"Constance Bretes books are always an education of culture and place. ‘Love Songs’ is no exception and is thought provoking and intense. Constance adds her usual grit into a story that is as suspenseful as it is sensual."
—Amazon Reviewer
—Amazon Reviewer
When her marriage came to a devastating end, Janice Meyers moved to Montana to try to escape her past and get a fresh start. She's sworn off men, but she didn't anticipate meeting Chris.
After the death of his wife, Chris Jamisen focused all his time and energy on running his auto repair shop and raising his children. He's not looking for love, and when he first meets Janice, the town's new librarian, he never imagines they might embark on a relationship. Sure, he'll admit he finds the smart, sexy blonde attractive, but the frustrating woman expects miracles from him. Her vehicle is practically beyond repair, but she insists he has to keep it running.
As Chris gets to know Janice, he begins to develop feelings for her, but he's reluctant to pursue a relationship. He's Native American, and he worries about the complications of a biracial relationship. He's experienced prejudice first hand, so he knows how difficult it can be.
When Janice's ex-husband shows up seeking revenge, things could reach a horrible end. Will Chris save Janice in time? And will he and Janice be able to set aside their painful pasts and give their relationship a chance?
Content Warning: contains some sexual content
After the death of his wife, Chris Jamisen focused all his time and energy on running his auto repair shop and raising his children. He's not looking for love, and when he first meets Janice, the town's new librarian, he never imagines they might embark on a relationship. Sure, he'll admit he finds the smart, sexy blonde attractive, but the frustrating woman expects miracles from him. Her vehicle is practically beyond repair, but she insists he has to keep it running.
As Chris gets to know Janice, he begins to develop feelings for her, but he's reluctant to pursue a relationship. He's Native American, and he worries about the complications of a biracial relationship. He's experienced prejudice first hand, so he knows how difficult it can be.
When Janice's ex-husband shows up seeking revenge, things could reach a horrible end. Will Chris save Janice in time? And will he and Janice be able to set aside their painful pasts and give their relationship a chance?
Content Warning: contains some sexual content
Chapter 1
Janice Meyers stepped up to enter into Colstrip Auto Care and collided with a man heading out the door. He grabbed her arms to keep her from falling backward. “Excuse me. I’m sorry.”
“No, excuse me,” Janice replied as the impact forced her against his chest.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m fine.” Janice smiled nervously, noticing that he held her in his arms until she was steady.
She flushed as she allowed herself to quickly take in his physique. He had beautiful, short black hair and deep brown eyes. His skin was naturally dark, and with the way his face was angled Janice wondered if he might be Native American. He had a strong chest and muscular arms.
He released her and stepped to the side so she could enter the shop. She went inside, and he turned around and walked to the counter. “Can I help you?” he asked.
“Um, are you the owner?”
“Yes, I am. I’m Chris Jamisen,” he answered and held out his hand.
She shyly took his hand and shook it. It was warm and gentle, sending sparks through her body.
“I have a car that’s giving me some problems.”
He looked out the window at her car. “What does it seem to be doing?”
“Well, it runs really sluggishly, and it sometimes backfires.”
“How long has it been doing that?”
“A couple of days.”
“Okay. There are several cars ahead of you, so it will be a while before I can bring it in and take a look at it.”
“I have an interview across the street at the library in fifteen minutes, so how about I check back after that?” she asked.
“That’s fine,” Chris answered, smiling.
“Um...I don’t have a lot of money, and I really need to make the car last for a while.”
“Okay.” He pulled out a work order and asked for her name and information, then had her sign it. “I’ll need the key,” he said.
“Oh, here.” She handed her key to him. Although the touch of his hand sent a warm, fuzzy feeling through her body, she quickly withdrew her hand and dropped her gaze to the floor.
She walked out of the shop and headed to the library across the street for her interview.
The library sat on a block of land in downtown Colstrip. It was an old, square building with two floors and a basement. Janice noted that it looked like a centennial building. It was gray cement with ornate corners, and the four windows in the front of the building were quite tall with an arch at the top. Behind it were the city government offices, which included the mayor’s office. To the left was the elementary school, the middle school behind that, and then the high school.
Janice had been passing through Billings, Montana when she saw an ad in the local newspaper for a library assistant position in Colstrip. She knew she would probably be overqualified for the job, but she was looking for a new start, in a new town, where she didn’t know anyone and no one knew her. She didn’t even know if this town would be the best place to live and faced the possibility that she would probably work a few months here and move on. In her mind, anything was possible.
Janice walked into the library and looked around before she approached the counter. There appeared to be a couple of conference rooms off to the side. In one of them was a large conference table with chairs. Next to the conference room were several student desks with cubicle walls around them for privacy. Janice noted that there were a couple of older model computers. To the right were rows upon rows of books on shelves that could be rotated three hundred and sixty degrees for easy access to more books. The library counter was near the entrance of the building. To the left of the counter were the children’s tables and book area with a television and VCR playing children’s movies.
Janice walked up to the counter and an older woman came out of her office. “Can I help you?” she asked with a pleasant smile.
