Robin's Reward (Bonita Creek Trilogy Book 1) by June McCrary Jacobs Page A

supporters of this fundraising effort. Some of her regular library volunteers sold advance tickets at a small discount, and the response was overwhelming. For a working-class town going through its own tough economic times, people were enthusiastic about helping out their library. The fair was a fun kickoff for the summer, and she felt the local children became more involved in her summer reading program due to the early exposure it was given at the fair.
    The past three fairs had generated enough funds to purchase six new computers and two new printers for the library. She’d discovered many of the citizens couldn’t afford to have a computer and printer at home, much less pay for the internet service they would need to be in touch with the outside world. The local internet service provider was a homegrown company owned by one of the patriarchs of the community. Mr. Jorgenson generously donated free internet service to the library on an annual basis.
    Using last year’s proceeds, the library’s board of trustees had approved the purchase of some new tables and chairs for the children’s area of the library along with updating the library’s collection of books, music recordings, and movies. The large print fiction and non-fiction collections also benefited from the additional funds generated at the fair.
    This year the library board had agreed to designate all of the money collected toward a new energy-efficient heating and air-conditioning system. The local HVAC contractor, Sam Baker, had approached Robin and offered to install the new system at no charge if the library could cover the wholesale cost of the equipment. After researching the issue in depth, Robin felt this updated system would save the city a lot of money on the monthly utility bills for electricity and gas.
    Since many Bonita Creek residents couldn’t afford air-conditioning for their small homes, they used the library often on hot summer afternoons and evenings. She considered the library to be a sort of respite away from it all for the library’s patrons, and she was committed to making the library as comfortable as possible.
    She spent many hours of her own time searching for ways to reduce the cost of the climate-control equipment. She’d applied for several grants through government programs, municipal utility energy-saving programs, and a national green energy foundation which acted as a benefactor of non-profit organizations who try to reduce energy usage in their facilities. With the money the library had been awarded through these endeavors, Robin had cut the estimated cost of the new equipment almost in half. Hopefully the community would come through with the rest of the funds needed to accomplish their goal.
    The ‘gently’ used books collected at the ‘Town Books’ booth at the Storybook Fair were later organized by the Bonita Creek Library Boosters and sold through the quaint, well-organized bookstore they had set up in one of the small conference rooms in the library building. The funds raised through this venture were used to purchase books and media materials for the collection and to provide prizes for the summer reading program. The Boosters also hired local storytellers, puppeteers, and magicians to entertain the children at various gatherings throughout the summer months.
    Soon Robin felt her thoughts detouring to her personal life. Her job was enriching, but she longed to have someone to share her empty days and nights. Her hopes of sharing them with Jeff Clarke were obviously not meant to be. She revisited the memory of his behavior at breakfast last Saturday morning, and she grew puzzled all over again. She scolded herself for overanalyzing other people, but it seemed like her guest had purposefully been a jerk to push her away.
    What had accounted for this man’s sudden change in temperament? It baffled and dismayed Robin. Maybe she’d read too much into their initial interlude. Her old friend, self doubt, crept in and