekly basis."

A few heads nodded in the crowd as the board members beamed.

"You mean you love their teacher," Dixie quipped.

Tori felt her face warm as the woman's words echoed through the room, knew her palms were sweating as Investigator McGuire crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes in intrigue.

She didn't need to look to know the board members were growing uncomfortable with the former librarian's barbs. She didn't need Milo or anyone else to fill in the blanks as to what would happen to her idea if she didn't plow ahead anyway.

"I love the children, Ms. Dunn," Tori gently corrected before moving on with her plan. "But perhaps what I've enjoyed the most so far is looking around this building and seeing the amazing potential to serve Sweet Briar residents on a grander scale." She stepped out from behind the table and swept her hand across the shelves of picture books and independent readers. "In particular, the children of Sweet Briar."

Winston Hohlbrook shifted in his seat as he brought his chin to rest between his thumb and index finger.

"Most people develop their love of reading as children. Those who love to read as youngsters tend to read throughout their life. Those who don't tend to avoid books altogether."

Heads nodded.

"For some children, the simple act of reading stirs the imagination and they can lose themselves in the pages of a book. They need no prompting. Others"-she looked at Rose and Margaret Louise-"need someone to show them the excitement of books. To help make them come alive.

"And that's what I want to do with a brand-new children's room."

Tori stole a look in the board's direction, saw the shifting and posturing she'd anticipated. Focusing back on the community she continued. "A children's room that I can create without a construction crew and without spending more than about four hundred dollars, at most."

"How is that possible, Miss Sinclair?" Lincoln Porter, one of the board members, asked.

Tori clapped her hands softly as the excitement she'd been feeding off of since the moment she saw the storage room bubbled up. "Before I explain the specifics of my plan I'd like to take a little field trip. Right down that hall." She pointed to the hallway visible in the back center of the room. "I think seeing the gem that's lurking under this roof will make the rest of my ideas easier to envision."

Grabbing the stack of books Nina had gathered, Tori headed down the hallway toward her office, bypassing her door in favor of one across the hall. "C'mon everyone, there's room for all of us."

She stepped inside the former storage room, a spacious section of the building that was finally rid of the countless boxes and moldy books that had claimed the space for far too long, and waited for the others to follow. Sure enough, as each person made their way into the room, various oohs and ahhs invariably followed.

"James, did you know this room was so big?" Lincoln Porter asked his fellow board member.

"I had no idea. Did you, Winston?"

The board president studied the room, a look of genuine surprise spreading across his face. "I most certainly did not."

As the remaining visitors found a place inside the room, Tori continued. "This room went unnoticed because of the countless storage boxes that were in here at any given time." She pointed to her assistant. "Nina and I spent hours going through each and every box. What was salvageable has been put down in the basement for the sale and what wasn't-due to neglect-was thrown away."

"This is tremendous, Miss Sinclair."

She nodded, her enthusiasm obviously spreading to the board. "The windows, although relatively small, provide a nice amount of natural light during the day and ensure that we won't break any code violations by using this as an extension of the library."

"What are your plans, Miss Sinclair?" Winston Hohlbrook prodded.

"I want to make this a children's room-the kind of place that ignites a child's love for reading by bringing books to life."

"And you think you can do that for under five hundred bucks?" James Polk asked in obvious disbelief.

"Less than four hundred, actually." Tori set the pile of books at her feet and opened the first one with one hand as she swept her free one across the wall behind where she stood. "Can't you just see Cinderella's castle on this wall right here? And Jack's beanstalk over here?" She spun around and walked to the wall behind the board president. "And maybe Laura Ingalls's house in the Big Woods right here?"

"Wouldn't that kind of artwork cost a small fortune?" Investigator McGuire interjected.

"Not if I do it, it won't."

"You can do that kind of work, Miss Sinclair?" Lincoln Porter asked, surprise evident in his voice.

"With the help of an overhead projector-yes I can."

"And where would you come up with the money this town would need to protect itself when we get slapped with a lawsuit over copyright infringement?" Dixie Dunn challenged with glee.

All eyes left the surrounding walls to focus on Tori.

"Miss Sinclair?" Winston prompted.

"My plan for bringing these scenes to life would not infringe on any copyrights whatsoever." Tori met Dixie Dunn's smug smile with one of her own before bringing the rest of her ideas to the crowd. "So other than some paint and some inexpensive carpet, there would be no expense."

"We already have the books to fill the room," Debbie Calhoun stated happily.

"We most certainly do. Our library has a wonderful collection of children's books. This room would just enhance what we already have."

"Do you have any other plans?" a man in the back asked.

