Cherished by a Bear (Mate Me book 5)

1

Myra watched as Adam, a boy around ten, walked into the library. He had dark brown hair and bright blue eyes. Today made every day for the past two weeks Adam had come into the library. He would hole himself in the junior fiction section and read. He checked no books out and refused to sign up for a library card the first time Joy asked him.

"Back again, I see," her friend and coworker Joy commented.

"Yes, and he picked out a new book to read. He stays long enough to read a few graphic novels then he heads home," Myra replied curious about the boy.

"Do you know who his parents are?" Joy asked, checking in books and placing them on a return to the stacks cart.

"No. He started showing up last summer. During the school year, I only saw him once a week. Now we are back on summer vacation and he has returned." She tapped a manicured hand on the counter, watching the young boy.

"Go over and talk to him. He looks close to my daughter Stella's age. We need to find out why he is here without his parents." Joy encouraged her, pushing a junior fiction cart her way. Myra sighed and walked over to the junior fiction section. She put away books until she got close enough to see he was reading a graphic novel about dragons.

"I love those, have you read the novels?" she asked, placing the book in question back on the shelf.

"No, is it different?" he asked, closing the book with a finger to mark his place.

"It has more details and I think it is more exciting," she answered, handing him the first book.

"Too long. I won't finish it in one day," he commented with a worried look on his face.

"You can check it out. I'll give you an application for a library card. Take it home and have your mom fill it out. Bring it back to me and you can have a library card," she told him, giving him a soft smile.

"I don't have a mom," he whispered, and her heart hurt for him.

"Have your dad do it then," she replied, not deterred from trying to get him a library card.

"He is too busy."

"Then I can come over and make him sign it. Everyone should have access to a library card," she announced, irritated that Adam felt his father would be too busy.

"No! I'll ask him, I promise. He is busy with his job." Adam explained.

"Let me know if I can help. Does anyone care for you besides your dad?" She sat next to him, her cart was long forgotten.

"My Aunt Ellie is home for the summer but she has baby Ava to care for. I don't want to be in her way," Adam told her with a sad smile on his face.

"Have someone sign the form and I'll get you a library card. I want you to be able to expand your reading to include longer books too. You might enjoy Harry Potter too. Those books are long and take time to read," she explained, and his eyes widened.

"My grandma and I read the first one together. Some words were hard for me," he shared and her heart melted. He was the sweetest child, and she felt an overwhelming need to comfort him.

"I get an hour for lunch. Would you like to read the second book together?" She found herself offering and knew it was right to offer when he smiled brightly.

"Yes, please!"

"Good. I'll come to find you with the second book at eleven-thirty. After that, you take the form home and get it signed. The author Georgia Howard is coming in to showcase a new book series. She is going to be here tomorrow at three if you want to come," Myra shared. Her lynx was becoming attached just speaking to Adam. A motherly feeling came over her, one she'd never felt for any children coming into the library.