Frank Cologne had never heard the word “no” in his life. He was usually the one embarrassing other people. But tonight, standing in the middle of a public library, he realized he had finally met his match. “Because if that was an attempt at flirting,” Melanie said, her voice sharp and amused, “I am genuinely worried about the women you have met so far.
”
He froze. That voice. That tone. The full use of his name—including the Theodore he’d spent years trying to hide.
“I sent you here to get to know the place, not to embarrass the employees with cheap pickup lines. And you tried to use business jargon to impress a woman at your age, and you still haven’t learned anything about what really matters. First, you can’t spend a single cent to impress her. ”
“And what if I can’t do it?
” he asked, the words slipping out before he could stop them. He stopped, remembering he couldn’t tell her the truth. The deal. The reason he was here at all.
“Frank, I have no idea what to do now. ”
A terrible plan. Based on advice from a woman who still thought floppy discs were cutting-edge technology. But a plan all the same.
The result was a series of facial spasms that looked more like a short circuit than flirting. “I’m not having any kind of breakdown,” he said, his eyes wide. “And instead of getting angry,” Melanie said, studying him, “you’re fascinated. Not at all.
It’s just that you don’t exactly look like the type who enjoys verses about the human condition. ”
Frank had no idea what any of those categories meant. But he said, “It is almost honest in its dishonesty. ”
“There is no ‘then,'” she replied.
“And if I do that, then maybe I will consider having a real conversation with you—one that does not involve winks that look like medical emergencies. ”
Frank held the book with both hands as if it were a valuable contract. No, it was something else. He didn’t understand almost any of it, but he read it.
“Because it is a metaphor,” Melanie said, clearly trying not to laugh. “You really didn’t understand anything. Sometimes both at the same time, just to make it harder for whoever is reading. Try not to cause any international disasters.
”
Frank walked to the history section with the confidence of a general heading into battle. No, no, no. And at some point, between the jokes about Frank’s incompetence and the stories Melanie told about each book, something changed. “I didn’t sleep at all because of a poem.
”
The problem was that Frank didn’t know how to write notes with romantic words. First attempt. He folded the paper, hid it inside the poetry book he was returning, and placed it on the return pile when Melanie wasn’t looking. Frank’s notes were a chaotic mix of facts about economics, comments about the weather, and compliments that sounded like they’d been written by an alien trying to understand human emotions.
“You must have the most rested facial muscles in town. ”
After two weeks of exchanging notes, the facts about economics started giving way to more personal questions. “Now you know more about me than most people do. ” The notes continued, each one more personal, more intimate.
It was as if the paper allowed them to say things they could never say out loud. “No notes, just us. ”
Somewhere between the notes and the laughter, between the poems and the confessions, something real had started between them. But that was all his grandmother allowed him to have each week.
“So, what did you plan for this mysterious evening with no notes? ”
The truth was that Frank didn’t have a choice because he was short on money. “The proper term is rustic. ” Two huge burgers, piles of fries, and cups of soda that Frank now knew could be refilled as many times as he wanted while paying only once.
“Wow, have you really never eaten burgers before? ”
“No, all of this. The library, the notes. I don’t know how to do anything else.
We didn’t have much, but we had enough. ”
“Does she still do that? ” Melanie’s silence was answer enough. “Don’t exaggerate.
”
And inside was the complete architectural project for the Silver Falls Casino—including pools, luxury restaurants, and a note in the corner that said, “Proposed location: public library property. ”
“These are old plans from before I met you. The notes, the dinner, the conversations—”
“No, Melanie, it is not like that. ”
“Explain how you show up out of nowhere, pretend you don’t know how to flirt, pretend to be awkward and charming, and all this time you had plans to turn the place I love into a casino.
”
“I don’t want to do that anymore. ”
“No, Frank, you will never understand what I feel for this library and what I am feeling right now. Do you know what the difference is between you and this book? The two of you planned this together, did you not?
”
Inside the library, Melanie leaned against the office door, breathing hard, and then she started to cry. He went inside and found the two women sitting on the back porch. “It is rule number one of civilized life. ”
“Dear, I understand that you are upset.
Upset is not enough. Trust is based on evidence. Not because of the land, but because I saw that he had become exactly the kind of person I had spent my whole life trying to keep him from becoming. ”
“Melanie, I know you have no reason to believe me, but those casino plans were from before.
Before I met you, before everything. I don’t want any of it. I should have told you about the deal, about all of it. I know words are not enough, but I want you to know that for the first time in my life, I found something I can’t buy, and it terrifies me.
”
“Then we should go, ma’am. ”
“Now we are finally speaking the same language,” Elizabeth said with a smile. Frank was furious but tried to stay in control. “That document was signed before there was any discussion about this casino.
”
“We don’t need to wait any longer. I know some of you don’t know me because I’ve always left everything in my grandson’s hands. Clayton, this board only has power as long as the heir does not show maturity. ”
Melanie didn’t answer a single time.
He sent a 12-page apology letter that came back with a single word written in red. “Doing exactly what? Anything you tell me to do. ”
“Anything I tell you?
”
“These are strange times, Mrs. But instead, he laughed. And if that means cleaning bathrooms and being attacked by children with paint, then that is exactly what I’m going to do. ”
He still did whatever Melanie told him to do.
Because it was playing at the theater tonight, and he’d bought two tickets. “Just the popcorn is enough, Frank. ”
It was designed for normal people who stay still during the movie. About 20 minutes later, without thinking, she reached into the popcorn bucket at the same time he did.
Their hands touched inside it. They both stopped at the same time. He simply left his hand there next to hers inside the popcorn bucket. Then she looked at the city below.
Then she looked back at him, who was very clearly trying not to look down. He answered, his voice softer than he meant it to be, up there with the tiny city below them and the wind messing up both their hair. Sometimes the silence between two people says exactly what words cannot. New books.
A digital system. Air conditioning that actually works. Bathrooms that don’t need brave volunteers to clean them. There was something else.
What happened next was simple and, at the same time, the most important moment of Frank Cologne’s life. When Frank told his grandmother, Elizabeth Cologne threw both arms into the air as if she’d just won the lottery. “The other is humiliating manual labor. Write that down.
Don’t let him take any. We’re still getting to know each other, child. Then accept it quickly before I die of anxiety waiting. ”
She said that and about ten other things he’d rather not repeat.
She pretended to think for a few seconds, which was enough time for Frank to age two full years. “Only if you agree that I choose the movies. ”
“All right, then. ”
The distance between us began to fray like shadows before the break of day.
One heartbeat shared between two souls.
