Page 235 - The Midnight Library

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somewhere else. And someone else. I’m sorr y.’

ey resumed their conversation, as Nora thought about Mr Banerjee’s
front garden full of irises and foxgloves.
‘Can I help you?’
She turned to look at the receptionist. A mild-mannered, red-haired man

with glasses and blotched skin and a gentle Scottish accent.
She told him who she was and that she had phoned earlier.
He was a little confused at first.
‘And you say you le a message?’

He hummed a quiet tune as he searched for her email.
‘Yes, but on the phone. I was tr ying for ages to get through and I couldn’t
so I eventually le a message. I emailed as well.’
‘Ah, right, I see. Well, I’m sorr y about that. Are you here to see a family

member?’
‘No,’ Nora explained. ‘I am not family. I am just someone who used to
know her. She’d know me, though. Her name is Mrs Elm.’ Nora tried to
remember the full name. ‘Sorr y. It’s Louise Elm. If you told her my name,

Nora. Nora Seed. She used to be my . . . She was the school librarian, at
Hazeldene. I just thought she might like some company.’
e man stopped looking at his computer and stared up at Nora with
barely suppressed surprise. At first Nora thought that she had got it wrong.

Or Dylan had got it wrong, that evening at La Cantina. Or maybe the Mrs
Elm in that life had experienced a different fate in this life. ough Nora
didn’t quite know how her own decision to work in an animal shelter would
have led to a different outcome for Mrs Elm in this life. But that made no

sense. As in neither life had she been in touch with the librarian since
school.
‘What’s the matter?’ Nora asked the receptionist.
‘I’m ever so sorr y to tell you this, but Louise Elm is no longer here.’

‘Where is she?’
‘She . . . actually, she died three weeks ago.’
At first she thought it must be an admin error. ‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes. I’m afraid I am ver y sure.’

‘Oh,’ said Nora. She didn’t really know what to say, or to feel. She looked
down at her tote bag that had sat beside her in the car. A bag containing the
chess set she had brought to play a game with her, and to keep her company.