Free Sound Advice (Sensations Collection #1) by L.B. Dunbar Page A

in the marina. Continuing down Bridge Street toward US31, a second harbor opened into Elk Lake, one of several inner coastal chain-of-lakes. I wasn’t really paying attention as I ran and after crossing the highway, found myself in front of Jess’ radio repair shop. I knew this was a bold, risky move after Jess left the morning before with Katie and without a word. I would have expected more of Jess, but not Katie and her silence, and I didn’t laugh at the irony
    Fortunately, Tom Carpenter was working instead of Jess.
    “How are the repairs on my Nana’s radio going?”
    “Well…not well.” Tom looked in the direction of the clean workstation. The radio sat on top of it in the same condition as when I brought it in.
    “Are you going to work on it?” My eyebrows crinkled as I voiced my concern.
    “Jess will. He said he wanted the job.”
    “Why?” Then I thought better of hearing an answer. “Never mind. He seems a little busy right now. Maybe you should look at it.”
    “Oh no, Jess wants the challenge. Plus he never gives up once he’s started something.” Tom raised an eyebrow at me, wiggling it up and down, and smiling with that broad friendly grin he had. I could swear there was double meaning in Tom’s words, but that was probably wishful thinking.
    “Well, I don’t think I have long here and I want it fixed for Nana. She will want to take it with her whatever we decide to do.”
    Tom gave me a puzzled look. “Well, I can’t change his mind.”
    I let out a sigh. “When do you think he’ll get around to it?” My tone had turned snotty.
    “I suppose once he comes back from the library with Katie he can get right on it for you.” Tom was snippy back, but he said it more in a teasing manner like a child would use toward a parent. I laughed to break the tension.
    “I’m sorry,” I apologized. “See you later, okay? You don’t have to mention I stopped by.”
    “The library,” Tom repeated, raising his eyebrow again. “That’s where you’ll find them…him… if you’re interested.”
     
     
    I HATED THE fact that I had already decided to go to the library in my round trip of running back to Nana’s. Now I thought it might look obvious if I showed up at the old estate home turned public library. It’s a public place , I reminded myself. Anyone could enter. Plus Jess would not know that Tom had told me his whereabouts. Oh this is ridiculous , I thought. Why am I overthinking this? Now I’m acting like a high-schooler . I turned up my iPod as I ran with greater determination toward the library.
    Elk Rapids Public Library is a historical landmark. Originally a home, it sits atop a hill above the town, overlooking the bay. I always admired the position of the classic clapboard house. My guess was the placement brought in cool breezes and a beautiful view. Now the building was closed up with air-conditioning and the landscaping surrounding the structure covered most of the coastal view. The interior of the building was hard to imagine in its original state as a home with the shelves of books, library tables, and occasional chairs placed throughout the space in a very library-like manner.
    I told myself I was not looking for Jess, but of course I found him right away. The children’s area was off to the right side of the entry in an old parlor sitting room and a few parents were milling around as kids scanned through books and played with puzzles on the floor. Jess was talking to another woman and I went down the staircase to the lower level, which housed the non-fiction books.
    Skimming the titles, I wasn’t sure what I was searching for. Sometimes I did this, just stood among the stacks and scanned the shelves, staring at each book edge waiting for the right one to jump out at me. I was browsing for titles with “Alzheimer’s” and “dementia” when something caught my eye. A pamphlet on the top of the low shelf advertised information: Making Tough Decisions: Choices for