Chapter 4
Talia
Talia rubbed her eyes and stifled a yawn. Concentrating on the electric kettle’s blinking lights, she tried her best to ignore the images that had robbed the previous night of peaceful sleep. Lavender fields and fountains and whips. Among other things that she really shouldn’t be thinking about. Let alone losing sleep over.
Reaching for an emoji mug, she put in an extra bag of Earl Grey and fought the thoughts begging to creep in. Nope, not today, she told herself and turned on her heel to get the day started.
“Talia?” Mrs. McTavish called down the hallway the moment she pushed through the break room door and stepped into a newly carpeted hallway. The smell of industrial glue still hung in the rafters.
She took a deep breath. Finally, some normalcy to settle her thoughts. Talia’s shoulders relaxed. She turned and met her boss halfway.
“How are you today? You look a little tired.” Mrs. McTavish spun her thick gold band around a shrunken finger out of habit. She was older than Gran, but taller, broader shouldered, and always in motion.
“Oh, I didn’t sleep great last night,” Talia admitted with a weak grimace.
“I hope you aren’t coming down with something.”
“No, no.” Talia dismissed the older woman’s concern with a wave. “I’m healthy as a horse. What can I help you with?”
“I got an email from a transfer student this morning. She’s working on a research project, isn’t familiar with our library, and has requested some extra assistance. I was hoping you could meet with her and provide some guidance.”
“Well, of course, but isn’t that normally Mrs. Burrows’s department? I would hate to step on any toes.”
“Mrs. Burrows is excellent at navigating our stacks. But this is a new student. She’s unfamiliar with Talmadge. Since you were just an undergrad yourself, I think you could provide greater value for this particular situation.” Mrs. McTavish put a hand on Talia’s shoulder and squeezed. “You offer a level of relatability that Mrs. Burrows and I can’t offer. We graduated from college before most of the students on this campus were born. We’re old fuddy-duddies.”
“You guys are perfect.” Talia shook her head, not agreeing with the label one bit. “But, of course, I would be happy to help. Send me her information and I’ll see what I can do.” Pride pushed her shoulders back, her chest out, and the buttons of her cardigan strained in the new position.
“Thank you, Talia. You are a breath of fresh air around here!”
Mrs. McTavish patted her upper arm and smiled. Talia’s head grew to match her chest. For once, her age and inexperience were going to be a good thing. Instead of feeling out of step with the working world, she was going to get to shepherd a new student through a world she had already mastered. That felt good.
The thought had her floating on a cloud. Until she got back to her desk, settled in, pulled up her email, and read the first one.
Dear Talia,
Thank you for participating in this year’s faculty mentorship program. We are thankful to have employees that so highly value each other’s success.
I wanted to send a quick note to let you know that you will be reassigned to another faculty member.
Professor Radclyffe has graciously agreed to fill in last minute as the faculty advisor for the upcoming Founder’s Day Gala. Given these new responsibilities, President Harlow thinks it would be best if you were paired with someone else. I will reach out again as soon as we have a replacement confirmed.
Sincerely,
Lorena
When she finished reading, she slumped against the chair back, blowing at her tea, thinking. Her bubble was totally busted. Having Maxwell as a mentor was intimidating. Any new employee would be anxious about getting paired with a department head. Getting paired with one with a reputation like Maxwell’s, well, it added a different element to the whole thing. So, shouldn’t she be relieved to get reassigned?
Hard as she tried, she couldn’t convince herself it was relief that drew the corners of her mouth down.
“Have I got the most epic idea ever!”
Just as Talia was trying to pack the mixed emotions away, Doris Morris burst through the double doors that led to her special collection sanctuary. Causing Talia to nearly choke on a small—but potent—sip of Earl Grey.
Her eyes swept over to the doorway. Every time they did, Talia had to pinch herself. The room was that elegant. Twelve-foot ceilings, ten-foot windows, exposed arching beams, and dark mahogany-trimmed bookcases that looked straight from the reading room at Downton Abbey. Natural light flooded the room, and leather-bound spines of old books glistened in the filtered sunshine. If there was a better place to swallow one’s disappointment, Talia had never seen it.
“Epic?” she asked from her desk chair while holding up a finger to quiet her friend. “I’m afraid to ask.” Talia pursed her lips teasingly, recalling some of Doris’s wilder ideas.
“Wait a minute.” Doris stopped dramatically halfway through the room. “This is the first time I’ve seen you looking all official sitting behind your desk.” Doris squinted, sizing her up. Talia shook her head. “It looks good on you!”
“Thank you.” Talia accepted the compliment. “Honestly”—Talia looked around to be sure no one else was in the room—“I still feel like a fraud. I keep expecting them to take my employee badge away and give me back my old intern tag.”
Doris looked down at the intern tag hanging from a lanyard around her neck.
“No way. You’re official now. No more shelving books for you, Mistress of the Special Collections.” Doris gave a grand bow. Talia laughed and landed a light blow on her friend’s upper arm.
“Stop it,” she said, softly.
Doris’s sense of humor had sometimes been the only thing that had gotten them through hours of endless shelving and busy intern work. The familiarity of the place and the job was part of the reason why Talia still expected to be treated like a student instead of an employee. “What’s so epic?”
Doris paused again, giving the moment a touch of reverence. “I’m starting a book club. And you are my first official member.”
“Oh, well, I’m honored. What’s suddenly gotten you so interested in starting a book club?”
“My human sexuality class.” Doris narrowed her eyes, smiled, and let it sink in.
Talia coughed into her hand. And quickly scanned the room. There was only one professor of sexuality on campus. How in the hell had her world shrunk to such a size in twenty-four hours?