“Yes, I’m here to interview for the library assistant position.”
“You must be Janice Meyers.”
“Yes, that’s me,” Janice replied with a smile.
“I’m Lillian Caldwell.” The woman reached over the counter to shake her hand.
Lillian looked to be in her forties. She had black hair with white streaks through it, and she stood about two inches taller than Janice.
“Nice to meet you, Ms. Caldwell,” Janice greeted her warmly.
“Come on back to my office, and we’ll get started.” Lillian opened the gate for Janice, and they walked into her office. “Have a seat.” She gestured to the chair in front of the desk.
In Lillian’s office there was a large conference table that had new books to be logged in and placed on shelves. Further back in the room there was an old wood desk, a computer, and a printer. And some file cabinets sat beside the desk.
“When I talked to you on the phone, you were coming in from Billings, is that right?” Lillian asked.
“Yes, I came in yesterday.”
“Do you have a place to live here or are you staying somewhere?”
“I’m staying at the motel up the road right now. If I get the job, I’ll be relocating here,” Janice answered.
“So, what brings you to Colstrip?”
“I think the town looks nice and inviting, and I wanted to have a slower pace in my life, so this town seems to be what I’m looking for.”
“I see. Tell me, Janice, what experience do you bring with you for this job as an assistant?”
“I have a Master of Library Science degree. I’ve helped create several new libraries in urban communities, and I’ve worked at several graduate schools in their libraries. In addition to this, I have developed and revised library systems, procedures, and workflow.” She pulled out of her briefcase a comprehensive report she had created and handed it to Lillian. “I’ve prepared reports and I feel I can present ideas clearly and concisely in written and oral form. I have supervised employees. My biggest asset is motivating, establishing, and maintaining effective working relationships with associates, supervisors, volunteers, other community agencies, and the public. I’ve done a lot of fundraisers to raise money and garner support for the libraries.”
Lillian was listening intently to what Janice told her as well as reading her resume and looking over her report. “Very impressive. Are you sure you’d want to take the leap downward from a librarian to librarian assistant?” Lillian rested her elbows on her desk and brought her hand up to her chin.
Janice didn’t want to convey how desperately she wanted and needed this job. “It is my desire to work in a library like this, updating, maintaining, and sharing my knowledge of library materials and resources with others.”
“You indicated that you have supervised employees. In what capacity or level was this at?”
“I was the branch librarian manager in Aspen, and I supervised four employees—two part-time ones and two full-time ones.”
“I like what I see here and I like how you have presented yourself. Let me think about this for a few hours, and I’ll give you a call back this afternoon. Do you have any references?” Lillian asked.
“Yes, I have several references.” Janice pulled out a sheet of paper with five names and phone numbers.
“Okay, thank you. Also, here is an application that needs to be filled out.” Lillian handed Janice an employment application. “If I decide to hire you, you can bring it in with you on your first day of work.” As they concluded the interview and got up, Lillian said, “Let me give you a tour of the library.”
“Okay.”
They stepped out of the office and veered to the left where the children’s area was at. Janice wondered, being that it was a small town library, how up-to-date their books were. She pulled a book off the shelf and looked it over. This book appears to be fairly new. She slipped it back in its place on the shelf.
“Do you have reading hour or a movie hour for the children?” Janice asked.
“No, we don’t. Since there’s only one other person who works here part-time and myself, we just don’t have the time to do that. Although, I love the idea.” As they walked on toward the next area, there was a door and a hallway with a window by it. “This door goes out to the local government offices and the mayor’s office.”
They came to the young adult fiction section.
“I really like that these shelves rotate like this, you can get a lot of books to put on the shelves and offer more variety,” Janice commented.
“Yes, last year we were approved the budget to do this and it really helps to organize the limited space we have. The schools don’t have a library in them, so the students need to come
here to do their research and check out books. That’s why we have so many books for being just a small community and a small library.”
Along the wall of the young adult area was a door leading into a conference room labeled The Mining Room. It had a large table and chairs situated around it.
“We have several conference rooms but the rooms are hardly ever used,” Lillian said. They walked past the room and came to a door to another conference room. It was filled with discarded furniture. “This is the Centennial Room.”
Janice looked around and noticed that there were only a couple of older computers, although she had seen a newer one in Lillian’s office and another near the main checkout desk. Janice wondered what kind of budget the library had, because she thought that turning the Centennial Room into a computer lab would be a good use of the space, but she kept her thoughts to herself.
They continued walking and passed a photocopier machine, a water fountain, and a restroom. Just beyond the restroom was the media room.
They walked upstairs to the second floor, and Lillian showed Janice the audiobooks, reference materials, and the information desk. A woman sat behind the desk, typing into the only computer that was on the second floor. In addition to the reference materials, there were nonfiction books, oversized and large print materials, magazines and newspapers, as well as another restroom and water fountain.
Lillian walked up to the information desk and said, “Carly, I’d like you to meet Janice.”
Carly stood up and shook Janice’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Janice.”
Janice smiled. “Nice to meet you too. What are you working on?”
