She was juggling the online-order packages. “I got it all under control.”
“Yeesh, it’s cold out there today,” Evie replied. She then looked at Ro. “I can help you if you want. I’m not doing anything today. I’m free as a bird.”
“No, thank you,” Ro said. “It’s fine. I’ve got it.”
The door opened again, bell chiming, and in walked Toni. She was the mail lady who came in every weekday at the same time, like clockwork. She was a tall woman, big-boned, and handsome in a womanly way, if that was even a thing. “Morning,” she said in her brusque voice, handing over my mail. Which was mostly window envelopes, my very least favorite kind of mail.
“Morning, Toni,” Evie said.
“Hi,” Ro said softly, sweetly.
It made me stop and look at her.
Toni gave Ro a nod, looking at the packages she was holding. “Need a hand with those? I’m heading back to the post office now.”
“Oh,” Ro said, her cheeks blooming with pretty pink apples.
Uhh . . . excuse me? I beg your finest pardon . . .
“That’d be very helpful,” Ro said, voice soft. “Thank you.”
Toni took all but one package and Ro followed her out the door like a lost little lamb.
And I was left standing there . . .
Ummm.
What the hell just happened?
Evie laughed. “Your face.”
I pointed to the door. “You saw that, right?”
“Oh, yes. Your aunt Ro is so cute.”
“Cute?”
“Sure. In a hot and trendy sexy momma kinda way.”
I stared at her, unblinking. Not computing. “Uhhh. What?”
Evie laughed again. “It’s true. And Toni is a sweetheart. She has the mail run and owns a small ranch out of town. A bit rough around the edges, but maybe Ro’s into that.”
I think I need to sit down . . .
I slumped onto the stool behind the counter, my hand to my forehead. “I need answers,” I said, specifically not answers to what Ro might and might not beinto. “Like what the hell just happened? And when? And why she never told me. And what the hell?”
Evie chuckled, seemingly unperturbed, gesturing toward the storeroom. “Are the boys here today?”
“No, they’re at home. It’s too cold, and Bright’s entered into his feral-gremlin era, I’m afraid.”
She sighed. “Then I do have nothing to do all day.” She looked around. “Need a hand with anything?”
And it struck me then what a great idea that could be.
“Yes. Evie, do you want a job?”
She stared. “Here?”
