stretched as I
piled into the greatest comfort food in the world.
“You planning on selling
any special hammers today?”
The bite in my mouth seemed
to grow, and I conscientiously swallowed, vying for
time.
“Not that I know of, but
I’ll let you know if I do.” That was true enough. I didn’t know if
I was going to sell any hammers or if Gavin was going to
visit.
“Would you look at the
time? Mr. Vernor will fire me for sure … you know what they say,
early’s on time, and on time is late,” I smiled, throwing her words
back at her. She shook her head and walked away.
“See you this afternoon,” I
hollered, practically running out the door. A painted bunting stood
guard over the Jeep. I stopped, and he tilted his cobalt blue head
to one side and then flew to the roof of the barn.
Gravel gave way to
pavement, and my thoughts raced. The small town mentality wouldn’t
allow for much leeway. If Gavin showed back up at the store, I
would have to tell Edna before someone else did. I never dated in
high school. The rumor mill always told that the tragedy of
abandonment had scarred me for life. I would probably end up a
spinster. Until now, that didn’t sound so bad.
“Morning, Mr.
Vernor.”
“Morning, Nora. Can you
mind the store by yourself today? Mamma and I are in charge of the
decorations for the fall festival, and we’re meeting the committee
at church. Oh … that reminds me,” he stopped in his tracks and
adjusted his glasses. “We’re going to be closed the day after the
festival. I figured everyone will be too tired to shop, and mamma
wants to have the floors waxed.”
“No problem.” I grinned,
trying not to get too excited.
“Would you stock the
paintbrush aisle while we’re gone?”
“Sure.” I went to the back
room and quietly groaned. Boxes sat in rows waiting to be
shelved.
The cowbell clanged on the
doorframe as they left, and I went to the counter and flipped on
the small radio, finding my now favorite classic station. The room
filled with Chopin nocturnes, and I got to work ripping the tape
off of the boxes.
Pricing and sorting brushes was work that
required hands only, and so my mind wandered back to its favorite
obsession.
Gavin’s nap in the Jeep seemed to help. He
was as different as night and day when we got back to town. It
wasn’t because his coloring was better and the dark circles, that
were more like purple bruises under his eyes, had disappeared—it
went deeper than that. I sat there for a moment trying to figure
out what on earth I even meant by that. I was certain I felt his
emotions, making the whole experience even more bizarre. The memory
of his warm lips on my hand flashed. Butterflies churned every time
I thought about his whisper soft touch.
The cowbell clanged again, and a strangely
familiar pull made my stomach flip. Get a grip, it couldn’t be
him… .
“I’ll be with you in a minute,” I hollered,
getting up from the floor. Gray clung to my knees, and I swept the
dust away. Tying the apron a little tighter, I whipped around.
“May I he—” Broad shoulders blocked my
way.
“Hey, you,” I murmured through a smile, not
knowing what else to say. My new revelation about his feelings
connecting with my thoughts caused my mind to clear instantly.
“Good morning, Nora,” Gavin
sheepishly grinned. “I find myself in need of some more
nails.”
“How far did you drive to
get to this store?” I willed my emotions to calm down.
“Not very far,” his smile
widened.
“You seem to be much
better.”
“Thank you. You are lovely
as ever.” His eyes flickered with mischief. My hair was pulled back
in a ponytail and I had on jeans, my favorite shirt, and the
standard blue Vernor’s hardware apron … yeah, I was
stunning.
The frustration flowing
through my heart was mirrored in his expression, and my pulse
quickened—I knew I was right.
“I’m going to put this box
away, and I’ll meet you on aisle four, all right?” I said,
singing
piled into the greatest comfort food in the world.
“You planning on selling
any special hammers today?”
The bite in my mouth seemed
to grow, and I conscientiously swallowed, vying for
time.
“Not that I know of, but
I’ll let you know if I do.” That was true enough. I didn’t know if
I was going to sell any hammers or if Gavin was going to
visit.
“Would you look at the
time? Mr. Vernor will fire me for sure … you know what they say,
early’s on time, and on time is late,” I smiled, throwing her words
back at her. She shook her head and walked away.
“See you this afternoon,” I
hollered, practically running out the door. A painted bunting stood
guard over the Jeep. I stopped, and he tilted his cobalt blue head
to one side and then flew to the roof of the barn.
Gravel gave way to
pavement, and my thoughts raced. The small town mentality wouldn’t
allow for much leeway. If Gavin showed back up at the store, I
would have to tell Edna before someone else did. I never dated in
high school. The rumor mill always told that the tragedy of
abandonment had scarred me for life. I would probably end up a
spinster. Until now, that didn’t sound so bad.
“Morning, Mr.
Vernor.”
“Morning, Nora. Can you
mind the store by yourself today? Mamma and I are in charge of the
decorations for the fall festival, and we’re meeting the committee
at church. Oh … that reminds me,” he stopped in his tracks and
adjusted his glasses. “We’re going to be closed the day after the
festival. I figured everyone will be too tired to shop, and mamma
wants to have the floors waxed.”
“No problem.” I grinned,
trying not to get too excited.
“Would you stock the
paintbrush aisle while we’re gone?”
“Sure.” I went to the back
room and quietly groaned. Boxes sat in rows waiting to be
shelved.
The cowbell clanged on the
doorframe as they left, and I went to the counter and flipped on
the small radio, finding my now favorite classic station. The room
filled with Chopin nocturnes, and I got to work ripping the tape
off of the boxes.
Pricing and sorting brushes was work that
required hands only, and so my mind wandered back to its favorite
obsession.
Gavin’s nap in the Jeep seemed to help. He
was as different as night and day when we got back to town. It
wasn’t because his coloring was better and the dark circles, that
were more like purple bruises under his eyes, had disappeared—it
went deeper than that. I sat there for a moment trying to figure
out what on earth I even meant by that. I was certain I felt his
emotions, making the whole experience even more bizarre. The memory
of his warm lips on my hand flashed. Butterflies churned every time
I thought about his whisper soft touch.
The cowbell clanged again, and a strangely
familiar pull made my stomach flip. Get a grip, it couldn’t be
him… .
“I’ll be with you in a minute,” I hollered,
getting up from the floor. Gray clung to my knees, and I swept the
dust away. Tying the apron a little tighter, I whipped around.
“May I he—” Broad shoulders blocked my
way.
“Hey, you,” I murmured through a smile, not
knowing what else to say. My new revelation about his feelings
connecting with my thoughts caused my mind to clear instantly.
“Good morning, Nora,” Gavin
sheepishly grinned. “I find myself in need of some more
nails.”
“How far did you drive to
get to this store?” I willed my emotions to calm down.
“Not very far,” his smile
widened.
“You seem to be much
better.”
“Thank you. You are lovely
as ever.” His eyes flickered with mischief. My hair was pulled back
in a ponytail and I had on jeans, my favorite shirt, and the
standard blue Vernor’s hardware apron … yeah, I was
stunning.
The frustration flowing
through my heart was mirrored in his expression, and my pulse
quickened—I knew I was right.
“I’m going to put this box
away, and I’ll meet you on aisle four, all right?” I said,
singing
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