“We have a new system called SIRSI Enterprise that’s replacing the card catalogue. I’m entering the card catalogue into the system,” Carly replied.
“We received a grant from the library in Billings. If we use the same system they use, we can get hooked up to their inter-loan program. Once we get the entire card catalogue entered, then the SirsDynix Enterprise will work with us to build up the system so that the search options will include websites and digital content and so on. Have you ever used SirsDynix Enterprise?” Lillian asked.
“Yes, I’ve worked with SirsDynix Enterprise, and the SIRSI Enterprise is a very efficient program. It’s very versatile, and the company is quite reputable. I have used this system at several libraries, and I think I can save you a lot of money because I know how to build the system up,” Janice said.
“I’m afraid that we are so archaic that it wasn’t until the patrons started complaining to the mayor that he actually allocated funds to move us into the twenty-first century.” They walked back downstairs and then turned and went down to the basement. “This is quite dusty and messy,” Lillian warned.
Janice was shocked at the condition of the room. The shelves were ancient and the books on them had to be at least fifty years old. Off to the left of the shelves were rows and rows of old maps. Everything was covered in dust, some of the books were in pretty bad shape, and Janice suspected there might be rodents running around. There were two other rooms in the basement that were empty.
Janice’s mind went on overdrive as she thought about all the possible things that could be done to provide a better, more economical, and enjoyable experience to the library patrons. She knew that based on the size of the town and the small library staff that money and manpower would be an issue. But if the opportunity arose, she’d be willing to volunteer to work on things like this during the off hours of the library. Being single, and having no family or friends nearby, that was something she could do.
“At some point we would love to restore these as they contain the history of Colstrip and the other towns around us,” Lillian said as she pulled out a map that was layered in dust. “I had envisioned us being able to open these rooms for the public.”
“Restoration, getting this room updated, cleaned, and ready for use will take a lot of time and money,” Janice said.
While Janice was in Billings she had done some research on the town through her laptop. Colstrip was an old mining town that was established in 1924 to provide coal for steam locomotives. Coal mining and agriculture seemed to be the main financial focus. The population of the town was about twenty-four hundred.
Janice and Lillian continued talking about the library and the changes that Lillian hoped to make. An hour and a half later, when Janice walked out of the library, she looked across the street and saw that her car was parked at a different location in the parking lot. She brushed the dust off her suit, then walked across the street to the auto shop. She could hear banging and noise coming from the garage area where there were several cars up on hoists.
* * * *
Chris watched as Janice walked out of his shop and across the street to the library. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen someone so beautiful. He admired her lovely long, blonde hair. He smiled as he turned his gaze to her legs.
He went into the garage, finished one of the cars he was working on, then pulled Janice’s car in and got under it to take a look. He pulled out the oil stick and wondered when was the last time she had an oil change. The Service Engine Soon light came on and stayed on. His son Aaron looked the car over and they both decided that this could be the car from hell. He couldn’t believe how bad off the car was, and he was amazed that she could still drive it.
After they had finished looking over Janice’s car, Chris went into his office to order parts for one of the other cars. When he was done, he left his office and as he came around the corner to the lobby area he saw Janice walking up to the counter. He smiled at her and asked, “How did the interview go?”
“It went pretty well I think.”
“Well, I wish I could say the same about the condition of your car.”
“What do you mean?”
“How long has the ‘service engine soon’ light been on?” he asked.
“Since I left Colorado. Does that mean anything?”
“Yes, it’s an indication that something’s wrong with the car.”
“Oh.”
“When was the last time you took it in for an oil change?”
She shrugged, and he shook his head slightly.
“Can you fix my car or not?”
Chris sensed a hint of impatience in her voice as he studied her.
“It’s not that I can’t fix your car, but it needs major repairs, and I don’t really have the time to do it. You should try to get yourself another one. It won’t be worth the money to fix this thing. I’m surprise that it’s lasted this long. And it has two hundred and fifty thousand miles on it, which is a lot of mileage,” he explained quietly.
“I can’t get another one. I really need this car to last longer for me. Is there anything you can do to keep it running, um, cheaply for me?”
He watched the expression on her face. Her voice sounded desperate but she looked put out. “I’m afraid that if I get one thing working, that will be a catalyst for other things to go wrong, and it would just nickel and dime you to death.”
“Can’t we just do little things just to keep it going? I can do without a lot of things, but I need transportation in case I have to go out of town.”
Yep, there’s definitely desperation in her voice. He watched her draw in an intake of air.
“Well, okay, I’ll give it an oil change, a tune-up, and I’ll add antifreeze because you’re low on that. We’ll see how long it works, hopefully long enough that you can look at another vehicle to buy, but I can’t make promises.”
She let out a sigh of relief. “Okay. When do you think it will be ready?”
“It should be ready by late afternoon,” Chris answered.
After she turned and walked out of the shop, Aaron, his oldest son, came up and sat down at the bar stool behind the counter, shaking his head. “Why didn’t you tell her it’s dead and there’s nothing we can do for it, Dad?”
