Strange that today’s message was serious.
Stranger still how it dovetailed with Charley’s comments.
Yet as far as she could see, there were no new opportunities on her horizon other than the challenging roles she’d be dancing in the fall season.
She pushed through the door and into the shop, ordered a plain coffee, and tried to banish the unsettled feelings stirred up not only by Charley’s observations but by the thrum of anticipation generated by her date tomorrow with Aaron.
No-go. Nor did the adrenaline jolt from the caffeine do anything to help calm her nerves.
Rather than linger, she finished her tacos in record time and exited the shop. Glanced at Eye of the Beholder across the street.
Hmm.
She’d been wanting to peek inside since she’d arrived. Perhaps a quick visit would distract her from her less-than-relaxing thoughts.
As she veered that direction, Bob Howard came out of the hardware store two doors down—and promptly dropped the box he was carrying, sending basketballs bouncing in all directions.
Changing course yet again, she dashed about, helping him retrieve the wayward balls.
Five minutes later, as she returned the last ball to the box, he swiped the back of his hand across his forehead. “By golly. That wasmyexercise for the day. Thank you kindly for your assistance.”
“Happy to help.” She surveyed the long table in front of the store, which was loaded with merchandise and topped by a sign that read “Everything must go—75% off.” “You have quite a sale going on here.”
“I’m down to the wire on closing. Saturday’s it for me. Store’s pretty cleaned out, but I’d like to get rid of the last of the stuff. What’s left, I’ll donate somewhere. How’s sweet Lauren doing?”
“Improving every day.”
“Glad to hear it. Come on in for a minute. Let me give you some grape candies to take to her for old time’s sake.”
She followed him inside, past mostly bare shelves, toward the wooden counter. “What’s going to happen to this?” She tapped the massive antique piece.
“A restaurant up in Bandon wants it. They plan to use it as a bar.” He grinned. “I sold screwdrivers here, and they’ll be doing the same—but theirs will pack more of a punch.” He dug into the candy jar and began fishing out the remaining grape hard candies. “What’s your favorite flavor? I’ll put a few in the bag for you.”
“I’m partial to lemon.”
“You got it.”
While he continued to rummage through the jar, she surveyed the shop. “What sort of business is going to move in here?”
“I have no idea. Neither does the owner, unfortunately. There haven’t been any takers yet. The place is too big for the sort of shops Hope Harbor is attracting these days, so I expect it will be hard to rent. But that’s not my problem.” He dropped one more lemon hard candy into the bag and handed it over. “Enjoy. And tell Lauren I said hello.”
“I will. Best wishes on your retirement and your trip to England.”
A gleam of excitement brightened his irises. “We’re wheels up in twelve days. It’ll be the adventure of a lifetime.”
“Do you think you’ll miss the shop?”
“Not for a minute. At least not while we’re on the trip. I expect it’ll be strange after we get home not to have to work every day, and I’ll miss talking with customers. But I’m handy with home repairs, so I plan to volunteer with Helping Hands here in town and Habitat for Humanity up in Coos Bay. I think between the two organizations, I’ll be kept as busy as I want to be. And I’ll still be around hardware, just in a different capacity.”
“Sounds like an ideal plan.”
“To me too. Thanks again for helping me chase the balls.” He pulled his cell out of his pocket and checked the screen. “My wife. Probably another packing question about our trip.”
“Go ahead and take the call. I’m heading out.”
With a lift of his hand, he angled away and greeted his wife.
While the two of them discussed biking rain gear, she wandered toward the door.
