The next morning Soosie scooted out of the laundry room. She liked to vacuum Emily’s room while she was out for her morning walk. It gave Soosie a chance to sneak a few minutes to read over the various book titles in Emily’s burgeoning bookcases.
She swiftly vacuumed the room before perusing the shelves. Having carefully looked over the titles on the upper shelves, she squatted down to read book titles along the lower shelves.
“Do I see another bibliophile?”
Soosie flushed and jumped up. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t—”
Although spring had arrived, the weather was still cool first thing in the morning, and Emily was dressed to match it. The tall, older woman wore blue jeans and a baja hoodie over a long-sleeved gray Henley tee-shirt. Red socks peeked out of her Birkenstock sandals. Her iron-gray hair hung down her back in a long braid.
Emily waved her dismissal as she shrugged off the hoodie. “Oh, my dear. I can assure you I would have definitely done the same thing. To some of us, books call the way the sirens called to Odysseus. What do you like to read?”
“Fantasy and science fiction mostly. Some mysteries.”
“Do you have books at the Pittison House?”
Soosie shook her head. “Not many. Mainly what somebody left when they moved out.”
“And let me guess. You have read everything you could find.”
“Even a couple of romances, which I hate.”
“I will warn you my actual collection, while well curated, is mainly older classics in the various genres. However, I would be delighted to select several and loan them to you. When you have finished them, bring them back and we’ll choose others. And if you would like, we can discuss them during your lunch hour. Although I retired long ago from teaching college lit, I still can’t resist talking about books. David and I have some really splendid debates.”
Soosie’s face beamed. “That would be so wonderful. Thank you. Thank you.”
“Stop by after lunch, and I will have them ready for you.”
*****
As soon as lunch was over, Soosie headed to Emily’s room. The older woman had several books stacked on her small desk.
“I’ve chosen the first two books from a classic fantasy series and two classic science fiction,” Emily said. “Ursula LeGuin’s The Wizard of Earthsea and The Tombs of Autuan are marvelous fantasy. For science fiction, I have selected two works considered seminal. Robert Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land and a book that has become very apropos today, Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451.” She paused and looked at Soosie. “You haven’t read them already, have you? If you have, we can choose others.”
Soosie shook her head.
“I thought not. These were published well before your time.” Emily looked past Soosie as she reflected. “Actually, they were probably originally published before your parents’ time.” She looked back at Soosie with a wistful smile. “Sometimes I forget just how very old I am.”
Emily slipped the books into a tote bag and handed them over. “I’m looking forward to seeing what you think of them.”
Soosie hugged the bag to her chest. “Thank you.”
*****
The folding table in the laundry room was full of towels when Soosie slipped in. She carefully sat the bag on the chair next to the maintenance cupboard.
Elena bustled into the room. “I just want to come thank you for helping Olivia and Lidiya yesterday. We do not have many staff, so it is difficult sometimes when someone is not present.”
The washing machine behind Adam smoothly shifted gears, and the water could be heard draining steadily.
Elena cocked her head as she listened. “The machine sounds like it is working as it should.”
“The old pump conked out yesterday,” Adam said. “Luckily the new part Mr. Fuentes had ordered was in the cupboard, so we were able to fix it.” He motioned to include Myron.
Myron held up his hands. “Adam fixed it, not me. I just provided some muscle.”
Adam went rigid when Elena rushed to him and threw her arms around him. Elena stepped back. “I think you have not had many hugs in your life, but no matter. Here you must put up with them and maybe find they are not so bad to get.”
Myron cleared his throat. “Ummm, Elena. We saw the letter in the paper yesterday.”
Elena immediately bristled. “That woman. She lives just to make trouble. Arturo was painting the wall when he had his accident. The ladder shifted and he fell. Now he cannot finish it until he is better. It does not look good, but there is nothing we can do about it. It is very expensive to hire a painter to finish it. The money I have must take care of my people first. They cannot eat a wall or take it as their medicine.” She pivoted and left the room. As soon as she was out of sight, Myron and Adam exchanged looks. Something passed between them that Soosie could not translate.