“Well, she seems pretty adamant on needing it to last a little longer, so if I can buy her some more time, I’ll try to do that.”
His son rolled his eyes. “Hmm, hope it’s not gonna cost her more than it’s worth.”
* * * *
With nothing else to do until she got the call about the job, Janice started walking toward the motel. She saw what looked like a small apartment complex in the shape of an upside down letter L. The rental office was in the center of the complex. The sign in the middle of the front lawn said Arrowhead Apartments, and there was a small Vacancy sign under it.
Janice went into the office, and the person behind the counter looked up and said, “Hello. Welcome to Arrowhead Apartments. What can I help you with today?”
“I was checking to see if you have an apartment for rent.”
“Yes, we do. It’s a furnished one, but if you don’t need furniture, it can be taken out. Would you like to see it?”
“Yes, please.” Janice wasn’t ready to make a move until she found out if she’d gotten the job, but it didn’t hurt to look.
The lady took her down to apartment two, opened the door, and walked in with Janice following behind. The apartment was small, but just the right size for Janice. It had a nice living room with a bay window. There was a couch, chair, and television, and a kitchenette with a small table and two chairs. There was also a back door entrance to the apartment which led to the parking lot, where two parking spaces were clearly marked for the apartment. It was a two-bedroom apartment, the back bedroom being the larger of the two. There was a bed in the larger bedroom, but the smaller bedroom was empty.
“Rent is two-fifty a month, security deposit required, and no pets, no loud music after nine, and no wild parties.”
This would do it for me. I could live here. I have the security deposit already, I can’t have pets as I’m allergic to them, when I listen to music it’s on my MP3 with earphones, and have no friends. Sorry extent of my life.
“I’ve applied for a job here and as soon as I hear whether I’m hired or not, I’ll come back and put a deposit down and move in, if that’s okay with you.”
“Yes, there is an application process. Would you mind filling it out for me and I can process it? If you don’t get the job, or change your mind, you’re not under any obligation.”
“Okay,” Janice replied.
“What position did you apply for?” the lady asked. “By the way, my name is Norma.”
“Hi, Norma. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Janice Meyers.” Janice held out her hand to shake Norma’s.
Norma smiled and said, “Nice to meet you too.”
“I’ve applied for a library assistant position.”
“Oh yeah, Lillian Caldwell. She’s a nice person. You look like someone she would hire,” Norma commented.
They walked back to the office and Norma gave Janice an application and she filled it out and handed it back to her.
Janice left and walked to the motel. As she entered her room, her cellphone rang. It was the Colstrip Library number. “Hello,” Janice answered.
“Hello, Janice. This is Lillian Caldwell. I’m calling to offer you the job, if you really want to take something that you’re obviously overqualified for.”
“Oh, please, yes. I’d like to take the job,” Janice said happily.
They discussed the pay, which was minimum wage, but it was a start. Since it was Wednesday afternoon, they agreed that Janice could start on Monday. That would give her the time she needed to rent the apartment, move in, and get her car fixed.
She called Norma at Arrowhead Apartments. “I got the job, so I’m ready to sign the lease agreement if my application has been approved.”
“Yes, your application has been approved. Why don’t you stop by about two and we’ll get everything all set?” Norma said happily.
“Okay, I’ll be there.” Janice was relieved that she not only got the job, but was able to find an apartment too.
At two that afternoon, they got all the papers signed and Norma gave her the keys. “If you have any problems at all with the apartment or your neighbors, be sure to let me know.”
“I will, thank you,” Janice replied and walked out of the office.
Janice received another call from the auto shop telling her that her car was ready. She walked back to the shop and picked up her car, and then she drove to her motel room, packed her bags, and checked out. She had brought nothing with her except her clothes which took up the back seat, front passenger seat, and the trunk of her car.
After getting settled in her apartment, she called her sister, Amy, in Michigan.
“Hi, Janice,” Amy answered her cellphone.
“Hi, Amy. How are you and the kids?”
“We’re doing fine. How are you doing? I’m concerned about you.”
“I’m doing okay. I’m in a little town called Colstrip in Montana. I got a job at the local library as a library assistant, and I found a nice small apartment that I just moved into.”
“Are you sure this is what you want?”
“Yes. I need to be left alone. I couldn’t take being in Aspen anymore.”
“Are you doing okay physically?” Amy asked.
“I feel okay.”
“Are you eating?”
“Yes, I am.”
“I don’t know why you wouldn’t consider coming back to Michigan to be near us. We’re the only family you’ve got.”
“I know, but I just felt that I needed to do it this way, and by myself. I know you’re there and willing to take me in if I need a place to stay. If this doesn’t pan out, I’ll consider coming back to Michigan. I just wanted to check in with you and let you know where I am.”
“I’m glad you called.”
“How are the kids?” Janice asked.
“They’re fine. Branden is taking music lessons to play the tuba so he can be in band when he’s in junior high, and he’s driving us all nuts. Dan is more interested in playing football.”
“At his age?”
“Yeah, he and his dad are really into the football craze.”
“How’s Brian doing?”
