Meet Dr. Peter Donatelly, Rare Book Dealer

Six time zones away in Boston, Massachusetts:

The sun streamed through the carefully polished old glass with imperfections which proved it was old. Old was celebrated here. Everyone who walked through his door was looking for old and rare. The sign on his shop read “Serendipity” because you never knew just what you’d find there. Though Peter Donelly kept a thorough record of all the inventory, he was occasionally surprised by a volume misplaced among the shelves.

He looked up at the jangle of the bells struck by the opening door.

“Donatello! How’s it going?” Rafe was a friend from the old Italian neighborhood in Boston.

“How many times do I need to remind you that my grandparents changed their last name when they emigrated to America?” He pointed to the brass proprietor’s nameplate over his head. “Donelly, Rafe. Peter Donelly. Donatello was a mutant ninja turtle.”

“Or a sculptor from Italy.” Rafe leaned against the high cashier’s desk Peter sat behind. He gave Rafe his patented ‘over his glasses look’ and raised his eyebrows.

Rafe rolled his eyes in response. “How old are you really? Your birth certificate says thirty-two, but your attitude is more like my dad’s.”

Peter closed the book he’d been reading with a brass marker inside. “I was the same at eighteen as I am now. You know this.”

Rafe rolled his eyes. “You need a wife to come home to at the end of the day. And a couple of kids to wrestle on the floor in the evenings. You’re growing old before your time, Peter.”

While Rafe spoke truth in his words, Peter couldn’t just order a wife on the Internet and expect to be pleased. It felt like they had this conversation every day. “How’s your brood?”

“The girls have the flu, and Roger has school bully-itis.” Rafe finally settled on a tall stool beside the desk. “Millie thinks she’s pregnant again.”

“Congratulations?” The look on Rafe’s face did not inspire genuine congratulatory wishes. “They do know how that happens, you know?”

“It will be fine, but we’ll probably need a bigger house and another car.”

Peter smiled. Clearly, the life Rafe wanted for him was not always the best for Rafe. He was a ‘roll with the punches’ kind of guy. Peter was a habitual kind of person. He checked the clock. Nearly four.

“I need some advice, Rafe. I’ve been trying to track down a rare set of manuscripts, but it’s elusive. I almost think it doesn’t exist.”

Rafe held up his hands. “Not my game, Pete. You have the connections there.”

“I am not sure about the way to go about looking for the set. Part of it seems to be in a Hungarian rare book shop. I’ve tried calling the shop, but the language is a problem. Either way, he won’t sell online. I’d have to go in person to get it.”

“Book a flight, dude. You have the money. Fly to Hungary and buy the book. Problem solved.” Rafe made the gesture of dismissal of the problem.

“You know, I can’t do that. I’ll waste time and money to do that.” Peter wondered what Rafe would think about his plan. “I was thinking about taking a work vacation. One of those river cruises on the Danube?”

“You’re putting me on. You? Take a vacation?”

Peter raised his hands to fend off his possible criticism. “I might find this rare book…”

“Don’t play it off as a work trip. You need a vacay. Maybe you’ll even find love.” He put a hand in Peter’s face. “Don’t even start. You are a handsome guy. Take the vacay, skip the book search. For once, do something for the fun of it. Find yourself a Mrs. Donatello. Just wait until I tell the guys. Michaelangelo and Leonardo won’t even believe it.”

The grandfather clock in the corner chimed the hour, four, when Peter usually closed shop.

“Already four o’clock? I better go. Millie will need some help with the kids.” Rafe turned to go, then turned back. “Make the reservations before you chicken out.” After locking the door behind him and pulling the shade, Peter turned the OPEN sign to CLOSED and flipped off the overhead lights. Returning to the desk with the bank desk lamp, he wondered if the Danube Christmas cruise even had available cabins at this late date. A quick check showed one cabin left. Before he could change his mind, he clicked ‘reserve’ and paid for the trip.