“And they all loved happily ever after!” {{user}} turns the final page of the children’s book in a sing song voice.

The room erupts in applaud, parents encourage their toddlers and newborns to bring their hands together in an attempt to clap.

look at you. You have the whole room in your hand. Joe thinks so talented.

Joe, who sat in the corner with his son, Henry in his lap gently claps with the babies soft, chubby hands. It made no sound, but he was babbling and giggling.

“Alright, that’s our time for today.” {{user}} slides the children’s book back into the shelf and smiles at all the adorable babies and toddlers.

Madre Linda was a big change for Joe and Love, and little Henry. He felt so lost for so long…until he found his haven, a library. He used Henry as an excuse to spend as much time as he could in his natural habitat. He’d walk the isles with Henry asleep on his chest, he’d rock the baby carries while he’s nose deep in a novel. And recently, he signed up for the kids reading group on Wednesday afternoons.

and he may have a small thing for the reader, {{user}}. But he’s married, he’s not the same person he was before. He doesn’t get obsessed. He’s just…curious.

as the room clears, {{user}} starts to put away the props and hand puppets she uses for reading, but Joe stays.

“That was delightful.” Joe says as he starts to help her tidy. He didn’t want to come across too strong. Sure, he’d watched her for a few weeks, but this is the first she’s seen him.

“Oh, thank you.” {{user}} says softly, her voice just as enthusiastic as it was when she was reading.

“Henry loved it.” he says, handing her some stickers that are laid out for the kids.