The Magic of Stories | ONC 2024 shortlist

6 - New faces

"This is our new collaborator, Lynn." Conny introduced me to a tan man in faded jeans and a navy shirt, the sleeves rolled up to show a pair of muscular arms. His dark hair was gathered in a ponytail and a few escaped wisps framed a chiselled face with brown eyes.

"Could you please show Mister Martinez the faulty lightbulb?" Conny pointed to the back, where the lamp in question probably worked without a glitch—now the janitor was here to fix it.

He offered me his hand. "Nice to meet you, Lynn. Please call me Paco." His handshake was warm and as solid as his appearance. "I'll fetch a ladder and will be right with you."

I nodded, lost for words, my determination to stay away from attractive men and the library's classics section dissolving like mist in the morning sun. In the company of the very real and living Latino version of Chris Hemsworth, I reckoned I'd be safe enough.

"Thanks, Conny." Paco endowed my coworker with a dazzling smile, but it was lost on her as she turned away without acknowledging the gesture. With a tiny shrug, he strode to a door next to the office I hadn't registered yet and unlocked it. Behind it, I glimpsed a tiny service room filled with cupboards and cleaning material. Something clattered inside and a moment later, Paco returned, carrying a stepladder.

"It's high time we clean out the old stuff one of these days. But I have only a quarter of an hour today, so please show me the culprit."

His prominent cheekbones and the sparkle in his dark eyes were to die for. I was sure my cheeks glowed the colour of ripe tomatoes, and I had to remind myself that I'd sworn to never fall for an older man again. Gee, he was even older than Oliver, probably around Conny's age—which meant he could be my dad. The sobering effect of this thought helped me to lead him to the last aisle without batting my lashes or making a fool of myself otherwise.

"It's the one over there, but of course it works now. It turned on and off at will yesterday morning—I thought someone was playing games with the new kid in town."

"Hm, I remember this one being erratic before, but I never found out why. Let me check again."

He climbed the ladder, unscrewed the bulb, and put it back in, but we couldn't observe anything unexpected. I felt the urge to explain that I didn't make this up, but before I could give in, Paco scratched his stubbly chin. "Right now, everything seems to be fine. But don't worry, I believe you. We had customers report this lamp being broken several times over the last months. Perhaps it is best if I'll replace it. Not sure this will solve the problem, but it's the best I can do at the moment."

He fetched a new bulb, but the change didn't lead to a visible improvement.

"There we go. I fear the wiring might be faulty, but I can't test that without the proper equipment."

While he folded the ladder, I had an idea. "Have you ever seen a tabby cat in here?" I almost said blue, but bit down on that snippet of information.

"A cat? How would it get in here? No, I haven't, and I think that's for the better. Miss Conny would freak out, I bet, since she is allergic to about everything from dust to animal hair."

I wasn't sure the cat I had in mind shed hair, but Paco had answered my question—and I suspected he crushed hard on Miss Conny. Why else would he bother caring about her allergies? "Oh, I didn't know she is. It must be horrible."

"Yes, she's lucky we have a thorough cleaning team and that no pets are allowed on the premises. Well, it's getting late. I should put that away." He picked up the ladder and carried it back to the tech room. "Just call me if the lamp acts up again. You're Majorie's surgery replacement, right?"