Blame It On The Mistletoe - A Novel of Bright's Pond by Joyce Magnin Page B

There's that empty store down on Filbert Street—across from the town hall and The Full Moon Café."
    "There is?"
    "Sure. I think it will make the perfect spot."
    "Maybe I'll take a look—someday. Maybe next year."
    Charlotte looked at the book, and a few minutes later as I passed by again she said, "It says here that Ponce de León never found the fountain. But most people, historians even, claim it's in Florida. Do you think it's possible?"
    I shook my head. "What? That the Fountain of Youth is more than a legend, a fairy tale? That water can make you younger?"
    "Yes." She was dead serious.
    At that moment I looked clear through Charlotte and saw Haddie Grace whizzing down the hallways of Greenbrier and didn't know how to answer her. "How come you're so interested in this?"
    "Oh, I'm just thinking, that's all. Folks up at Paradise have been talking about it ever since that Leon Fontaine moved in and started rebuilding the trailer park fountain. Have you seen it? It's pretty near finished and really quite beautiful—in a crooked kind of way."
    I smiled. "Leon Fontaine? He's the man who built the gazebo over at the nursing home. It's a little on the crooked side also. But really nice."
    "That's him. Weird little man, but I've come to accept weird as normal around here."
    I laughed. "Charlotte, I think we're going to be good friends."
    Then I remembered. "Say, Ruth told me you and Rose Tattoo are coming to Thanksgiving dinner. I hope you're bringing pie."
    "Yes. I mean yes, we're invited and, yes, I am bringing pie."
    "Hope it's pumpkin and cherry. Ruth is planning all kinds of tropical stuff."
    Charlotte laughed. "I heard. She told me she has a big surprise for dessert."
    "Me too, but please, pumpkin pie will be a most welcome sight, I'm sure."
    Charlotte patted my hand. "Don't worry. I'm bringing pumpkin and apple and maybe a cherry, since you mentioned it."
    That was when I heard the doorbell ring. Mercy Lincoln was standing there holding the copy of Heidi she had checked out just a few days previous.
    "Mercy," I said. "Did school let out already?"
    Mercy Lincoln was one of the backwoods children that came into town for school. She was poor as dirt, usually filthy but always managed to brighten my day. I loved her love for books and stories.
    "No, not yet, I reckon. I didn't go to school today."
    I ushered her farther into the library. "How come? Not like you to miss a day."
    "It was Mama. She weren't feelin' real well this morning and asked me to stay with her."
    "How is she now?" I took the book from her hands.
    "She's better. That's why I come by, to return that book and get another if I may."
    "Of course. You have a look."
    I went back to Charlotte who was still reading. "I don't want to interrupt, but do you have a library card? I'll get one ready if you want."
    "Oh, that would be so sweet of you. I need a card."
    I went back to the checkout counter and wrote out a card for Charlotte Figg. I just put Paradise Trailer Park for her address. I didn't need much more than that.
    Charlotte looked through books for another thirty-five minutes or so before she came to the counter. Meanwhile, Mercy had gotten lost among the bookshelves. "I guess I got the info I needed but I think I will check out this book—it's a recipe book on pastries. I think I might make some little tartlets. You know tiny pies, individual pies."
    "You could sell them by the dozens if you had a shop."
    "Now don't pressure me. I said I'm thinking about it. I got some money, but it's gotta cost a lot more than I got to run a pie shop."
    "If you're serious at all, you might want to talk with Boris Lender. He knows about that kind of stuff. He'll help where he can."
    "Thank you, I'll keep him in mind."
    I checked out her book— Pies, Tarts, and Filled Pastries. "Actually that empty store I mentioned used to be a bakery— years ago. It might still have some equipment inside."
    Charlotte's eyes grew wide. "Really? In that case, maybe I will take a