Chapter Text
Mel always believed that the book fair came far too early into the school year.
It was a bit overwhelming, honestly. School began in August, and then the book fair rolled around in September. Entirely too close together, but she did not make the schedule.
She grunted as she pushed the cart, oh so heavy with books. Her face had tinged red, sweat making fly away hair stick to her forehead. The library was always hot and over-exerting oneself did not help.
“Melissa, move it over here!” Came the voice of the Librarian, Mrs. Branch – shoot, Holly, Mel reminded herself.
They had closed the library today to work on setting the book fair up, and Holly had asked her to call her by her first name when the kids weren’t around. It was a strange adjustment for Mel, to be put on equal footing with a woman nearly twice her age.
She hummed to herself as she pushed the cart where the woman directed her, biting the inside of her lips.
Finally, she positioned the last of six cases. Standing back, Mel wrung her hands together, feeling a bit useless as Mrs. Branch (Oh well, Mel thought) opened up the cases, moving books around.
“Uh, do you want me to start pricing?” She asked, squeezing her fingers. She liked doing the prices. It was a mindless task and made it easier for the kids, writing the prices with tax just below the books.
“If you could!”
So off Mel went, painters tape and sharpie in hand.
Okay, so maybe setting up for the book fair wasn’t as bad as she made it out to be. The real trouble would be when the children came.
Mel loved kids. However, helping kids shop? An entirely different beast. The kindergarteners especially… Who gives a five-year-old one hundred dollars? More people than you would think.
It got loud so fast. Sometimes she couldn’t even think. The kids would surround her, asking her questions.
“Miss King!! How much is this book?”
“What does this do, Miss King?”
“My mommy gave me this much money, can you count it?”
Fine questions on their own, but when there are 20 children all asking at one, Mel just wanted to lock herself in the bathroom and cry.
Shaking her head, Mel focused on writing the prices. She’d deal with that when she got to it. At least family night was early this year, meaning most parents would be shopping with their children instead of sending them on their own.
Once she was done pricing, it was time for her own personal shopping. Mel used the excuse of supporting the school to pick up some books for both herself and Becca. Of course, they were books meant for elementary, but sometimes those were the best books.
Becca tended to like the Babysitters Club graphic novels, so she made sure to pick up the two newest ones. She swiped a copy of Stella by McCall Hoyle for herself. Melissa loved the look into not only PTSD but Epilepsy it gave. When she had read it (initially borrowed from the library’s collection), Mel had felt that longing she had back before her mother’s passing.
Anything relating to medicine was a sore spot to Mel. Med School had been so close but so far. Clutching the book to her chest, Mel sighed. At least Stella focused on the social aspects, and the bonding of a girl and her dog, versus getting into the medical side of things.
“Mrs. Branch, These are mine. I’m setting them at my desk.” She liked to give a heads up. It always felt like stealing when she took them so soon, even though she planned on paying.
“Perfectly fine, dear. Did you pick up some books for Becca?”
“Yes, yep.” She gave a curt nod. Mrs. Branch had never even met Becca, but Mel felt like she expected her to take care of her sister.
Everyone did.
That’s okay, Mel did not mind one bit. Nope. Nu-uh. It’s why she got this job instead of going to Med School. She needed to get off of this. She loved her sister and it wasn’t a burden taking care of her.
Wringing her hands together once more, Mel decided she was going to go put up the posters for family night.
📚📖°•☆•°📖📚
The next day it was time for the class walk-throughs. This part, Mel did like. It was quiet for the most, but the expressions on the kids faces made it entertaining. They were all so… excited. Over books! What a concept.
While normally their teachers would lead a walk-through, if the class had the Library for their special area, Mrs. Branch would walk them around.
Such was the case for Mrs. Espinosa's kindergarteners. Mel reminded them quietly to keep their hands to themselves from the sideline, standing just in front of her desk.
They had set Legos up for the children to play with afterwards, and when Mrs. Branch dismissed them, Mel thought they would all run over immediately.
“Miss King! Miss King! Did you see the book with the wheels!?” Tanner exclaimed, coming to stare up at her, pointing excitedly.
Mel had learned during in her first year here that at the beginning, kindergarteners tended not to trust anyone besides their teachers.
Not Tanner Langdon.
He had latched onto Mel during his first visit to the library. He hadn’t wanted to sit for story time, so Mel sat with him in the reading area, as she did with any child.
He had cried, telling her he missed his mommy and daddy. Mel, despite her aversion to touch, had held his hand, telling him he was brave and strong for coming to school. How his parents were so proud that he was becoming a big boy.
