I intended to, but between Savvy calling, Roy needing access to the electrical panel, and me needing to get ready so I wouldn’t keep Emmet and Lola waiting at the coffee shop, there wasn’t enough time.
“Stay put,” he orders moodily as he starts getting out of the truck.“I’ll get you out.”
I’d love to remind him how I feel about being ordered around, but the man is trying to protect me, so rather than poking the already grumpy bear, I sit and wait for him to do his thing.Which basically is scanning up and down the street before opening my door.Then he tucks me under his arm and rushes me inside Strange Brew.
Nate and Emmet, decked out in protective gear, come walking out of the kitchen, carrying a blackened piece of drywall between them when we enter.
“What is happening?”
It’s Nate who answers me, pulling down his mask to flash an understated grin.
“Heard the insurance adjuster already went through and you’ve got cleaners coming in Monday.Might as well get all the dirty work done all at once, so we’re getting a head start on your kitchen,” he explains as they walk out of the front door and toss the drywall in the back of his truck.
I’m not sure what to say, so when Nate walks back in, I stick to a simple, “Thank you.”
“Pure self-interest,” he replies in passing.“Savvy’s been a bear without your pastries to soothe her sweet tooth.”
“People wanna help, Twinkie,” Hugo states beside me.“Let it happen.”
Touched by the support of my friends and happy Hugo appears to have gotten over his snit, I briefly lean my weight into him.
Then I shrug off my coat and drop my purse on the nearest chair, grab a face mask from the box, and go to work.Hugo is right behind me.
Phil,Savvy’s stepmom, shows up around midday, lugging in two large boxes from Pie Central and a twelve-pack of water.
She also produces a stack of folded papers from her large leather tote she hands to me.
“I wasn’t sure which one you’d want.”
Confused, I unfold the papers to find a Viking brochure she must’ve printed off the website.My old range was a Viking, and it’s one of the top commercial brands out there.The only reason I’d been able to afford mine was because I bought it secondhand.No way I’ll be able to afford a new one.
“I’ll probably be looking for pre-used,” I explain.“It all depends on what the insurance company values my old one at.”
“Fuck insurance,” Phil states bluntly.“They’re gonna drag their asses and try to cut corners and find ways to shortchange you.Believe me, I’ve had to deal with them before.”She shakes her gray curls.“No, this isn’t about insurance money.I have a proposal for you.More of a favor than a proposal, actually.It involves your walls.”
“My walls?”
She nods eagerly, her smile wide.
“I want to rent them.”
I’m even more baffled now than I was before.
“For chrissake, Phil,” Nate mutters around the half slice of pizza he shoved in his mouth.“Quit talking in riddles.The woman is not a mind reader.”
“Right.Well, I don’t know if I mentioned it, but I’ve been trying my hand at painting.Just dabbling, really.”
“Nonsense,” Nate interrupts again.“Her paintings are fantastic and would probably sell for a pretty penny.”
“Yes, well…” Phil stammers, clearly a bit embarrassed by the praise.“I wasn’t going to do anything with them, but lately I’ve been toying with the idea of starting a community food bank, or a community emergency fund, or even both.Something by the people of Silence, for the people of Silence.Any money I make from the sale of my paintings would go toward setting up a program like that, and others could join me if they wanted to.Selling their crafts or art, or maybe donating goods or services.But I thought, since Strange Brew is pretty much the hub of the town, perhaps I could rent some wall space in your coffee shop to peddle my wares, so to speak.The new range could be first and last month’s rent?”
My excitement started growing the moment she made mention of a food bank, because I know there is an increasing number of people here in Silence whose food security is not what it should be.For all the common reasons: automation culling the workforce, a rising cost of living against lagging wages, a growing graying population on fixed incomes.The effects are hitting Silence just like anywhere else.
I’d love to be part of an initiative like that.It’s right up my alley.Plus, free artwork on my walls, turning Strange Brew into a gallery on top of a coffee shop, is a fantastic bonus.
“Yes.”
“But I completely understand if you’d rather not get involved,” Phil rambles on as if I hadn’t spoken.“I know you already have your hands full.Although, I would happily volunteer my time to offset the additional work…”
