“Of course you’re not buying it, Levi. But you can tell all those rich resort folk over there how fantastic the brew is, and send them all over this way.” He winks, unlocking the door. “Word-of-mouth advertising is highly underrated, my friend.”
I walk inside the store, and I’m immediately met with a smell similar to inside a library. I love that smell, if I’m being honest. “My meemaw used to love antiques. Her whole house was loaded with them."
He lifts a brow. “You do realize that they probably weren’t antiques back then, right?"
I smile sheepishly. “I suppose you’ve got me there." An old metal school desk with a wooden top sits over in the corner. I go take a seat on it, remembering what it felt like to sit in one of those back in the day. “That one’s not for sale just yet, I’m afraid. That’s why there’s no price tag on that one."
“How come?"
“I’m having my guy tighten up the bolts some, give it a fresh coat of paint, freshen up the varnish. Nobody wants to buy antiques in their original state, unless they are completely flawless, which is next to impossible, of course. But since we cater to the people with fatter pocket books, it’s best to invest a little bit in each piece first before selling it. I’ll get twice the money for it that way.”
"That's a smart way to go, if I don't say so myself."
He's got an old coffee carafe behind the counter, and one on the counter, with a price tag that I can't see from here. I watch him line the cup with a filter and fill it with coffee from a glass decanter. "Word is that you're in school?"
I smile. "Yeah, that's right. I'm taking architecture out in Dallas."
"That's a fine thing to do, Levi. Your daddy know?"
"No, sir. I wouldn't dare tell him."
"I suppose word's going to get around to him, anyway."
"A lot of good it'll do him to know. He can climb up on his soap box all he wants, but I'm not the one in jail."
"Good point, son. You ought to tell him that, too."
I look over to the door, half hoping that the blonde girl will come around. I don't want to ask anything about her, for fear of sounding like I've got some crush on her.
"Word is you've also got yourself a girl? That you're living with her?" He raises a hand as the coffee drips into the glass pot underneath. "Now, I know that it ain't any of my business, but I just want to set the record straight if it ain't true, see. Lots of people coming through here like to visit me and word spreads easily down this way."
"It's true. Well, half of it is. I'm not actually living with her. My name's not on the mailbox or anything. I'm just staying with her when it's fit for me. My home is my home and Billy's ranch. That's where I stayed last night if y'all want the truth."
"If you want my advice, Levi, don't get yourself mixed up with a woman while you're in school, see. Keep your focus, son. There's plenty of time for that after you're done your schooling. I know it's probably too late for that, but I just thought that I'd give you my two cents on the subject."
"I appreciate that, Buddy. But I can tell you that it isn't serious. Not even a little bit."
"Good." He brings me over a mug of coffee. "Now, taste this. Y'all won't get anything better anywhere else. Except maybe at those fancy, ten dollar a cup places, of course."
I taste the coffee. Sure, it's good. "I'm not much of a coffee connoisseur, Buddy, but it's real good. I'll spread the word."
"It's not the coffee, it's the coffee maker, see. You tell them that's the story."
"I'll do that." I take another sip, and it makes me a little brave. "How's it going with the photo shop next door?"
"Oh, shoot, my manners. Y'all want me to go introduce you to Lennie? You've got to see some of her work."
So, her name's Lennie, is it?
"Sorry, Lenora. Her full name is Lenora Whyte. She's a photographer and she'll knock your socks off. She's an artist, too. Does them oil paintings and has a world class eye for photography. Man, I didn't see that coming. Imagine a girl with that much talent right here in town." He shakes his head for emphasis.
"I, um, I think I might have already met her."
He lifts a brow. "How's that?"
"It was the strangest thing. Well, I guess at the time it was strange, but now it all makes sense." I pause and take another sip of coffee, watching him encourage me to drink with his eyes. "I saw her with a camera on Billy's property last night. Called her and called her to try and tell her that she was trespassing on private property. But she ignored me. Until I got right close enough to her and then she bolted. Ran like the goddamn wind, like I was going to attack her or something."
He sets his coffee down on the counter. "I'll have to go and have a word with Billy about that then. Lennie, see, she's a bit of a wanderer. That's how come she's got such an eye for things. Y'all should go take a look at some of the pictures she's taken, and not even from all over the world or nothing, either. Just simple places that she gets in certain lights and angles, and makes everything look goddamn beautiful."