“He’s good. He’s been working extra hours at General Motors, so it makes it hard for me to have sitters while we’re both at work.”
“Are you still working at Detroit Medical Center?”
“Yeah, lots of overtime, as usual. I got certified and I’m now the head RN in the emergency room.”
“Congratulations! I don’t know how you do it—overtime, family, a life…”
“It’s not always easy, that’s for sure,” Amy replied.
“Is it more money for you?”
“Yes, it’s quite a significant increase in our income, which is good.”
“Well, I know you’re busy, so I’m going to go for now. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Okay, sis. Call me with updates, and if you need someone to talk to.”
After ending the call Janice went to the kitchen to grab something to eat.
Janice was glad she had her sister. Their parents died several years ago in a car accident, and all they had was each other. They didn’t always get along when they were kids, sibling rivalry and all that, but as they grew into adults, they became very close. Janice would never had gotten through the horrible ordeal that she went through without her sister there to help her. It also helped that her sister was a nurse, and she was able to stay and care for her in the hospital and do the extra things that the nursing staff couldn’t or didn’t have time to do.
Janice Meyers stepped up to enter into Colstrip Auto Care and collided with a man heading out the door. He grabbed her arms to keep her from falling backward. “Excuse me. I’m sorry.”
“No, excuse me,” Janice replied as the impact forced her against his chest.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m fine.” Janice smiled nervously, noticing that he held her in his arms until she was steady.
She flushed as she allowed herself to quickly take in his physique. He had beautiful, short black hair and deep brown eyes. His skin was naturally dark, and with the way his face was angled Janice wondered if he might be Native American. He had a strong chest and muscular arms.
He released her and stepped to the side so she could enter the shop. She went inside, and he turned around and walked to the counter. “Can I help you?” he asked.
“Um, are you the owner?”
“Yes, I am. I’m Chris Jamisen,” he answered and held out his hand.
She shyly took his hand and shook it. It was warm and gentle, sending sparks through her body.
“I have a car that’s giving me some problems.”
He looked out the window at her car. “What does it seem to be doing?”
“Well, it runs really sluggishly, and it sometimes backfires.”
“How long has it been doing that?”
“A couple of days.”
“Okay. There are several cars ahead of you, so it will be a while before I can bring it in and take a look at it.”
“I have an interview across the street at the library in fifteen minutes, so how about I check back after that?” she asked.
“That’s fine,” Chris answered, smiling.
“Um...I don’t have a lot of money, and I really need to make the car last for a while.”
“Okay.” He pulled out a work order and asked for her name and information, then had her sign it. “I’ll need the key,” he said.
“Oh, here.” She handed her key to him. Although the touch of his hand sent a warm, fuzzy feeling through her body, she quickly withdrew her hand and dropped her gaze to the floor.
She walked out of the shop and headed to the library across the street for her interview.
The library sat on a block of land in downtown Colstrip. It was an old, square building with two floors and a basement. Janice noted that it looked like a centennial building. It was gray cement with ornate corners, and the four windows in the front of the building were quite tall with an arch at the top. Behind it were the city government offices, which included the mayor’s office. To the left was the elementary school, the middle school behind that, and then the high school.
Janice had been passing through Billings, Montana when she saw an ad in the local newspaper for a library assistant position in Colstrip. She knew she would probably be overqualified for the job, but she was looking for a new start, in a new town, where she didn’t know anyone and no one knew her. She didn’t even know if this town would be the best place to live and faced the possibility that she would probably work a few months here and move on. In her mind, anything was possible.
Janice walked into the library and looked around before she approached the counter. There appeared to be a couple of conference rooms off to the side. In one of them was a large conference table with chairs. Next to the conference room were several student desks with cubicle walls around them for privacy. Janice noted that there were a couple of older model computers. To the right were rows upon rows of books on shelves that could be rotated three hundred and sixty degrees for easy access to more books. The library counter was near the entrance of the building. To the left of the counter were the children’s tables and book area with a television and VCR playing children’s movies.
Janice walked up to the counter and an older woman came out of her office. “Can I help you?” she asked with a pleasant smile.
“Yes, I’m here to interview for the library assistant position.”
“You must be Janice Meyers.”
“Yes, that’s me,” Janice replied with a smile.
“I’m Lillian Caldwell.” The woman reached over the counter to shake her hand.
Lillian looked to be in her forties. She had black hair with white streaks through it, and she stood about two inches taller than Janice.
“Nice to meet you, Ms. Caldwell,” Janice greeted her warmly.
“Come on back to my office, and we’ll get started.” Lillian opened the gate for Janice, and they walked into her office. “Have a seat.” She gestured to the chair in front of the desk.
In Lillian’s office there was a large conference table that had new books to be logged in and placed on shelves. Further back in the room there was an old wood desk, a computer, and a printer. And some file cabinets sat beside the desk.
“When I talked to you on the phone, you were coming in from Billings, is that right?” Lillian asked.
“Yes, I came in yesterday.”
“Do you have a place to live here or are you staying somewhere?”
“I’m staying at the motel up the road right now. If I get the job, I’ll be relocating here,” Janice answered.
