something fun to check out, and I can still amuse myself that way as a grown-up and the director of this library.” But her easy smile began to fade as she continued.
“There’s another side to Melanie that I must mention, however. She was often naïve and a bit too trusting, and I do believe I’ve been guilty of that here in Cherico. I haven’t always stood up for myself the way I should have. A good dose of Scarlett’s determination is what I really need. Unfortunately, there are those in this community who feel that a library is a luxury for bored housewives who are too cheap to buy their own copies of best sellers at the nearest bookstore. And that’s one of the milder sentiments I could conjure up for public consumption. Those people don’t see the library as the educational and job-hunting resource it’s always been. But at this juncture of my life, I feel that this little library—corrugated iron siding and all—is my Tara, and I intend to fight for it with every ounce of my strength. So the truth is: I’m in the midst of transforming myself from a Melanie into a Scarlett while trying to retain the best qualities of each. To my way of thinking, both characters ultimately represent what all women should strive to be. The right blend of kindness and ambition never goes out of style.”
Amidst muted but genuine applause, Councilman Sparks spoke up loudly. “My goodness, Miz Mayhew—that reminded me of the scene where Scarlett gets down on her knees in the dirt, berates a carrot, and declares that she’ll ‘never go hungry again!’ Why, you left not a dry eye in the house with the intensity of your monologue!”
Maura Beth, however, rose to the occasion. “Maybe it was a bit on the hammy side, but then, I was trained to be a librarian, not an actress. My milieu is shelving, not the stage. Or biographies, not Broadway.”
“Touché!” he exclaimed, actually appearing to enjoy the repartee and even blowing her a kiss.
“This was the most fun I’ve had in ages!” Connie added. “And that includes all those years with The Music City Page Turners up in Nashville. We never mixed our reads with our lives quite like this. It’s a different approach, but I like it.”
“I have a point to make, though,” Locke Linwood put in suddenly. “The food was mighty delicious, but I think the discussion was apparently for ladies only. I mean, nobody asked me if I thought I was a Rhett or an Ashley.”
Miss Voncille gave a little gasp as she looked him in the eye. “Now, Locke, you told me you weren’t even going to bother to read the book. You said I could do all the yapping, and you were just coming with me for the big spread.”
He hung his head, sounding a bit sheepish. “I lied. I’d never read it before. Never saw the movie, either. I guess I wanted to find out what all the hoopla was about.”
“Imagine that,” Miss Voncille replied, sounding pleased and surprised at the same time. “I thought everyone had seen the movie at least once. It’s like admitting you’ve never seen The Wizard of Oz or heard of Judy Garland.”
“Well, Miz Mayhew?” Locke asked.
Maura Beth was puzzled. “Well, what, Mr. Linwood?”
“Aren’t you going to ask me if I’m a Rhett or an Ashley, or do you have to be a woman to make these important literary connections?”
The request met with laughter throughout the room, after which Maura Beth popped the question. “Okay, by all means. Which are you, then?”
“Of course, I think of myself as a Rhett. My late wife, Pamela, always told me I was her hero.”
“You were certainly that,” Miss Voncille offered. “Anyone who ever saw the two of you together could confirm it. I saw it at every meeting of ‘Who’s Who?’ that you attended.”
“Does this mean that you consider yourself a bona-fide member of The Cherry Cola Book Club, Mr. Linwood?” Maura Beth said, seizing the opportunity.
“Why not?” he answered quickly. “I agree with Miz McShay over there. This is the most fun I’ve had in a while.”
“Wonderful, and welcome aboard officially!” Maura Beth then glanced over at the front desk clock and decided to test the waters. “I see we’ve been at this business of dining and discussing for an hour and fifteen minutes now. Does anyone have any other thoughts about the novel? They don’t necessarily have to be related to Scarlett and