The bell over the door jangled, drawing the attention of the two customers perusing the nuts-and-bolts aisle. The customer service counter was in the center of the main floor area, so she and Luna headed in that direction.
“Welcome to Fayetteville Hardware.” The guy behind the counter wearing a yellow vest looked from Vera to Luna. “Hey, Lu, how are you doing?”
Now that Vera thought about it, the man looked to be about Luna’s age. Her sister spent far longer than necessary telling him about the baby and the nursery and how excited she and Jerome were, and then the big gut punch came.
“I sure was sorry to hear about Jerome’s mama.”
Luna’s smile faded, of course, and she nodded. “It’s just awful. Really awful.”
Vera needed this over. She couldn’t take the tension any longer. “Is Mr. Potter in?”
“He said a minute ago he was leaving, let me check.” Yellow Vest Guy rushed over past a couple of tool aisles and disappeared through a door marked “Office.”
“You okay?”
Vera blinked. Realized her sister was asking the question she should have been asking. “Sure. You okay?”
Luna nodded. “I will be in a minute, hopefully.”
Hopefully.
The door opened once more, and Yellow Vest Guy hustled out with Mr. Potter on his heels.
Vera groaned inwardly. Oh well, at least now they would know.
Mr. Potter joined them in front of the counter. “How can I help you ladies?” When his gaze settled on Luna, his pleasant expression slipped. “We’re all so very sorry to hear about Jackie and Leonard. We hope you and Jerome are holding up all right.”
“This has been a difficult time. We’re taking it day by day.”
Luna was like a little angel. So sweet and so perfect. She would never ever, ever push her wicked mother-in-law down the stairs. Never. Flashbacks of Vera and Eve dragging their stepmother’s dead body down the stairs at the farm made her stomach twist up into a pretzel.
Good thing Luna was nothing like them.
Potter looked to Vera then. “Is there something I can do for you today?”
“Mr. Potter,” Luna spoke up, “I was here on Tuesday morning to pick up that paint, remember?”
He nodded. “I sure do. I was shorthanded that day. Some folks”—he shot a look at Yellow Vest Guy—“were laid up with after Labor Day hangovers.”
If this moment had not been so grave, Vera would have laughed out loud, or maybe she just needed to break her own tension.
“I’m worried about the receipt,” Luna explained. “It says that I paid for the paint at nine forty-five, but that can’t be right because I didn’t get home until after eleven. Unless I got lost and don’t remember it.” She laughed, the sound showing her nervousness now.
“Good gracious.” Potter shook his head. “I’m so sorry, Luna. That other cash register refused to maintain the proper time. And it was new. Every time I had it adjusted, it lost anywhere from an hour to two within the next twenty-four hours. It just wouldn’t keep the correct time. They brought me a new one yesterday morning.”
Vera wilted with relief. Thank God.
“Would you like me to make you a new handwritten receipt?” He glanced at the receipt. “So your receipt should have read ten forty-five or later. I am so sorry for the confusion.”
“That’s not necessary,” Luna said. “I was just worried that I’d lost my mind.”
Potter patted her on the shoulder. “You’re fine. It was the register. Anyone who doubts that need only ask me.”
“Why don’t you go ahead and make that new receipt for us?” Vera sent a smile at Luna, hoping she would go along. “It’s important forthe baby book. You know every little event has to be documented these days, if not in a baby book then on social media.”
Vera had no idea where that ridiculous explanation came from, but it worked. Potter was only too happy to write a note regarding the old register’s inability to keep time.
It wasn’t until they were outside that Vera could breathe again.