Ever since then, he had treated Mel like his best friend. Hugs in the hallways when she was walking in, still awkwardly holding her bag as he made his way to breakfast; waving and saying “Hi Miss King!!” in the hallway when he was supposed to be standing in line silently.
Honestly, she didn’t really mind it… Mel was a bit touch starved, alright? It wasn’t like Tanner was the only kid who liked her, she gave hugs and high fives to plenty of kids.
Tanner was just the first kindergartener this year to be so friendly.
“I did, Tanner. That’s so cool!” Mel finally replied, giving him a smile and a thumbs up.
“I’m gonna ask Daddy to get it for me! He said he can come to the night book fair!” He seemed so excited talking about his father, practically vibrating.
“That is amazing, buddy.” She gave a tentative pat to his head, flattening down his brown hair that had gotten a bit messy from all the jumping. “Why don’t you go join your friends for Legos before library time is over?”
Tanner’s eyes got wide, and he turned to the tables, screaming, “LEGOS!” as if he had already forgotten that had been an option.
📚📖°•☆•°📖📚
Family night was appropriately busy. Mel was originally operating the cash register, but had been kicked off by a pushy volunteer.
She had a hard time fighting back, so she just stood near her desk now, wringing her hands and asking if anyone needed any help.
God, she wished she had brought her noise canceling ear buds. Not really appropriate to wear during school hours, but this was not school hours. She wasn’t being paid so she would wear them if she had them.
Lamenting her lack of ear buds, Mel looked up just in time to see a familiar ball of energy running at her.
“Miss King!! You’re here!” Tanner cried before smashing into her legs at full force, nearly causing her stumble.
“Oh!” Mel let out a surprised noise, her hands coming to rest on his little shoulders.
“Tanner! Manners, bud!”
Mel looked up to see a what had to have been the most handsome man she had ever seen walking towards her.
Okay, maybe she was exaggerating, but maybe not because her eyes focused on the way his hair fell, his piercing blue eyes, and – okay, she had to control herself.
The man grabbed one of Tanner’s hands, gently tugging him away before sighing. He looked over to Mel, something unrecognizable passing over his face before smiling.
“So you’re the Miss King that Tan-man talks about.”
“In the flesh?” She managed to make out, giving an awkward smile, unsure of what to do with her hands now. “But adults can call me Mel.”
The man held out his hand.
“Frank Langdon.” He stated before Tanner yelled out, “My daddy!!”
Ah, right. Yeah, Mel should have expected that. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Langdon.”
“He’s a doctor!” Tanner added, placing his hands on his hips and puffing his cheeks out.
“Dr. Langdon then, my apologies.” Mel corrected, nodding her head. “So, uh, did you need any help with the book fair?”
“You know, you can just call me Frank.” Dr. Langdon laughed out (No way, Mel thought), before looking at the thrills of people. “You know, maybe? Tanner had mentioned a book with wheels that he wanted.”
Mel nodded, remembering that.
“Oh, yes. It’s over on the table next to the Pete the Cat cart. I can show you.” She motioned for him to follow her, weaving through the crowd to point out the table.
Once they got to the table, Tanner picked up the book excitedly before looking around at the other knick-knack items they had.
“You know, Tanner talks about you a lot.” Dr. Langdon commented and immediately Mel felt embarrassed as he looked over her.
“Oh, well, he had been a bit nervous that first special area so I had to hold his hand. That’s probably why.” She replied.
He hummed at her response. “Probably.”
She knew she shouldn’t keep talking to him. Should go do her job and help out other people, but she can’t help it.
“So you’re a doctor?”
His eyes stayed on Tanner, but he gave a smile. “Senior Resident at PTMC.”
“That’s amazing!” Mel said, maybe a bit too quickly. “I’m sure it’s very fulfilling. I wanted to go to Med School before I got this job.” And she had probably spoken too much.
This seemed to get him intrigued though. “Really? Why the change in career paths?”
She frowned, looking down and straightening up the books on the table. “Some… personal reasons.”
He didn’t push on that.
Tanner came running back, arms full of random books that were probably over his reading level, pens, and a finger pointer. “Daddy, can I get all these?”
This got a laugh out of Dr. Langdon, “Uh, well, bud, how about we pick what we really want-“
“Frank! There you are!” Came the exasperated voice of a woman. Pushing her way through the crowd was a woman with long brown hair hanging freely down her back, a toddler held tight in her arms. “I don’t know why a book fair of all things is so busy!” She sounded annoyed, but Mel doesn’t blame her. She must be overwhelmed.
