by Sally John
“Will do. Goodnight, now.”
“Thanks again. Goodnight.”
Lia shut the door behind him, flipped off the light, raced back up to the bathroom, and turned the shower’s hot water handle on full force. Her wet clothes had chilled her to the bone. She clipped her long hair atop her head and jumped into the spray.
“Thank you, Jesus, for bringing Cal at just the right moment. Bless him. Keep him safe in his work tonight.” She broke into a praise chorus.
“Mrs. Neuman!” There was a pounding on the open bathroom door.
Lia screamed.
“It’s me! Cal.”
“Oh!” She gulped a breath. Her heart was certainly getting a workout tonight. She peeked around the edge of the opaque shower curtain, grateful not to see his face and yet still embarrassed at his apparent proximity. She turned off the water and called out, “Yes?”
“You left your keys in the door.”
“Just a sec! I’ll be right out!” She held the curtain before her as she stepped out of the tub and pushed the door shut. Eyeing her heap of wet clothes, she quickly toweled off. What was the proper thing to do here? Mom had never discussed this scenario. When a police officer enters your apartment and— Her long terry cloth robe hung on the back of the door. It would suffice.
He stood in the kitchen beside the sink, which was a good distance around the corner from the bathroom. His face was apple red as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “I, uh, knocked,” he said, averting his eyes. “You need a doorbell and a new alarm system.”
Lia bit her lip to keep from bursting into laughter at his discomfort.
“I noticed your purse in the unlocked car, so I brought that up, too. Do you need anything else?” He made eye contact somewhere above her head.
“No, but thanks.”
“Okay. I’ll lock the door and your car. I thought I heard you were from Chicago.”
“I am.”
“Then you know you should keep doors and cars locked.”
“But this is Valley Oaks! I feel so safe here.”
“People are still people, Mrs. Neuman. They take advantage of the unsuspecting. You need a deadbolt, too.”
“By the way, it’s Miss Neuman. And my friends call me Lia. I think I’d consider you and me friends, given the fact that you were in my apartment after midnight while I was in the shower. Hmm?”
A small smile played at his lips as he turned and strode to the stairwell. “Yes, ma’am.”
The giggle she had been holding in bubbled out. “Goodnight, Cal.”
“Goodnight. Lia.”
Cal chewed himself out as he punched the doorknob’s lock and pulled the door securely shut behind him. He vocalized his lunacy while opening the driver’s door of Lia’s old model Volvo and jabbing the automatic lock button, rain still spattering off his hat and slicker.
“Huntington, this is exactly what happened to Patterson. Get yourself into a dubious situation and allegations start flying.” He strode to the squad car and kicked a tire before yanking open the door. “You could’ve thrown the keys in on the floor and simply locked up. No, you’ve got to play Mr. Considerate and hike all the way back upstairs. You hear her singing in the shower and you still don’t duck out.”
He climbed in and drove out of the alley.
At least she didn’t seem like the complaint-filing type.
Yeah, that’s what Patterson thought.
Cal shook his head. She was nice. He had recognized her shower song from church. And most of what he had heard about her indicated that she was an asset to the community. She had even lowered some prices on pharmaceuticals. Townsfolk appreciated that in a big way. Her business should grow.
Tammy’s mother worked for her and wasn’t too keen on the woman. He couldn’t put much stock in her opinion, though. Dot Cassidy wasn’t too keen on anybody.
He cruised down Main Street and headed for the all-night Gas Mart. Maybe he should make his whereabouts known… just in case.
So it was “miss,” huh? Interesting. The daughter appeared to be nine or ten. Lia must have been a teenager, probably too young to marry. Said something about her, sticking things out like that, becoming a pharmacist and now buying her own shop. Probably family money. She was cute with her long swinging ponytail, little nose and a mouth that kind of curved up at the corners like a bow tie. There was a vague hint of Asian heritage in the shape of her dark eyes and matching dark hair, but not much of one. The only accent was Chicago style, big city and borderline aggressive. Confident might be a better word. Her black hair hung to her waist. Except when it was pinned up for a shower.
He laughed at himself and pulled into the gas station. Tomorrow he’d pick up a deadbolt and install it for her. Make amends.
Of course if Dot found out then Tammy would find out, and then he’d have amends to make with her… Women!
Three
Isabel rapped her knuckles on the glass window on the upper half of the pharmacy’s front door. A moment later she saw Lia hurrying down the aisle, shrugging into her white lab coat.
Lia unlocked the door and opened it, the small attached bell tinging. “Isabel! You didn’t have to come this early. Goodness, you didn’t even have to come in today. You just got home.”
“Yes, I did have to come.”
Her friend drew her inside.
Isabel set down the cardboard box, Nutmeg’s undignified traveling case, and accepted Lia’s hug.
“Isabel, I am so, so sorry about your grandmother.”
