Chapter 56

Ipulled up to Mary Ellen's house two minutes before seven. Neither of us got much sleep, but I was hoping she was feeling the same rush of adrenaline as I did. I woke up ready to get this thing done. I knew it was unlikely we would raise enough money to beat the Hunt family's bid but we had to try. If the exposure was enough, it could get them to back off.

She opened the front door before I even got out of the car. She was wearing a pretty blue summer dress and a determined look on her face. I could tell she was ready to tackle the day head on. As she got into the car, her eyes met mine with a spark of excitement.

"Good morning." She greeted me with a smile as she fastened her seatbelt. "I hope you're ready for a busy day."

"Good morning," I replied, starting the engine. I leaned over to kiss her. "I've never been more ready. Today is the day we make a difference."

"Damn straight."

We walked through the city park toward the booth we would be manning. "Look at this place," Mary Ellen said with excitement.

People bustled about, setting up tents, and vendors put up displays. I felt proud. We did this. She and I had managed to pull off what people had told me was impossible to do in a month's time.

"We better get to work on our booth," I said.

"Is it weird I'm a little nervous?" Mary Ellen asked.

"Not at all," I reassured her with a smile. "It just means you care. But trust me, we've got this." As we began setting up our booth with flyers, donation boxes, and other promotional materials, the nerves started to fade away, replaced by a sense of determination.

Mary Ellen fanned out the pamphlets containing information about the library—its rich history, Mary Ellen's vision for its future, and the invaluable role it played in our community. The pamphlets I had initially put together were nothing compared to what Mary Ellen added. She had done her homework and included statistics about the importance of local libraries as pillars of their communities. They provided support to underprivileged youth, offered resources and services to the elderly, and welcomed everyone with open arms, regardless of their background or circumstances. We had even managed to get a couple of pictures of people that frequented the library with a tiny little blurb about why each of them needed it to stay.

I looked around the park and could see the event beginning to take shape. More vendors were setting up their stalls while music floated through the air from a grand stage that had been erected late last night. Musicians were testing their equipment while other people set up chairs in front of the stage. What had started as a small community event was quickly evolving into something much bigger.

"Look at this place," I said. "This is wild. When I first started this thing, I was thinking we were going to sell hot dogs and have a booth with some pamphlets."

"I have a feeling you don't do anything half way," she teased. "It was never going to stay small."

"It was fun doing the planning," I admitted.

It wasn't long before people started to arrive. Some were members of the country club. I nodded in acknowledgement as they dropped checks in the donation box. Some of them insisted on handing the checks directly to me or Mary Ellen. I watched as Mary Ellen graciously accepted their donations, her smile radiant as she thanked them for their generosity.

"Look at this," Mary Ellen hissed after we took in another check.

"Deep pockets." I chuckled. "I suppose rich people are good for a few things."

Mary Ellen beamed, her eyes shining with excitement. "We're making a difference, Archer. Every donation, no matter how big or small, brings us one step closer to saving the library." Her hands trembled with emotion as she carefully placed the checks in a secure box.

As the morning progressed, more and more people visited our booth. Some shared stories of how the library had impacted their lives, while others simply wanted to show their support for our cause.

Families were taking advantage of the free activities. Children raced around the area, their laughter like sweet music. Food trucks were in full swing, filling the air with tantalizing aromas that made my stomach rumble.

"I'm suddenly very hungry," Mary Ellen said.

"We should take a break and grab something to eat," I suggested, my own stomach grumbling in agreement. "There's no point in running on empty when there are delicious food trucks right here."

"We can't abandon our booth," she said.

I shrugged. "I'll stay while you go."

"You go," she said and shooed me away. "I've got this."

We discussed our food options and decided on a truck that specialized in gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. As I stood in line waiting for our order, I felt content. The sun was shining, the park was alive with activity, and we were making a real difference in the community. It was a feeling I never wanted to let go of. I liked this line of work.

When I returned to our booth with gooey grilled cheese sandwiches in each hand, Mary Ellen was engaged in conversation with a group of teenagers. They were listening intently as she explained the importance of the library and the impact it could have on their lives.

I watched Mary Ellen with a sense of admiration, marveling at her ability to connect with people of all ages and backgrounds.

After the kids left, I handed her the sandwich. "You're a good speaker," I said. "They were hanging on your every word."

"Thanks."

We ate our sandwiches, commenting on how good they were and discussing what we were going to eat next.

I spotted familiar faces making their way toward us. "Your ladies have arrived," I said.

She looked over and jumped up. They rushed forward and hugged her.