“Mommy, look what Daddy said he’s getting me!” Tanner squealed, showing his collection off to the women.
Mel felt like she was intruding, and tried to shimmy away as quickly as possible but with the amount of people, it was a bit hard.
“Oh! Really?” The woman did not sound too pleased.
“Abby, I’m going to make him put some back, I promise.” Dr. Langdon’s voice had gone low, and Mel was surprised she had even picked it up.
She really needed to get away.
“Who’s that? I saw you talking to her.” The woman (Abby) looked over to Mel pointedly.
Shoot, she missed her opportunity.
“Mommy, that’s Miss King!” Tanner groaned out, like it was common knowledge.
“Uh, hello, Mrs. Langdon! I work here in the Library with Mrs. Branch. It’s nice to meet you.” Mel gave a curt nod, trying to smile but at this point the noise was really getting to her.
“Huh. I thought you’d be a little older.” Abby commented, before adjusting the toddler on her hip.
Ouch, okay. Some thoughts are supposed to be inside thoughts.
“That is the stereotype for those who work in a library.” Mel replied politely.
Dr. Langdon frowned.
“Did you find any books for Penny?” He asked, changing the subject.
“Miss King, Penny is my sister! Remember, I told you about her! Remember?” Tanner piped up, pointing to the toddler excitedly.
The little girl had her head pressed against her mom’s shoulder, barely peeking out past her own dark hair, another spitting image of her father.
“Oh, yup, sure do Tanner.” Her face hurt from smiling.
Abby gave her a look that made her want to leave immediately.
“Okay, well, I have to go help out some other people but it was nice to meet you all! You’re a beautiful family!” She gave a thumbs up, trying to push through the crowd.
“See you tomorrow, Miss King!” She heard Tanner call out.
Finally managing to get back to her desk, Mel was ushered onto cashier duty again after Mrs. Branch had politely kicked the volunteer off.
The night went by much faster after that. At around six o’clock, when Mel was finally heading to her busted jeep, she couldn’t help but wonder what the Langdon’s were doing now.
📚📖°•☆•°📖📚
The fact that she kept thinking about Frank Langdon was a bit ridiculous. Mel knew that very well. He was a married man that she met approximately once at her job, working at his son’s school.
She tried not to think about him, but it got hard when Tanner decided to start mentioning him.
Apparently, Dr. Langdon had gotten Tanner a dog, of which he was so proud.
“Daddy said that Marshmallow is my responsibility!” Tanner had said one day, puffing his chest out as he checked out a dog book that Mel wasn’t quite sure if he could read yet. “So I need to read!”
But who was she to argue with a five-year-old.
Usually everything was positive.
But on this particular day, when Mrs. Espinosa’s class walked in, Tanner was quiet.
As they were instructed to walk to story time, Tanner tugged on Mrs. Branch’s arm, whispering something to the older woman. She frowned.
“Miss King, would you mind sitting with Tanner in the reading area for a bit?”
“Not at all.”
So sit down she did, on the bench next to the tiny rocking chair she knew he liked.
Tanner sat in the rocking chair, sniffling. He didn’t hold her hand or ask for a hug, instead just rocking.
“Is everything okay, Tanner?” Mel asked softly, not wanting to pry. “You don’t have to tell me. We can just sit here.”
He’s silent for a minute before letting out a shaky breath. “Daddy’s gone.”
Her body goes cold, heart pulsing in her throat. Her own father’s passing at a similar age pushed up in her head, and oh no she’s spiraling.
However, Mel is the adult here. She breathes in and out, before asking more.
“What do you mean by that?”
Tanner sniffs some more before wiping his face with his hands. “Mommy says he had to go somewhere else. That he’s sick. I don’t want my daddy to be gone.” He cries a bit more. “I want daddy to come home.”
Okay, not dead. Probably.
“Oh, Tanner, that is hard. I am so sorry.” Mel speaks soft and slow. “Can you still talk to daddy while he’s gone?”
Tanner slowly nods. “Before he left, daddy said we could call. But mommy seemed angry. I don’t want mommy to get mad at me.”
Mel frowned. “Tanner, I don’t think your mommy will be mad at you for wanting to talk to your daddy still.”
He cries a bit more, and Mel decides to be quiet for a bit. That’s the hard part of working with kids. You never know what their home life is like.
“Okay, Miss King. I’ll ask mommy when I get home.” He wipes his face off again before looking to the back. “Can I go to story time now.”
Mel nods, watching as he ran to the back to join his classmates.
Standing up, she wonders what Dr. Langdon had gotten himself into.