Chapter 2 - Scott

The smile on his lips was making his face hurt.  If he had a mirror at this very moment, Scott could bet that his cheeks were twitching from the strain.  Was it necessary to be nice to all the women who had come today?  No, but what could he do when each one of them treated him like a king?

"It's just that after Roger, I don't know what to do with my life," the woman in front of him mumbled while wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. 

Scott looked over at Graham with a 'help me' expression, but Graham shrugged as if to say he was on his own.  "I'm sorry for your loss," Scott mumbled, dimming the fake smile stuck on his face.

She sniffed while nodding.  "He was the best thing that had ever happened to me.  When he died, I was so lost.  That's why I decided to come today."

"Yeah," Scott replied, nodding his head in hope that she would just leave.  He didn't want to tell the woman that she wouldn't be the choice from him.  There was one problem, no two problems with her.  One, she was old enough to be his mother.  Two, he didn't deal with crying people.  It may have sounded callous, but something about them scared the hell out of him.  As soon as one tear slipped from their eye, he was usually running for the hills.

Opening her mouth, the woman took a deep, shaky breath before continuing, "Have you ever lost someone?"

"I can't say that I have," Scott answered with a shrug.  "Although, I've never been married, and the relationships I've had only lasted a short period of time."

"What?" she asked with a confused expression.  "What are you talking about?"

Someone kicked his ankle, and by the expression on Graham's face, it was his buddy.  Scott widened his eyes in question, but when Graham said nothing, he turned back towards the woman.  "Your loss, Roger.  I'm sorry you lost your husband; he must have been a great man for you to be so upset about him."

Graham's hand slapped down on the table startling them both.  The woman, who had narrowed her eyes as Scott talked, looked at Graham in shock.  "He has to joke about things like this," Graham started.  "The thing is, he went through something very similar to what you're speaking about not long ago.  Even saying the word snow makes him have to walk away from a crowd.  My guess, he doesn't like people to see him cry, but he tries to cover the pain."

"I haven't lost-" Scott started, but the heel to his foot made him snap his mouth shut in pain.

"The only thing is," Graham interrupted, "his loss was a dog.  You see, he's allergic to cats."

Understanding crossed the woman's face as she hastily stood to her feet.  "I'm sorry, but I could never be with a man who has cat allergies.  I may not want another so soon, but someday, when I'm ready, I see myself having another.  You understand, right?"

Scott went to answer, but when he realized her eyes were on Graham, he kept silent.

"Yes," Graham said with a sympathetic nod.  "I understand.  I hope you find a man who will love you for who you are and for what you love."

A large smile spread across the woman's plain face as she stepped back.  "Thank you."

"It's no problem," Graham mumbled uncomfortably.

She stepped away from them, but smiled over her shoulder before exiting the library completely.  As soon as she was out of sight, Graham banged his head against the table.  "She's going to track me down; I know it.  Why do I have to be nice to them?"

"I don't even know what she was talking about," Scott whispered as the line moved forward.

Graham turned his face slightly to look up at Scott.  A large smile crossed Graham's face as he answered, "Her cat of eight years died yesterday.  She was talking about her cat, you idiot.  You almost stuck your foot in it that time.  What were you doing the entire time she was talking?"

Scott shrugged.  "Thinking," he admitted.  "The women that I found beautiful and were after my money, how are they any different than these people here today?"

"It was your idea," Graham answered with a shrug, "but the only difference is that you know these women are here for the money.  The others pretended to be there for you.  These ones let you know up front."

"This is the wrong way to do it, huh?"

"Yep," Graham answered.  "Got any other plans?"

"How about we send them home and go to a bar?"

Graham narrowed his eyes.  "You think you'll find a woman at a bar who won't just want you for your money?"

"What do you suggest then?" Scott asked in frustration.

A calculating look crossed in Graham's eyes.  "I have a plan."

Before he could share his plan with Scott, the next woman in the line made a noise to let them know that she was tired of their talking.  Scott turned towards her and shook his head.  "I'm sorry, but we've decided that this is the end for this."

The hostile expression that flew onto the woman's face was a surprise to both of them, and when she stood to her full height, which was impressive to say the least, Scott had to lean back in his chair in order to see her face.  "I've been standing in line for hours, and you just decide to end it there?"

"Um," Graham stuttered before pointing towards Scott.  "I'm sorry, but it's his decision."

"Thanks," Scott hissed before turning his most charming smile towards the crazed woman in front of him.  The smile obviously did nothing because her glare turned from cold to ice.

"What made you decide I wasn't good enough?"

"Um," Scott glanced around for an escape.  "You see, the thing is, um..."