“So, what brings you to Colstrip?”
“I think the town looks nice and inviting, and I wanted to have a slower pace in my life, so this town seems to be what I’m looking for.”
“I see. Tell me, Janice, what experience do you bring with you for this job as an assistant?”
“I have a Master of Library Science degree. I’ve helped create several new libraries in urban communities, and I’ve worked at several graduate schools in their libraries. In addition to this, I have developed and revised library systems, procedures, and workflow.” She pulled out of her briefcase a comprehensive report she had created and handed it to Lillian. “I’ve prepared reports and I feel I can present ideas clearly and concisely in written and oral form. I have supervised employees. My biggest asset is motivating, establishing, and maintaining effective working relationships with associates, supervisors, volunteers, other community agencies, and the public. I’ve done a lot of fundraisers to raise money and garner support for the libraries.”
Lillian was listening intently to what Janice told her as well as reading her resume and looking over her report. “Very impressive. Are you sure you’d want to take the leap downward from a librarian to librarian assistant?” Lillian rested her elbows on her desk and brought her hand up to her chin.
Janice didn’t want to convey how desperately she wanted and needed this job. “It is my desire to work in a library like this, updating, maintaining, and sharing my knowledge of library materials and resources with others.”
“You indicated that you have supervised employees. In what capacity or level was this at?”
“I was the branch librarian manager in Aspen, and I supervised four employees—two part-time ones and two full-time ones.”
“I like what I see here and I like how you have presented yourself. Let me think about this for a few hours, and I’ll give you a call back this afternoon. Do you have any references?” Lillian asked.
“Yes, I have several references.” Janice pulled out a sheet of paper with five names and phone numbers.
“Okay, thank you. Also, here is an application that needs to be filled out.” Lillian handed Janice an employment application. “If I decide to hire you, you can bring it in with you on your first day of work.” As they concluded the interview and got up, Lillian said, “Let me give you a tour of the library.”
“Okay.”
They stepped out of the office and veered to the left where the children’s area was at. Janice wondered, being that it was a small town library, how up-to-date their books were. She pulled a book off the shelf and looked it over. This book appears to be fairly new. She slipped it back in its place on the shelf.
“Do you have reading hour or a movie hour for the children?” Janice asked.
“No, we don’t. Since there’s only one other person who works here part-time and myself, we just don’t have the time to do that. Although, I love the idea.” As they walked on toward the next area, there was a door and a hallway with a window by it. “This door goes out to the local government offices and the mayor’s office.”
They came to the young adult fiction section.
“I really like that these shelves rotate like this, you can get a lot of books to put on the shelves and offer more variety,” Janice commented.
“Yes, last year we were approved the budget to do this and it really helps to organize the limited space we have. The schools don’t have a library in them, so the students need to come
here to do their research and check out books. That’s why we have so many books for being just a small community and a small library.”
Along the wall of the young adult area was a door leading into a conference room labeled The Mining Room. It had a large table and chairs situated around it.
“We have several conference rooms but the rooms are hardly ever used,” Lillian said. They walked past the room and came to a door to another conference room. It was filled with discarded furniture. “This is the Centennial Room.”
Janice looked around and noticed that there were only a couple of older computers, although she had seen a newer one in Lillian’s office and another near the main checkout desk. Janice wondered what kind of budget the library had, because she thought that turning the Centennial Room into a computer lab would be a good use of the space, but she kept her thoughts to herself.
They continued walking and passed a photocopier machine, a water fountain, and a restroom. Just beyond the restroom was the media room.
They walked upstairs to the second floor, and Lillian showed Janice the audiobooks, reference materials, and the information desk. A woman sat behind the desk, typing into the only computer that was on the second floor. In addition to the reference materials, there were nonfiction books, oversized and large print materials, magazines and newspapers, as well as another restroom and water fountain.
Lillian walked up to the information desk and said, “Carly, I’d like you to meet Janice.”
Carly stood up and shook Janice’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Janice.”
Janice smiled. “Nice to meet you too. What are you working on?”
“We have a new system called SIRSI Enterprise that’s replacing the card catalogue. I’m entering the card catalogue into the system,” Carly replied.
“We received a grant from the library in Billings. If we use the same system they use, we can get hooked up to their inter-loan program. Once we get the entire card catalogue entered, then the SirsDynix Enterprise will work with us to build up the system so that the search options will include websites and digital content and so on. Have you ever used SirsDynix Enterprise?” Lillian asked.
“Yes, I’ve worked with SirsDynix Enterprise, and the SIRSI Enterprise is a very efficient program. It’s very versatile, and the company is quite reputable. I have used this system at several libraries, and I think I can save you a lot of money because I know how to build the system up,” Janice said.
“I’m afraid that we are so archaic that it wasn’t until the patrons started complaining to the mayor that he actually allocated funds to move us into the twenty-first century.” They walked back downstairs and then turned and went down to the basement. “This is quite dusty and messy,” Lillian warned.