Tori nodded. "I want to put together a trunk of dress-up clothes, outfits worn by the characters in many of the kids' favorite books. You know, Red Riding Hood, Peter Pan, Cinderella, that kind of thing. In fact, we already have our very first costume thanks to Rose Winters." She reached for the bag she'd placed in the room earlier in the day, unfolded the dress and bonnet for all to see. "I want the kids to be able to come in here-where they won't be a disturbance to our other patrons-and act out their favorite scenes and, perhaps, create new ones."

"Won't those kind of costumes cost money?" Lincoln Porter asked as he took the costume from Tori's hand and examined it closely.

She flashed a look at Rose and Debbie, saw the nod of encouragement from Margaret Louise. "No. It won't. There is a group of women here in Sweet Briar who would love to sew the costumes for the library's dress-up trunk. And their attention to detail will far exceed any store-bought costume we might find."

"I could build a small stage right here," a man said as he pointed to the very corner Tori had been envisioning for such an addition. "Free of charge."

The board members converged in a small circle as the rest of the crowd talked amongst themselves about various mural and costume possibilities. Milo had been right. Letting people's imaginations run free was far more powerful than any typewritten presentation could have ever been.

"Miss Sinclair?" Winston Hohlbrook and the other board members broke from their impromptu conference. "We have one question for you."

"Anything." She nibbled her lower lip inward as she stole a glance in Milo's direction, his attention focused on the board president.

"How soon do you think you could have Sweet Briar Public Library's very first children's room up and running?"

"You mean-" She stopped as her mouth stretched into a smile too wide to stifle.

"You've got your room!" Winston bellowed proudly as he smacked his fellow members on the back. "Think we can see the finished product by next month?"

Inhaling deeply she skimmed the crowd, her gaze falling on Rose. "Think we can stock the trunk in four weeks?"

Rose looked at Tori over the rim of her glasses. "We can stock it in one."

She glanced back at Milo. "Can I borrow your students' artistic abilities on Friday?"

"You most certainly can." He winked back.

She found Nina on the other side of the room. "Think you can tape this weekend?"

"I know I can," her assistant said.

The man who'd volunteered to build the stage stepped forward. "I can build a suitable platform in just a couple of hours. And yeah, I'm free this weekend."

Looking back at Winston Hohlbrook and the other two board members, Tori hugged the picture book to her chest and squared her shoulders. "It looks to me like we can host the grand opening of our new children's room a week from Saturday."

A smattering of applause broke out across the room as Tori made her way over to the board members.

"Very nice work, Miss Sinclair."

"Thank you, Mr. Polk."

"Victoria, this is exactly the kind of thing I saw in you during that very first interview." Winston Hohlbrook extended his hand and shook hers firmly. "We're so glad to have you on board."

"A sentiment that will change when she's unable to attend the grand opening," Dixie said from her spot along the east wall.

Winston's brows furrowed as he looked at Tori. "You won't be able to attend?"

"Of course I will." Tori shot Dixie a look of disbelief, unsure of where, exactly, the ex-librarian was going with her comments. "I wouldn't miss it for anything."

"Being behind bars on murder charges might make your absence unavoidable." Dixie waggled a finger at each board member, her tone morphing from mean to bitter in mere seconds. "But you wanted new and fresh, didn't you?"

"Dixie!" Leona chided as she released her hold on the investigator's arm and tugged the elderly woman backward. "That's enough." Turning to the man beside her, she gestured a hand in Tori's direction. "Daniel say something. Please."

The uniformed officer simply crossed his arms and shrugged. "I think Ms. Dunn did just fine on her own."

Chapter 15.

She sat on the floor and flipped through each and every drawing Milo's students had done that morning. Jennifer's castle was quite good-the turrets well drawn and the stained glass windows boasting an assortment of cheerful colors. Erin's rendition of the dwarfs' beds was precious, all seven boasting the peculiar name of its inhabitant. Quinton's forest was amazing, his detailed trees as good as any adult could draw. His picture alone opened up a wide range of placement possibilities alongside any number of famous tales.

And then there was Lulu's log cabin, a picture she'd slaved over from the moment Tori had explained what she needed and why. Logs were drawn and erased and drawn again, over and over, until they were perfected. The perfect color for Laura's first home was agonized over in a careful head-to-head comparison of the many shades of brown in the crayon bin. But she'd finally gotten it the way she wanted, her picture proudly presented to Tori just moments before her class was scheduled to leave.

The pictures were everything she'd imagined and more, the students' enthusiasm for the project something she wouldn't forget anytime soon. Yet there she was, sitting on the floor, unable to make any headway on the wall- "Something told me I'd find you here." Milo tapped his knuckles against the open door. "How's it going?"

"It's not." She leaned against the wall and lifted the stack of pictures into the air. "I've got all these amazing drawings and no way to get them onto the wall."