Crossing Paths

amed through the patched windows of the east wing, casting beams across the wooden floors. Emily found herself standing in the main hall again, poring

the plumbing next. The pipes in this place are older than my gra

er temples. "Great. Anot

or not?" Jake asked, a s

into the budget," she muttere

. Visitors weren't exactly common while the renovations were in full swi

stuffed with papers. Her sharp eyes and warm smile exuded the cha

ed in some old photos," Mrs. C

"Yes, absolutely. Tha

rag. "Mrs. Callahan," he greeted, noddi

day someone digs up a piece of history in our l

f letters and photos was still displayed. Mrs. Callahan

ointing to a series of black-and-white photographs. "That's Evelyn rig

owed Evelyn and Henry working alongside a group of townspeo

em?" she asked, unab

k not long after the library opened. Henry vanished-some say he left town, others believe somethi

arms. "No one knows what

t's one of those stories that gets passed down

und hinted at a romance between Evelyn and Henry, but the ab

. "You're doing good work here. If Evelyn could

er Emily, but she managed a small sm

-

ad through the town, drawing curious visitors to the site. Emily hadn't anticipated the sudden influx

ement. "This place is the talk of the town right now," she said, setting th

caffeine. "I just hope the excitement translat

d. "If the plumbing bill doesn't sc

are like a married co

nd Emily shot Lily a glare.

ievous. "You bicker like it's your full-time job

ut meddling innkeepers, but Emily couldn't h

-

re clues about Evelyn and Henry. The faded pages revealed snippets of their lives-their shared dreams for th

caught her

shake the feeling that something else is troubling him. I wish he would talk to me. Thi

velyn's doubts felt painfully familiar, echoing he

ghts, and she looked up to see

?" he asked, leanin

ame thing," she replie

eeping over the piles of documen

handed him the jou

furrowed as he read Evelyn's words. When he finished,

etly. "Not just about the lib

hat it must've been like for her. Building something so meaningful

ally kept up seemed to crack. "It's hard to let people in someti

e vulnerability in his tone. "Is tha

reach his eyes. "I'm not clo

that," she said, a small

ing through these old papers. Maybe you'll figure out how to sav

-

ke locked up for the day. The streets of Willow Creek were quiet,

nd Henry. Their story felt unfinished, but it was more than that-it

"You did good today, Monroe. The display, the way you ha

ised by the compliment. "

n. For the first time, Emily felt a flicker of hope-not just for the libr