“I’m sorry,” June said to Alex after a moment. “I didn’t mean to be rude.”
“Hey, it’s fine. I’m sorry I’m too chatty; I’m just going a bit crazy here on my own.”
“Right now, I’d kill for a job where I was on my own.”
“Things bad at the library?”
“Haven’t you heard?” June said, and Alex shook his head. “The council are threatening to close us down.”
“No! I had no idea.” Alex looked at her aghast. “Why would they do that?”
“Budget cuts, they say. It’s not just Chalcot.”
“It’s the same in London. I’m sorry, it’s so shit. Are you fighting it?”
“There’s a campaign group been formed called FOCL.”
“Fock what?”
“I know,” June said, raising an eyebrow. “It stands for Friends of Chalcot Library.”
“When’s the next meeting? I’m happy to help out while I’m here.”
June stared at the disappointed woman in the painting. “Actually, I’m not really involved with it.”
“Why not?”
She opened her mouth to say the stock answer she’d given so many times today but stopped herself. Would it be so bad if she told Alex the truth? He’d said he was only back in Chalcot for a fewmonths, so he was unlikely to tell anyone. And there was something about Alex that made June feel like she could trust him.
“What is it?” he said.
“If I tell you something, do you promise you won’t tell a soul?”
“Scout’s honor.” He held three fingers in the air.
June swallowed. “The council have banned all library workers from speaking out against library closures. If I get involved with FOCL, or if I’m even seen to be helping them, I risk losing my job.”
“Oh shit.”
“I’m also banned from telling anyone why I’m not getting involved, so everyone assumes I don’t care about the library and now hates me. Today has been so, so difficult.” The words came flowing out of June like water from a burst pipe. “I’ve worked in the library for ten years, and my mum worked there before me. I can’t let it close.” She slumped forward and put her head in her hands.
“There must be something you can do to help.”
“I can’t do anything without getting sacked. And even if I could, it’s not like I’d be any help, anyway,” she said through her hands.
“That’s not true,” Alex said gently.
“It is. Do you remember how shy I was at school? Well, I’m even worse now: a complete coward.”
There was a pause before Alex spoke. “I remember a girl who was the smartest in our class. Who would help anyone who was stuck or didn’t understand something. Someone who everybody liked and respected.”
June looked at Alex in surprise, but at that moment a bell rang, and he disappeared into the kitchen. He reappeared a moment later carrying a plastic bag.
“Thank you,” June said, trying not to look flustered as she tookthe food from him and thrust her money on the counter. “You won’t tell anyone what I said about being banned, will you? If word gets out, Marjorie would kill me.”
“I promise your secret’s safe with me. And if you ever want to chat, you know where I am.”
“Thanks, Alex,” June said, and she felt tears well up at the first kind words she’d heard all day. She turned and headed toward the door before Alex saw, and then stopped. “By the way, I’m readingMatilda.”