She closed the back, locked the car doors, and retraced her steps into the store. As she searched for the service desk, a thought sent heat flashing through her.Was this man still here?In the store? If he’d dropped it on the way in, he could still be browsing the aisles.
She stood on her tiptoes and did a quick sweep. He was probably short.Ugh,why did all the hot guys have to be short?Emma glanced down at the card in her hand. One hundred and ninety centimetres. What was that, six-foot-three? Her stomach swooped.Never mind.
She turned back to the guest services line and wove through the tape. A girl who couldn’t have been older than sixteen with bubble gum pink hair stood behind the counter, scrolling on her phone.
Emma cleared her throat, but the employee didn’t look up. After a few more seconds ofBaby Got Backbumping from the girl’s phone speaker, Emma spoke up. "Excuse me?” The employee finally looked up. “I found this driver's licence in the parking lot.”
The girl shrugged. Maybe if Emma choreographed a quick dance and made a few attention-grabbing transitions, she’d find her more interesting.
Emma tapped the licence on the counter. “I was hoping to turn it in?”
"Oh, okay. I'll take it." The girl reached out to take the licence from Emma, her fingers adorned with an array of colourful plastic rings that must hinder her typing significantly.
Emma pulled back. “Is there any way you can locate the owner? Maybe he's still in the store?”
"Uh, I don't know. I guess I can call the manager." The girl shrugged and picked up the store's intercom phone, mumbling something indistinct into the receiver. A moment later, a stout middle-aged man approached them, his nametag askew.Merl.Of course, he was.
"Hi there!" He greeted Emma with a friendly smile. "What seems to be the problem?"
"Oh, no problem. I found this driver's licence in the parking lot, and I wondered if the person who lost it might still be in the store.” Emma’s cheeks flushed, judging herself on Merl’s behalf.She was being kind.If she lost her driver’s licence, she’d hope someone would do the same thing, wouldn’t she? “His name’s Tyler Bowen.”
“Righty-o, let me call that over the speaker here.” Merl picked up the phone and pressed a button. “Howdy-do Friday afternoon shoppers, it seems one of you may have dropped a very important piece of personal property in our parking lot. If Mr. Tyler Bowen could make his way to the guest services desk, we’d be happy to get your driver’s licence back to you. Again, a driver’s licence for Mr. Tyler Bowen. Thank you, and please note the sale on Doritos in aisle eleven.”
Emma stared at Merl as he dropped the handheld back on its perch and slapped his hands on the counter.Had he been a popcorn salesman at carnivals in the fifties?
Merl grinned. “Awful neighbourly of you to bring that back into the store. We can put it here in our lost and found. I’m sure you’re ready to move on with your day.”
“You have a lost and found?”
Merl pulled open a drawer behind him, and the girl with pink hair shifted out of the way without looking up from her phone. “It’ll be locked up tight.”
Emma frowned. “So you’ll keep this here until someone comes and gets it?”
“That’s correct.”
She glanced down at Tyler’s picture. “What if he doesn’t come?”
Merl put a hand on his hip. “We hold on to things for thirty days, then we have to dump the junk and skedaddle. There’s not enough storage back here for all the lost toys to have a permanent home.” He chuckled.
“No, of course not.” Would Tyler know this was where he’d lost it? Or would he give up and make an appointment at the Registry? Emma shuddered. “I think I’ll wait a moment and see if he shows up.”
“You could take it to the police station,” an old woman called out from behind them. Emma turned to see her gnarled hands wrapped around a plastic container of donut holes.Blasphemy.The only donuts worth eating were Tim’s. Emma’s stomach grumbled.
“You know, that’s a great idea.” Emma flicked the plastic card against her fingers. “I’ll take this down to the station. Thanks so much for your help.”
Merl saluted her as she exited the store and crunched back to her car. Once in the driver’s seat, she looked up the closest RCMP.Seriously?All the way east to Country Hills Village?
Emma glanced back at Tyler’s licence. Sage Valley. That was just north of her neighbourhood. Was she really going to drive clear to the highway to go to a police station when she could just drop it off at his doorstep?
Her heart picked up speed. That was aneighbourlything to do, wasn’t it? Emma started the car. Merl would definitely approve.
* * *
Emma parked on the street. The townhome was cute and well-kept, with shovelled walkways and steps. She blew out a breath, then pulled on her toque, picked up the licence from the passenger seat, and strode up to the door. Her knees felt weak as she knocked, hoping the lip gloss she’d applied in the car wasn’t too obvious.
Footsteps sounded inside. A moment later, the door swung open to reveal a woman in her late forties, her hair pulled back into a messy bun.Married.
Emma gave an awkward wave. "Hi, I'm sorry to bother you, but I found this driver's licence in the Co-op parking lot and thought I’d drop it off. Does a Tyler Bowen live here?"
