1
Donna Smith closed her eyes, took a deep breath and wished for a different life. Losing her job after everything else that had gone wrong? She opened her eyes. Here she still sat at her library desk, in her black chair, her desktop computer tuned to the news as she waited for the next axe to fall and this time on herneck.
Scandals, murders and rumor filled the page but the fourth story caught her eye.Royal Wedding of Lucio Aussa and Amy Fields—Guest List to Include the Queen of England.None of the Aussa princes had married royalty and Donna tried to imagine herself sharing a table while drinking tea with the Royal Family. What would they belike?
“Your turn, Donna.” Beth tapped her computer and drew Donna’s attention back to the dreaded now. “Goodluck.”
As soon as she walked in that back office, the city commissioner was going to tell her she was out of a job. Unlike Beth, who had thirty years as a librarian, this would be the end for Donna. She stood, picked up her battered black Kate Spade bag and smiled at her friend. “Thanks,Beth.”
Beth winked and returned her attention to her own computer. The library still looked the same, except for the missing patrons. Once the employees were out, movers were scheduled to come, pack, and move the books to other libraries around thecounty.
Donna, nerves tight, opened the door to the small conference room and tried not to stare at the balding older man with the unnaturally bright smile. Her insides shook as she closed the door and took the seat opposite him. He adjusted his glasses and read a manila folder that had all her personal information in it. Once he was done, he focused on her. “Donna Smith, you’ve worked for this library for ten years as a full time librarian, and four as a part-time employee beforethat.”
“Yes, sir.” She didn’t blink. This library had been her salvation as a young girl forced to live with her grandmother who resided in an elderly community. At sixteen, she’d been thrilled to work in the office and she’d gone to college for a degree in library science. Books had always given her an escape and knowledge. Beth had bent the rules to give her the full time position when it became available, though she’d been a year away from herdegree.
The commissioner’s even breaths rattled herinsides.
He put her personnel file down and folded his arms in front of him. “So, the city will offer you a full pension if you leave quietly and let us close down this branch without mediaattention.”
Her stomach knotted. Did he know that she’d drafted a letter to her senator and the MiamiHerald?
A full pension? She was only thirty, not that she expected to ever see a dime. The government was going to run out of money long before her turn for retirement came up. She hugged her waist. “Does the pension start when I’m sixty-five?”
“It will start immediately.” He sat back in his chair. “But only if you sign this non-disclosure agreement on why we are closing this particularlibrary.”
They’d stated economic options—very vague but she and Beth suspected it had to do with the new mall proposition by CommissionerKelly.
Her lips parted and she wasn’t sure what to think. She’d been prepared to start a job search after a week of mourning, but now it seemed she’d have a few dollars for the rest of her life. She nodded, willing to ignore her petition for the chance at security. She picked up a pen and stared at the stack of papers to his right. “It’s not much of achoice.”
He pushed them toward her, not bothering to smile. “We’ll need you to sign your retirement documents too. If you go back on this agreement, all money will beforfeit.”
Her wedding had been cancelled, she was out of a job, and oh, how she missed her grandmother, but hopefully this was a new start. Donna signed the first page and flipped to the next. “I’m sure whatever is built here will provide economicimprovement.”
“Good girl.” He took the stack of papers back from her and double-checked hersignatures.
She crossed her arms and the weight of what was happening hit her like a hurricane. “I’m not a girl and I’m not feeling like a retiree. I’m thirty, not sixty-five.”
He tucked the contracts into the folder, put it to the side and leaned forward. “Most women yourage-”
No lecture. Not today. She stood, knocking her chair back a few inches. If she was retired with her small pension, she could move—go anywhere. It had been two months since her fiancé broke her heart and six months since her grandma had died. She stared down at the commissioner. “Stop. I’ve signed everything, so we’regood.”
He nodded and picked up the next folder. “Please send in Mark Walker. You can pack up your things and gohome.”
“Yes, sir.” She rushed out thedoor.
Beth remained at her desk. Donna walked over to Mark, hunched over his computer by the reference section, and gestured toward the office. Then she returned to her desk, packed her few personal items and realized this was the last time she’d see the stupid yellow smiley face sticker on her monitor. Tears threatened to form in her eyes. She’d spent half of her life, right here, in this seat in thelibrary.
This was worse than her engagementending.
Beth placed her hand on Donna’s arm. “So?”
“So, I’m retired too.” Donna heard the surreal tone in her voice. Beth, though twice her age, had been friend and mentor since Donna was sixteen and she had no secrets from the woman. “It doesn’t seemreal.”
Beth picked up her pocketbook and pointed to the door. “At least they are paying you off with a monthly check for the rest of your life. This is in many ways ablessing.”
Donna packed her favorite blue pen with a white flower on it. “It still feels like I lost myjob.”
She’d been sixteen when her parents had died and she’d moved to Miami. Walking into this library a stranger, she’d checked out with Pride and Prejudice from Beth’s recommendation and given the librarian a solemn promise that she’d return to talk to her about the book once she finished. It had given herpurpose.