Janice was shocked at the condition of the room. The shelves were ancient and the books on them had to be at least fifty years old. Off to the left of the shelves were rows and rows of old maps. Everything was covered in dust, some of the books were in pretty bad shape, and Janice suspected there might be rodents running around. There were two other rooms in the basement that were empty.
Janice’s mind went on overdrive as she thought about all the possible things that could be done to provide a better, more economical, and enjoyable experience to the library patrons. She knew that based on the size of the town and the small library staff that money and manpower would be an issue. But if the opportunity arose, she’d be willing to volunteer to work on things like this during the off hours of the library. Being single, and having no family or friends nearby, that was something she could do.
“At some point we would love to restore these as they contain the history of Colstrip and the other towns around us,” Lillian said as she pulled out a map that was layered in dust. “I had envisioned us being able to open these rooms for the public.”
“Restoration, getting this room updated, cleaned, and ready for use will take a lot of time and money,” Janice said.
While Janice was in Billings she had done some research on the town through her laptop. Colstrip was an old mining town that was established in 1924 to provide coal for steam locomotives. Coal mining and agriculture seemed to be the main financial focus. The population of the town was about twenty-four hundred.
Janice and Lillian continued talking about the library and the changes that Lillian hoped to make. An hour and a half later, when Janice walked out of the library, she looked across the street and saw that her car was parked at a different location in the parking lot. She brushed the dust off her suit, then walked across the street to the auto shop. She could hear banging and noise coming from the garage area where there were several cars up on hoists.
* * * *
Chris watched as Janice walked out of his shop and across the street to the library. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen someone so beautiful. He admired her lovely long, blonde hair. He smiled as he turned his gaze to her legs.
He went into the garage, finished one of the cars he was working on, then pulled Janice’s car in and got under it to take a look. He pulled out the oil stick and wondered when was the last time she had an oil change. The Service Engine Soon light came on and stayed on. His son Aaron looked the car over and they both decided that this could be the car from hell. He couldn’t believe how bad off the car was, and he was amazed that she could still drive it.
After they had finished looking over Janice’s car, Chris went into his office to order parts for one of the other cars. When he was done, he left his office and as he came around the corner to the lobby area he saw Janice walking up to the counter. He smiled at her and asked, “How did the interview go?”
“It went pretty well I think.”
“Well, I wish I could say the same about the condition of your car.”
“What do you mean?”
“How long has the ‘service engine soon’ light been on?” he asked.
“Since I left Colorado. Does that mean anything?”
“Yes, it’s an indication that something’s wrong with the car.”
“Oh.”
“When was the last time you took it in for an oil change?”
She shrugged, and he shook his head slightly.
“Can you fix my car or not?”
Chris sensed a hint of impatience in her voice as he studied her.
“It’s not that I can’t fix your car, but it needs major repairs, and I don’t really have the time to do it. You should try to get yourself another one. It won’t be worth the money to fix this thing. I’m surprise that it’s lasted this long. And it has two hundred and fifty thousand miles on it, which is a lot of mileage,” he explained quietly.
“I can’t get another one. I really need this car to last longer for me. Is there anything you can do to keep it running, um, cheaply for me?”
He watched the expression on her face. Her voice sounded desperate but she looked put out. “I’m afraid that if I get one thing working, that will be a catalyst for other things to go wrong, and it would just nickel and dime you to death.”
“Can’t we just do little things just to keep it going? I can do without a lot of things, but I need transportation in case I have to go out of town.”
Yep, there’s definitely desperation in her voice. He watched her draw in an intake of air.
“Well, okay, I’ll give it an oil change, a tune-up, and I’ll add antifreeze because you’re low on that. We’ll see how long it works, hopefully long enough that you can look at another vehicle to buy, but I can’t make promises.”
She let out a sigh of relief. “Okay. When do you think it will be ready?”
“It should be ready by late afternoon,” Chris answered.
After she turned and walked out of the shop, Aaron, his oldest son, came up and sat down at the bar stool behind the counter, shaking his head. “Why didn’t you tell her it’s dead and there’s nothing we can do for it, Dad?”
“Well, she seems pretty adamant on needing it to last a little longer, so if I can buy her some more time, I’ll try to do that.”
His son rolled his eyes. “Hmm, hope it’s not gonna cost her more than it’s worth.”
* * * *
With nothing else to do until she got the call about the job, Janice started walking toward the motel. She saw what looked like a small apartment complex in the shape of an upside down letter L. The rental office was in the center of the complex. The sign in the middle of the front lawn said Arrowhead Apartments, and there was a small Vacancy sign under it.
Janice went into the office, and the person behind the counter looked up and said, “Hello. Welcome to Arrowhead Apartments. What can I help you with today?”
“I was checking to see if you have an apartment for rent.”
“Yes, we do. It’s a furnished one, but if you don’t need furniture, it can be taken out. Would you like to see it?”
“Yes, please.” Janice wasn’t ready to make a move until she found out if she’d gotten the job, but it didn’t hurt to look.
