“Oh, and I don’t?” he asked, following behind her.

Lindsey watched them go in bemusement. Had she ever been that young or that mercurial in temperament? No. She was an old soul and had pretty much sailed on an even keel her whole life. Her brother Jack was the roller coaster of the family. He lived life on the edge and liked it that way, whereas Lindsey was happier to hear about his exploits but had no desire to live them.

She figured as soon as Violet posted the cast list on the theater doors, the town would calm down and things would return to normal. She found she was looking forward to it.

Lindsey left the break room and was headed into her office when she saw Ms. Cole talking with Milton Duffy. They were standing off in the DVD area, talking in low voices. Not that Lindsey was trying to hear what they were saying, but she took a detour through the new books area just to see if the displays were full.

Drat. They were, which meant that there really was no need for her to linger.

Ann Marie, one of their part-time employees, was behind the circulation desk, and Lindsey went over to say hello. Ann Marie was checking in a stack of books but she, too, kept glancing at Ms. Cole and Milton, as if trying to make sense of what she was seeing.

When she saw Lindsey, she smiled. “In all of the years I’ve been working here, which is three, Ms. Cole has never—and I do mean never—left the circulation desk to go be social.”

“I know,” Lindsey said. “It’s alarming.”

“Phew, I thought it was just me,” Ann Marie said. “But it’s kind of freaking me out.”

Lindsey laughed. “Agreed. I had no idea how accustomed I’d become to the reliability of Ms. Cole. Then again, maybe she’s trying to badger a fine out of Milton.”

“He doesn’t have any fines,” Ann Marie said. When Lindsey looked at her, she shrugged and said, “I checked.”

“Weird,” Lindsey said.

“What’s weird?” a voice asked from behind her, and Lindsey turned around to see Beth dressed in glittery wings with a garland of flowers on her head.

“Don’t tell me, let me guess,” Lindsey said. “You’re supposed to be Mustardseed.”

“Peaseblossom, actually,” Beth said.

“Ah, my mistake,” Lindsey said.

“Did Violet post the parts yet?” Ann Marie asked.

“Not yet,” Beth said with a frown. “I am dying of anxiety.”

“Good thing faeries are immortal then,” Lindsey said.

“Miss Library, why are you dressed that way?” a young girl named Casey, who was a regular attendee of Beth’s family story time, asked Beth.

“I am trying out costumes in case I get picked to be in a play,” Beth said.

“Are you a princess?” Casey asked.

“No, I’m a faerie,” Beth said.

“A faerie princess?” Casey persisted.