Miss Oliver At Home

Chapter Four

The Beverly Public Library was a tall building, standing stately at the far end of Main Street. It rose towards the sky, peering fiercely out of its dozen windows, as if defying anyone to enter. But people knew it too well to be fooled by its dour exterior. Inside were three floors of beautiful rooms, connected like a harmonious jigsaw puzzle. The furniture was new and up-to -date, the walls recently painted, and everywhere was the captivating smell of books, old and new.

Olivia had worked at the library since the beginning of the year, when she at last realized that she must bring in some extra income or lose Oliver Manor. The house was gone now, of course, despite her best efforts, but Olivia continued her job. She hoped that they would be able to enjoy a few more luxuries now that they only had to keep the apartment, and would still be able to save for Lillian and Edwin's futures. She knew it would take more than working twenty-five hours a week at the library to put them through college, but the work was easy and she loved the people she met each day.

Meredith Jameson met her as she came in, smiling prettily and calling out, "Hello Livy! How are you, honey?"

Meredith was a tiny thing, barely five feet tall, and managed to make everyone else look large and ungainly beside her. Her platinum blonde hair often inspired comparisons to the film goddess, Jean Harlow, and her brown eyes always sparkled with fun.

"How'd the move go, Livy?" she asked, as she helped Olivia off with her coat in the back room.

"Just beautifully, thank you, Meredith. I think we will be very happy there. It's certainly small compared to what we've been used to, but its a comfortable place."

"Good things come in small packages, right?" winked Meredith.

"Of course," laughed Olivia, as she put away her hat and tidied her hair in front of the small mirror that hung on the wall. "You've got to come over and meet our new neighbor some morning. Her name is Edda Moretti, and she is one of the sweetest old ladies I've ever met. You would like her."

"I like everybody, so I'm sure I would."

"And she told me all about the rest of our neighbors. At least, what there is to know about the unsocial ones. But it has me curious. I do want to meet them."

"A party is the best way to meet people. It never fails! You should have a sort of house-warming, and that way I can troop over and see it all for myself." Meredith glanced at the clock. "Oh, dear! I've got fly early, Livy! I'll see you when I get back!"

Olivia watched her friend go with a smile. "Livy" was a silly nickname, but coming from Meredith's red lips, it was bearable. There wasn't a spiteful bone in Meredith Jameson's body. Halfway across town she cared for her aging mother, all by herself, and she showed kindness to everyone she met. And despite her own reduced circumstances, she still managed to buy pretty dresses, wear her hair in the latest fashion, and have as many beaux as one girl could possibly keep up. Everyone loved her.

Olivia went to the front desk and found the head librarian, Miss Paxton, organizing the book returns. She was a thin, middle-aged woman, who wore her sharp, silver-rimmed glasses on the tip of her long, bony nose. She had a slightly pinched mouth, which Olivia was inclined to believe was the result of the small, pinching shoes she wore, which clicked tirelessly across the stone floors of the library.

"Ah, Miss Oliver! You are here at last. How do you do?"

"I am very well, thank you, Miss Paxton. How are you? Is that cold still bothering you?"

Miss Paxton drew herself up to her full height. "I am in impeccable health, Miss Oliver. The trifling cold has not shown itself since Friday."

Olivia smiled. "I am very glad to hear it. We couldn't do without you."