Page 28 of Something Old

When he felt confident his face wasn’t going to say anything to Madeline that he didn’t want it to, he turned from the pets and back to her—only to find her studying him. She looked away quickly and got herself another piece of pizza, then offered him another too.

“Also, I may try to jaunt down to a couple of auctions and estate sales in Vancouver in August,” she said with her mouth full.

He nodded, feeling them land back on safe ground. “That’s great.”

And he meant it. Both things were good—that she was busy, that she was planning buying trips. The Second Chance Shop appeared to be off to a good start. But he also suspected it was Madeline’s way of graciously preparing him for when she’d bow out of helping him for good. He totally understood why she needed to, expected it, and was still blown away that his good luck had lasted as long as it had. Even so, imagining the house without her in it made the rooms and walls press in on him again, and the heaping piles and stacks threaten to crush him.

Chapter 16

Madeline arrived at the shop more than an hour early, the way she liked to, and put coffee on. Then, in what was quickly becoming a weekly routine, she gave Aisha a quick call, letting her know that she should restock whenever it was convenient.

“People have been claiming Reclaimed items like crazy the past few days.”

“Ha-ha, you’re so punny,” Aisha said, and Madeline grinned. Aisha had complained about her puns before—and said she really needed to hang out with her dad and Jase more because they were equally as bad, which Madeline took as a big compliment. “But seriously, that’s fantastic! I’ll bring new stuff first thing tomorrow.”

“Perfect.” Madeline was about to end the call when Aisha spoke again, sounding hesitant.

“I just remembered Sam, my . . . mom, has plans. She usually watches Mo when I’m coming in, so she’s not in my hair—or yours—while I’m moving stuff around and trying to organize it.”

“Bring her,” Madeline insisted immediately.

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely. It will be no problem at all to entertain Mo for a bit—and if you’re ever in town and want to run errands without her in tow, drop her off then too.”

“For real?”

“Yep, I’d be honored.”

“Well . . . thank you. That’s really nice of you.”

Madeline was smiling as she ended the call. She glanced at the wall clock. Still plenty of time to get the place spick-and-span before opening for the day. She quickly got busy wiping down shelves and dusting. Dust was fine in a house, she felt—but it was a big no-no in a shop.

The radio was playing a Beach Boys tune for “Oldies Hour” in honor, according to the chipper DJ, of the sunshine that had finally arrived. Madeline sang along under her breath, flashing back to the eight-year-old she’d been so long ago—and the Beach Boys were retro music to her even then. The power of music to transport you to other places and times was almost like magic. She and Ronny had adored their mom’s old Beach Boys and Jan and Dean records and used to careen wildly down a big hill in the back of their then-rural property, pretending to surf. She could practically feel the crabgrass “waves” that grew to her mid-thigh, and she could definitely smell it. To this day, that grass was the definition of green for her mind’s eye, and its fresh, sweet, sun-kissed scent was the smell of youth and freedom.

Her phone buzzed, letting her know it was almost time to open. She smiled as she flicked the lights on and unlocked the shop’s front door, then opened it and took a deep inhale of the outside air. Not quite 10:00 a.m., and it was already decidedly warm out. Maybe there’d finally be some summer weather after all!

“How on earth is it August already?” she asked Boots cheerfully but felt genuinely mystified.

The cat shrugged—making Madeline laugh—then stretched out, belly up, in a sunny spot on the floor, right in the middle of the most direct route to the payment counter, of course.

Madeline had taken down the July window display the night before, and now she busied herself creating something fun for August, feeling excited about her picnic theme. It was perfect for the predicted sunny skies and balmy temperatures, and since Wednesdays were her slowest days, she’d most likely be able to get everything set up and laid out with a minimum of interruptions.

She was admiring how the yellow background of a cheery apple print tablecloth contrasted with the turquoise legs of the little square table she’d laid it over when the bell above the door chimed. Boots popped up to a more dignified sitting position to greet the customer, and the tall, blonde, fellow rose-lover Madeline had seen in the shop a few times now entered—sans children, which was new. The woman bent to rub Boots’ ears, which he approved of.

“No kids today?” Madeline asked, then kicked herself for stating the obvious.

The woman smiled—a bit wanly, Madeline thought—and pushed a strand of her chin-length hair behind her ear. “Nope. I got time off for good behavior.”

“You just mean you didn’t get caught.”

The woman looked startled, then her hazel eyes shone as she got the small joke, and she laughed.

“Is there something specific I can help you find today?”

“No, I’m just browsing—if that’s okay?”

“Of course. Have fun and holler if you need me for anything.”