Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 99921 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99921 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
“You too. What time should I expect the delivery people tomorrow?”
Her cute little nose wrinkled. “Delivery people?”
“The new stove. Unless you managed to give the correct address this time.”
She squinted at me. “Funny. But I think you’ll be spared having to carry over an appliance.”
I took one more look at her almond-shaped eyes and pouty pink mouth and thought to myself, Shame. I nodded. “Have a good night, doc.”
“You, too. Wait. How did you know I was a doctor?”
I winked. “Rumor train runs in two directions.”
CHAPTER 4
* * *
Deck the Walls
Josie
I’d become a regular at Lowell’s, the small but well-stocked home-improvement store in town. Sam always remembered my name and asked me how construction was going, and the cashier had given me a twenty-percent-off coupon yesterday. Today was Saturday, so it was busier than usual even though it was rainy, and the people shopping looked more like homeowners than the contractors that had been around all week. I waited in line, scrolling on my phone, until someone tapped me on the shoulder.
“Excuse me. You wouldn’t happen to be staying on Rosewood Lane, would you?”
I turned to find a woman who was probably in her early sixties, with bright makeup and an even brighter hot pink one-piece short set.
“Yes. How did you know that?”
The woman smiled. “Lucky guess. My friend described you, and, well, it’s a small town, so it’s not too hard to spot the new people.” She extended her hand. “I’m Opal Rumsey. I believe my boss is your neighbor?”
“Fox?”
She nodded. “But don’t hold that against me. Not everyone who works at Cassidy Construction is as grumpy as the boss.”
I chuckled. “It’s nice to meet you, Opal. I’m Josie.”
“Rumor has it you’re the owner of the place where you’re staying.”
“I am. I inherited it from my dad when he passed.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you. It was a long time ago.”
Opal nodded. “Most of us thought Mrs. Wollman was the owner, she’d been there so long.”
“My parents actually grew up in Laurel Lake.”
“Really? What were their names?”
“Henry and Melanie Preston. Actually, my mother’s maiden name was Melanie Langone. My dad would’ve been seventy this year. My mom is sixty-eight. My parents had me later in life.”
“Can’t say the name is familiar.” She twirled a lock of hair and winked. “Then again, I’m a lot younger than your parents. Did they go to school here in town?”
“My dad was born and raised in Laurel Lake. My mom’s family moved here after she graduated high school. But she had a younger brother.”
“Then you know who would probably know them?”
“Who?”
“Bernadette and Bettina Macon. Twin sisters. Born and raised here in Laurel Lake. They turned sixty-nine last week. Bernadette was a school teacher in town before she retired, so she knows even more people than me.”
“Oh, I know Bettina Macon.” I shook my head. “Well, not know her, know her, but we exchange holiday cards.”
“Her too? I’m starting to feel left out. My friend Frannie said you guys exchange cards. Were they friends of your family or something?”
I smiled. “No. It’s kind of a long story, but I send a lot of holiday cards.”
“Can I help the next person in line?” the cashier yelled.
I’d been chatting away and hadn’t even noticed it was my turn. I stepped up to the counter, and Opal followed right behind me.
“Well, we’re going to be done here in two shakes of a lamb’s tail,” Opal said. “But I’d like to hear your long story. What do you say we have some lunch? Bernadette and Bettina’s little sister, Rita, owns the coffee shop in town, and Bernadette works the counter on Saturdays so Rita can spend time with her babies in the afternoon. The shop sells these little finger sandwiches that are made fresh a few times a day. Absolutely delicious. I like them because they’re small, so I don’t have to pick just one. Anyway, I can introduce you to Bernadette, we can see if she remembers your daddy, and you can tell me your holiday card story.”
“Umm… Sure.” I shrugged. “Why not? That sounds like fun.”
My new friend Opal drove a bright yellow Volkswagen bug. Light rain started to fall as we went to the parking lot. We took separate cars, but I followed behind her to Rita’s. On the way, I couldn’t help but think this was something I’d never do in New York City—agree to have lunch with a virtual stranger. Being down here had me letting my guard down, accepting a friendly person as just being friendly, not having an ulterior motive. The vibe was so different.
When we arrived at Rita’s, the girl at the counter said Bernadette was on break and would be back in a little while. Opal and I ordered iced coffees and four different types of the finger sandwiches. We took seats toward the back of the shop on a comfy leather couch and matching oversized chair. The place reminded me of something out of Friends. Warm and cozy. A place where you’d meet your crew to catch up on stories.