"This is crazy!" Lauren exclaimed. "I had no idea it was going to be this big!"

"It's amazing, isn't it?" Mary Ellen beamed at her friends, hugging each of them tightly. "I'm so glad you all made it."

Lauren and the other ladies looked around the bustling park, their eyes wide with wonder.

"Have you guys tried any of the food trucks?" Mary Ellen asked excitedly. "We just had the gourmet grilled cheese. It was so good."

"I'm not eating." Jenny shook her head. "I have to fit into my wedding dress."

"You'll be fine," Mary Ellen insisted.

Lauren reached out and squeezed Jenny's arm. "You look beautiful. Don't stress about it."

Jenny smiled gratefully at her friends. "You guys are the best."

More people stopped by the booth. The donation box was filling up steadily, a tangible sign of the community's support for our cause.

Murray arrived, checking out Rylee again. "I'm glad you could make it," I told him.

He nodded. "Of course. I wanted to see if your effort was worth it."

I chuckled. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."

"What do I smell?" he asked.

"What don't you smell?" I laughed. "Any fattening, grease-dipped, gravy-covered, and chocolate-coated food you can imagine is all around you. Go big or go home."

Murray grinned and patted his flat stomach. "I'll have you know I'm watching my figure."

"Do you have to fit in a wedding dress too?" I asked him.

He frowned, not understanding the joke, but I caught sight of someone over his shoulder, and I lost interest in whatever response he might have.

I had to look twice to verify what my eyes saw. "Dad?"

Murray spun around. "Really, where?"

"There."

He made his way toward our booth, his expression a mixture of curiosity and approval as he surveyed the scene around. He stopped in front of us with a nod.

"Hello, Mr. Archer," Mary Ellen greeted him.

"Hello, Mary Ellen," he replied.

I nodded in return. "Dad. What brings you here?"

"I wanted to see what all of this was about," he said.

Murray looked at me with a half-smile. I had a feeling he put Dad up to this.

"Impressive," Dad remarked as he looked around. "This is a huge turnout. People seem to be having a good time."

"We're very pleased," Mary Ellen said. "Archer—I mean, Gene—did a great job. He put this all together."

"With your help," I corrected.

Dad nodded again, and I was certain I saw pride in his eyes. "You've managed to tap into a demographic that shares your passion for saving the library."

I was unable to hide the smile that spread across my face at his words. "Yes," I said. It meant everything to me to have his approval, to know that he recognized the importance of what we were trying to achieve.

He looked at Mary Ellen again. "One of my favorite rooms in the family home is the library," he said, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "I used to spend days in there before my career consumed me. Perhaps when I retire and my sons take over, I'll have more time for books. I've amassed a large collection, but I just haven't had time to do anything more than put the books on the shelves."

Mary Ellen's eyes lit up at his words. "That sounds amazing. I'd love to see the library someday."

"I'd be happy to show it to you," Dad offered.

Mary Ellen beamed at him, clearly delighted by the invitation. "I would love that," she said sincerely. "I've visited every library in the city and even made my way to some others around Texas."

I watched the exchange between them. It meant so much to me to see my father and Mary Ellen getting along so well. A connection had been forged between them over their shared appreciation for books.

"Thank you for coming, Dad," I said, my voice filled with gratitude as I reached out to shake his hand. "It means a lot to me."

He clasped my hand in his, his grip firm and reassuring. "I wouldn't miss it for the world," he replied, a smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Keep up the good work, son."

"Why don't you two walk around?" Mary Ellen suggested. "I can handle things here."

"No, no," Dad said. "I don't want to tear him away. You guys are doing good things here. I see a couple of people I'd like to talk to. I'll come around again in a bit."

"I'll be here," I said.

After he walked away with Murray, Mary Ellen put her arms around me, hugging me close. "Your dad showed up. How awesome is that?"

"He did," I replied. "I didn't expect him to come, but I'm glad he did."

Mary Ellen squeezed my hand before letting go. "It's a big deal, Archer. He seems proud of what you're doing here."

"I hope so," I said with a small smile. "I've been trying to make him see the importance of this project."

"Well, it looks like you're getting through to him," she said softly. "And having his support means a lot, right?"

"It really does," I admitted, feeling a sense of validation. "I've always struggled to connect with him, but maybe this is the common ground we needed."

Just as I began to relax and enjoy the moment, another familiar face appeared in the crowd—Cole. I gritted my teeth, a surge of frustration coursing through me as I leaned over Mary Ellen.

"I'll be right back," I muttered.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing. I'll be back in a minute."

It seemed that no matter how hard I tried to escape my past, it always had a way of catching up with me.