that
would be going on. The end result would be to their advantage, after all.
Lucy handed me the phone as soon as I
walked inside.
“Hello,” I said. “This is Kelly Sanders.”
“Hello, Ms. Sanders. This is Joshua
Forbes. Mrs. Daley told me that you’re taking on boarders, so I’m calling to
make an appointment to see the rooms. I also wanted to make sure that you
include meals in the price. Is that correct?”
“Yes, it is. In fact, Mrs. Daley is my
cook.”
“Splendid. I thought I understood her to
say that, but I wasn’t sure. When might I come out to meet with you?” he asked.
“If you’re free, today would be fine.”
“Today would perfect. Actually, I’m
retired, but I just started a part-time job. Retirement isn’t all it’s cracked
up to be. I was bored. Anyway, today is one of my days off. Would three o’clock
be convenient?”
“Yes. I’m looking forward to meeting you.”
I was trying to be friendly and
businesslike at the same time, which is a chore for me since I’m not too
business-minded. Give me a computer and a letter or legal brief to type, a case
file to open, a client to talk to, and I’m fine. But this was definitely
different.
“That was your friend from the motel,” I
said, turning to Lucy. “He’s coming out this afternoon.”
“So I heard. Do you need any help getting
a room ready?”
“Technically, you haven’t started working
for me yet, so just relax. You’ve already done enough for today. Besides,
someone – don’t ask me who – had almost everything set up when I moved in. All
I had to do was dust the furniture. The rooms are ready to show now. As I let
them out I’ll put on the bedding. Right now the beds have bedspreads on them,
but no linen.”
“Just the same, if you need help, let me
know. I intend to earn my keep even though I haven’t really started yet.”
“Believe me, you’re already earning your
way.”
“You have no idea who set up the house?”
she asked.
“Not a clue.”
“That’s odd, don’t you think?”
“I figure it must have been done by the
county agent before they sold me the house.”
“Maybe,” she said, slowly and
thoughtfully.
I climbed the stairs and once again dusted
the bedroom furniture. I picked out one convenient room on the second floor to
show – they were basically all the same – and if they were interested then each
boarder could pick out which part of the house he or she wanted to live in.
After dusting I returned downstairs and
picked up my book to read while I waited for three o’clock to roll around.
Lucy called me for lunch and I asked her
to sit and chat for a while because I was too wound up to get involved in the
book. We were already becoming good friends, which made it hard to think of her
as an employee. I was learning that fifty-four years of age really isn’t as old
as I’d thought it was. I had a feeling that she and Sharon would get along well
too. They were very much alike in some ways.
We were so engrossed in our conversation
that we didn’t realize how much time had gone by, until promptly at three
o’clock the doorbell bonged .
“Isn’t that the loudest bell you’ve ever
heard?” I frowned.
“Yeah,” Lucy said. “It’s almost as
annoying at those crickets.”
Lucy answered the door and returned with a
tall, gray-haired man following her. His build was slender and athletic. I
judged him to be around sixty or so. He had an open, friendly face. I could
picture him out on a golf course or a tennis court.
Lucy introduced us.
“Miss Sanders, this is Mr. Forbes.
Mr. Forbes, Miss Sanders.” She was playing the part of the faithful employee
and quickly exited after making the introductions, although I could tell she
wanted to hang around and see what happened.
“Have a seat, Mr. Forbes,” I invited,
pointing out a chair.
“Thank you. I’m impressed already. It was
a great drive out here, although I’d imagine it’s a bit different during the
winter
would be going on. The end result would be to their advantage, after all.
Lucy handed me the phone as soon as I
walked inside.
“Hello,” I said. “This is Kelly Sanders.”
“Hello, Ms. Sanders. This is Joshua
Forbes. Mrs. Daley told me that you’re taking on boarders, so I’m calling to
make an appointment to see the rooms. I also wanted to make sure that you
include meals in the price. Is that correct?”
“Yes, it is. In fact, Mrs. Daley is my
cook.”
“Splendid. I thought I understood her to
say that, but I wasn’t sure. When might I come out to meet with you?” he asked.
“If you’re free, today would be fine.”
“Today would perfect. Actually, I’m
retired, but I just started a part-time job. Retirement isn’t all it’s cracked
up to be. I was bored. Anyway, today is one of my days off. Would three o’clock
be convenient?”
“Yes. I’m looking forward to meeting you.”
I was trying to be friendly and
businesslike at the same time, which is a chore for me since I’m not too
business-minded. Give me a computer and a letter or legal brief to type, a case
file to open, a client to talk to, and I’m fine. But this was definitely
different.
“That was your friend from the motel,” I
said, turning to Lucy. “He’s coming out this afternoon.”
“So I heard. Do you need any help getting
a room ready?”
“Technically, you haven’t started working
for me yet, so just relax. You’ve already done enough for today. Besides,
someone – don’t ask me who – had almost everything set up when I moved in. All
I had to do was dust the furniture. The rooms are ready to show now. As I let
them out I’ll put on the bedding. Right now the beds have bedspreads on them,
but no linen.”
“Just the same, if you need help, let me
know. I intend to earn my keep even though I haven’t really started yet.”
“Believe me, you’re already earning your
way.”
“You have no idea who set up the house?”
she asked.
“Not a clue.”
“That’s odd, don’t you think?”
“I figure it must have been done by the
county agent before they sold me the house.”
“Maybe,” she said, slowly and
thoughtfully.
I climbed the stairs and once again dusted
the bedroom furniture. I picked out one convenient room on the second floor to
show – they were basically all the same – and if they were interested then each
boarder could pick out which part of the house he or she wanted to live in.
After dusting I returned downstairs and
picked up my book to read while I waited for three o’clock to roll around.
Lucy called me for lunch and I asked her
to sit and chat for a while because I was too wound up to get involved in the
book. We were already becoming good friends, which made it hard to think of her
as an employee. I was learning that fifty-four years of age really isn’t as old
as I’d thought it was. I had a feeling that she and Sharon would get along well
too. They were very much alike in some ways.
We were so engrossed in our conversation
that we didn’t realize how much time had gone by, until promptly at three
o’clock the doorbell bonged .
“Isn’t that the loudest bell you’ve ever
heard?” I frowned.
“Yeah,” Lucy said. “It’s almost as
annoying at those crickets.”
Lucy answered the door and returned with a
tall, gray-haired man following her. His build was slender and athletic. I
judged him to be around sixty or so. He had an open, friendly face. I could
picture him out on a golf course or a tennis court.
Lucy introduced us.
“Miss Sanders, this is Mr. Forbes.
Mr. Forbes, Miss Sanders.” She was playing the part of the faithful employee
and quickly exited after making the introductions, although I could tell she
wanted to hang around and see what happened.
“Have a seat, Mr. Forbes,” I invited,
pointing out a chair.
“Thank you. I’m impressed already. It was
a great drive out here, although I’d imagine it’s a bit different during the
winter
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