"Ma'am," a watery voice said from beside the woman.

Her glare shot towards the ground, but when she saw the little girl standing there with tears running down her cheeks, the glare cleared and a sympathetic look overran it.  Scott had no idea where the little kid had come from, but at that moment, he wanted to hug her until she turned blue for getting him out of this situation.

Bending down to the little girl's height, the lady smiled.  "What's wrong?"

"Ever," the little girl hiccupped before clearing her throat and starting again, "ever since my parents got a divorce, fighting scares me," she whimpered.

The woman stood up tall, but the guilty expression didn't leave her face.  "I am so sorry.  I had no idea.  Here, I'll help you out, okay?  What can I do for you?"

The girl paused as if she was thinking long and hard about the answer before she motioned towards the other women standing in line with a not so happy look on their faces.  "Do you think any of the other ones will yell at my uncles?  It's just that they're my favorites.  Seeing them being yelled at makes me remember how my daddy left me."

"Of course they won't," the woman assured.  "Watch, I'll help your uncles out."   Turning towards the crowd of women, she sent them all an intimidating look that caused them to take a step back.  "It's time to go home everyone," she called out.  "Today's session is over."

To Scott's surprise, the women in the line turned and left with only grumbles.  Standing there, awkwardly, the tall woman looked down at the little girl.  "I'm just going to go now."

The girl nodded.  "That would be best."

Turning, the woman darted out of the library as if she had rabid dogs snapping at her feet.  Once she was out the door, the little girl turned towards them.  Wiping the tears from her eyes, she smirked.  "You owe me five bucks."

"What?" Scott asked in shock.

"I'm Bethany," the little girls said while pointing at herself, "and you owe me five bucks."

"Why do we owe you five bucks?" Graham asked in confusion.

"I got you out of that, didn't I?"

Scott shrugged.  She had him there.  Pulling out his wallet, he looked at the twenties.  What would it hurt to give the girl a little extra?  He would have gladly paid her more for getting the intimidating woman away from him.  Sliding the twenty across the table, he watched the girl snatch it and stuff it in her front pocket with an innocent expression.

"What was that?" Graham asked.  "Are your parents really divorced?"

Bethany shrugged.  "I don't know, but that lady looked like a mom.  You know they always have a sore spot for children, especially when they cry.  So, I figured the best way to get you out of that mess was to, you know, play on her weakness."

Scott's eyes narrowed.  "How old are you?"

"Seven," the little girl answered proudly, "and I'm going to be an actress.  Sam says that the only time it is okay to be deceitful is if it is in acting."

"Sam?" Graham asked.

Bethany nodded.  "Yeah, Sam took me in a while back, can't resist strays."

"Strays?"

The little girl gestured around her.  "Orphan children, who have no one, come in here a lot.  It's kinda an escape from the crazy, if you get me.  So, Sam sees us, and can't help but let us stay here for a while."

"Sam lets you all hang out in a library?" Scott asked in disbelief.  "What can you do at a library?"

The little girl opened her mouth to answer, when a sharp voice called out, "Bethany!"

She looked over their shoulders and groaned.  Glancing back, Scott saw the boy walk towards them with narrowed eyes.  "What did Sam tell you about talking to strangers?"

Bethany shrugged.  "They don't look like creeps."

"Ted Bundy didn't look like a creep either," the boy shot back before noticing Scott and Graham's surprised expression.  "I read," the boy explained before tugging on Bethany's hand.  He hesitated by Graham.  "Oh, and Sam told me to give you this," he said before setting a cup on the table.  "She felt bad for only giving you the one coffee when it was obvious you both needed some." The boy took another step away from them before stopping again.  "I almost forgot, she said to leave her library in the next fifteen minutes.  A book group comes in in twenty and she has to set up."

Graham nodded at the kid as he dragged Bethany away from them.  Scott watched them both go before turning to Graham, who had a large smile on his face and a slightly dazed look in his eyes.  "Sam is a girl?"

"Sam is our library girl," Graham replied with a nod.

Scott paused at his words before jumping from his seat.  "That's it!"

"What?" Graham asked, jumping slightly from Scott's change of mood.

"Her," Scott said while pointing somewhere towards the books, "the library girl, I'll marry her."

Something flashed in Graham's eyes that Scott couldn't identify, but when his friend nodded, Scott decided not to question it.  "Okay, her, but first, let's try out my plan."

When Scott raised an eyebrow at him, Graham shrugged.  "Just to see how it pans out."

Scott nodded slowly.  "Okay, but if it doesn't work, we're coming back for Sam."

"Deal," Graham answered with a nod.  "If it doesn't work, we're coming back for Sam."