The lady took her down to apartment two, opened the door, and walked in with Janice following behind. The apartment was small, but just the right size for Janice. It had a nice living room with a bay window. There was a couch, chair, and television, and a kitchenette with a small table and two chairs. There was also a back door entrance to the apartment which led to the parking lot, where two parking spaces were clearly marked for the apartment. It was a two-bedroom apartment, the back bedroom being the larger of the two. There was a bed in the larger bedroom, but the smaller bedroom was empty.
“Rent is two-fifty a month, security deposit required, and no pets, no loud music after nine, and no wild parties.”
This would do it for me. I could live here. I have the security deposit already, I can’t have pets as I’m allergic to them, when I listen to music it’s on my MP3 with earphones, and have no friends. Sorry extent of my life.
“I’ve applied for a job here and as soon as I hear whether I’m hired or not, I’ll come back and put a deposit down and move in, if that’s okay with you.”
“Yes, there is an application process. Would you mind filling it out for me and I can process it? If you don’t get the job, or change your mind, you’re not under any obligation.”
“Okay,” Janice replied.
“What position did you apply for?” the lady asked. “By the way, my name is Norma.”
“Hi, Norma. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Janice Meyers.” Janice held out her hand to shake Norma’s.
Norma smiled and said, “Nice to meet you too.”
“I’ve applied for a library assistant position.”
“Oh yeah, Lillian Caldwell. She’s a nice person. You look like someone she would hire,” Norma commented.
They walked back to the office and Norma gave Janice an application and she filled it out and handed it back to her.
Janice left and walked to the motel. As she entered her room, her cellphone rang. It was the Colstrip Library number. “Hello,” Janice answered.
“Hello, Janice. This is Lillian Caldwell. I’m calling to offer you the job, if you really want to take something that you’re obviously overqualified for.”
“Oh, please, yes. I’d like to take the job,” Janice said happily.
They discussed the pay, which was minimum wage, but it was a start. Since it was Wednesday afternoon, they agreed that Janice could start on Monday. That would give her the time she needed to rent the apartment, move in, and get her car fixed.
She called Norma at Arrowhead Apartments. “I got the job, so I’m ready to sign the lease agreement if my application has been approved.”
“Yes, your application has been approved. Why don’t you stop by about two and we’ll get everything all set?” Norma said happily.
“Okay, I’ll be there.” Janice was relieved that she not only got the job, but was able to find an apartment too.
At two that afternoon, they got all the papers signed and Norma gave her the keys. “If you have any problems at all with the apartment or your neighbors, be sure to let me know.”
“I will, thank you,” Janice replied and walked out of the office.
Janice received another call from the auto shop telling her that her car was ready. She walked back to the shop and picked up her car, and then she drove to her motel room, packed her bags, and checked out. She had brought nothing with her except her clothes which took up the back seat, front passenger seat, and the trunk of her car.
After getting settled in her apartment, she called her sister, Amy, in Michigan.
“Hi, Janice,” Amy answered her cellphone.
“Hi, Amy. How are you and the kids?”
“We’re doing fine. How are you doing? I’m concerned about you.”
“I’m doing okay. I’m in a little town called Colstrip in Montana. I got a job at the local library as a library assistant, and I found a nice small apartment that I just moved into.”
“Are you sure this is what you want?”
“Yes. I need to be left alone. I couldn’t take being in Aspen anymore.”
“Are you doing okay physically?” Amy asked.
“I feel okay.”
“Are you eating?”
“Yes, I am.”
“I don’t know why you wouldn’t consider coming back to Michigan to be near us. We’re the only family you’ve got.”
“I know, but I just felt that I needed to do it this way, and by myself. I know you’re there and willing to take me in if I need a place to stay. If this doesn’t pan out, I’ll consider coming back to Michigan. I just wanted to check in with you and let you know where I am.”
“I’m glad you called.”
“How are the kids?” Janice asked.
“They’re fine. Branden is taking music lessons to play the tuba so he can be in band when he’s in junior high, and he’s driving us all nuts. Dan is more interested in playing football.”
“At his age?”
“Yeah, he and his dad are really into the football craze.”
“How’s Brian doing?”
“He’s good. He’s been working extra hours at General Motors, so it makes it hard for me to have sitters while we’re both at work.”
“Are you still working at Detroit Medical Center?”
“Yeah, lots of overtime, as usual. I got certified and I’m now the head RN in the emergency room.”
“Congratulations! I don’t know how you do it—overtime, family, a life…”
“It’s not always easy, that’s for sure,” Amy replied.
“Is it more money for you?”
“Yes, it’s quite a significant increase in our income, which is good.”
“Well, I know you’re busy, so I’m going to go for now. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Okay, sis. Call me with updates, and if you need someone to talk to.”
After ending the call Janice went to the kitchen to grab something to eat.
Janice was glad she had her sister. Their parents died several years ago in a car accident, and all they had was each other. They didn’t always get along when they were kids, sibling rivalry and all that, but as they grew into adults, they became very close. Janice would never had gotten through the horrible ordeal that she went through without her sister there to help her. It also helped that her sister was a nurse, and she was able to stay and care for her in the hospital and do the extra things that the nursing staff couldn’t or didn’t have time to do.