“Thank you.” She wiped away a tear. This was why she had come early. She wanted to get this over with, this seeing everyone for the first time after her abuela’s death…this pain hitting afresh, like a paper cut that couldn’t heal because she kept touching it.
They clasped hands in silence. In a subtle way, the moment intensified Christ’s comfort more than words could. They sniffed and then smiled through tears. Isabel sensed this was another reason she came today. After her grandmother, Lia was the most joyful woman she had ever met. Such women knew the depths of sorrow firsthand.
Isabel hadn’t heard the entire story. Lia had arrived in Valley Oaks only that summer. When she came to church and met Britte Olafsson and Isabel, an instant rapport sprang up between the three of them. Since that time, she and Britte had pitched in at the shop and the upstairs apartment, helping their new friend get her feet on the ground.
“Isabel, your box is moving.”
“Look.” She lifted out the kitten. “Her name is Nutmeg. Gina gave her to me. I thought Chloe would enjoy playing with her today.”
“Oh, how sweet! She’ll want one.”
“Well,” Isabel cleared her throat, “Gina happens to have this mama cat out at Brady’s, and Brady is not exactly a kitten kind of guy. I thought it’d be a great ‘welcome to Valley Oaks’ gift, so I called Gina. There’s a kitty earmarked for Chloe if you give the okay.”
Lia’s eyes were wet again. “Thank you, Isabel. You’ve all been so thoughtful.”
“Hey, we’re just grateful to have you here. You kept the pharmacy in town. I can’t wait to get you singing in the choir and to a book club meeting. Now, when do I get to meet Chloe?”
“We snuggled a bit this morning, and then I told her to go back to sleep. We didn’t get home until midnight. It was such an unbelievable day! Speaking of the choir, you’ll have to ask Cal Huntington what he thinks about my singing.”
“Cal?”
Lia relayed the story, ending with her rendition of a hulking teddy bear avoiding eye contact.
When their giggles finally subsided, Isabel said, “He’s my neighbor. And he goes with Dot’s daughter, Tammy.”
Lia shook her head. “I will never get the hang of all the interrelationships in this town.”
“Oh, just give yourself six months. It took me a year, but you’re smarter than I am. All right, put me to work.”
Like most Monday mornings, this one kicked into high gear promptly at nine
o’clock, two minutes after Dot Cassidy waltzed in to take her place at the cash register beside Lia in the back of the store.
Isabel enjoyed her role of chatting with customers and covering the front register. The simple changes Lia had already incorporated exuded a pleasant small-town environment. Her pharmacy area was located at the back, with the drugs and counter in one corner and a waiting area in the other with four new wicker arm chairs and a coffee table holding magazines. Besides the regular array of drugstore items, the pharmacy now carried distinctly more tasteful cards, organic herbal teas, Brady’s books, delightful gifts for any occasion, and an assortment of candles, their delectable scents permeating the shop.
Cal walked in before ten o’clock, carrying a paper bag with the hardware store’s logo and a drill. “Morning, neighbor.”
“Good morning, Cal.” Isabel winked at him. “I’ve heard you were upstairs already! Don’t you think Lia’s done wonders with the place? Especially the shower?”
“Like I saw that, Miss Nosy Mendozy,” he bantered, although his tan deepened three shades and his jaw worked furiously on a piece of gum. “Why don’t you announce it on your show?”
“Maybe I will.” She trailed after him down the aisle and held her breath as he ambled by the collectible figurines. For his mammoth size, his movements were surprisingly graceful. She breathed again. “What’s with the drill?”
Over his shoulder he threw her what she called his cop glower, a look that said, “I’m asking the questions here, lady, not answering them.”
She scrunched her nose back at him.
“Izzy!”
She whirled around. Tony stood there, holding the door open while dear old Mrs. Anderson lumbered through it, thanking him on her way out.
Here was another reason she had needed to come early this morning…needed to fill her day with busyness… “Hello, Tony.”
The lopsided grin spread slowly as he leaned against the counter and crossed his arms. “Ah, my day is a success. I’ve tracked you down.”
“How did you—”
“Uh-uh,” he wagged a forefinger, “can’t reveal my sources, but I know you work here on Monday mornings, your day off from the station.”
He knew more than that. She saw it in his eyes, a glint of familiarity. He had remembered. A dread reality settled like wet cement on her bones. She heard footsteps behind her and turned to see Lia.
“Isabel, do you mind helping out back here? Cal’s going to put a deadbolt on the door and— Oh, hello.”
Tony extended his hand. “Hi. Tony Ward, old friend of Izzy’s. In town to interview The Author.” He nodded toward a display of Brady’s books.
“Lia Neuman, pharmacist. Nice to meet you.” She looked at Isabel. “I hate to interrupt—”
“No interruption. I’ll be right there.”
“Thanks.” She strode back down the aisle and glanced over her shoulder. “Izzy?”
Isabel shrugged in reply. She hadn’t allowed Tony’s special name for her to surface since college. “Tony, we’re swamped. I need to get to work.”
“Right. You don’t want the blue hairs to get restless. How about dinner tonight?”
“Tonight is—”
“Open. No work. No church service. No book club. No teen group.” He tilted his head, brows raised. “Rib House in town here?”
Avoiding him would be impossible. With resignation, she gave in to his persistence. “Are you staying in Rockville? I have errands—”
“Name the place.”
“How about the Italian Village, just off Route 18 on Fifty-second.”
“Got it.” He sauntered to the door. “Six o’clock work for you?”
She took an unsteady breath. “Fine.”
Like that paper cut, Tony Ward wasn’t going to go away.
“Cal, you didn’t have to do this.” Lia followed him into the back room.
“No problem. Comes under the job description of keeping Valley Oaks citizens safe.”
She studied the back of his head as he knelt on a knee, emptying tools from the paper bag onto the floor. His hair was a light brown, the type that would age into silver. Its bristly texture hinted at shorn curls similar to that on a teddy bear. “How about that coffee now?” she asked.
He looked up, and she noticed his eyes were a vivid green. “You’ve got a store full of—”
“Oh, I always have a pot going right here.” She went to the laundry corner that contained a sink and a counter just large enough for the coffeemaker. “I keep a carafe out in the shop for the customers.” She handed him a large mug. “Which you would know if you’d ever been a customer here.”
He gave her a guilty smile. “Guess I’m just on the healthy side.”
“What, you never need toothpaste?”
With a sideways glance, he sipped his coffee. “Mmm, great coffee. Hey, don’t let me keep you from your customers.”
“Right. Oh, if Chloe comes downstairs, just tell her you’re the teddy bear who carried her in last night.” She walked back into the store, smiling to herself at the look on his face. The gauntlet had been tossed the night before when he terrified her by walking unannounced into her apartment. Teasing him about not patronizing the shop was her payback. The teddy bear remark put her ahead. It had rendered him speechless.
She stepped behind the counter where Dot handed her a bottle of capsules.
“This needs your okay. And this one here.”
“Thanks, Dot.”
Her only full-time employee was a bit of a puzzle. In her mid-50s, the platinum blonde was well-preserved, petite, always fashionably dressed, and pretty. But one minute she resembled an airhead embellishing the latest rumor, and the next she was efficiently advising a customer about his prescription. Like a fixture at the pharmacy, she had worked there almost for as long as the Bentleys had owned the place. Lia happily kept her on because she knew the business. Legally she could do everything regarding a prescription except give it to a customer without Lia’s approval first. Rightly, the customers trusted Dot’s knowledge.
At the moment Lia sensed an icy draft floating in her direction despite Dot’s normal tone of voice and smile. What in the world could have happened between the time Lia left to chat a moment with Cal and now?
Cal. Yes. What was it Isabel said? He was dating Dot’s daughter, Tammy. Oh, Lord, these small-town relationships…
When there was a lull in the activity, Lia said, “Dot, your Tammy certainly has herself a catch. Cal is so thoughtful and professional.”
Dot was never at a loss for words, but her tongue seemed to be in a stranglehold. “Uh, what’s he doing here?”
“Installing a deadbolt. I met him last night. He was patrolling the alley and saw me unloading Chloe in the rain. He stopped to help and noticed the flimsy lock on the back door. Now here he comes today offering to take care of it.”
“That’s our Cal.” She glanced over her shoulder and lowered her voice. “Between you and me, I think they’ll be engaged soon.”
“Congratulations,” Lia whispered.
Dot gave her a conspiratorial smile as three customers walked up.
Lia sighed inaudibly. If Dot knew her better, she’d understand there was nothing to worry about. Lia had no intentions of stealing Cal away from his intended. Chloe’s father had cured her of even the thought of sharing her life with a man.
Lia bounded up the stairs behind Chloe, both of them giggling. It was evening, after dinner, and they had just raided the store’s candy shelf. Homemade fudge and a generous array of licorice, candy bars, and chewy drops filled a basket.
They raced to the couch and plopped down cross-legged. A cartoon video awaited in the VCR and a fluffy newcomer named Soot lay curled up on the rug, purring.
“Chloe, it wasn’t too bad of a first day, was it?”
The girl concentrated on unwrapping a candy bar, her chubby cheeks hidden behind her chin-length black hair falling forward. She resembled Lia only slightly. The Asian hint
about her eyes was less pronounced, evidence of another generation removed from her grandmother’s ancestry. Chloe’s royal blue eye color was a beautiful blending of her mother’s almost black and her father’s light blue.
“The vet was nice, wasn’t she?” Lia prompted. Gina had delivered the kitten that afternoon.
Chloe nodded. “I like Soot. And Isabel was funny.”
“She’s my new best friend here. What did you think about the school?” They had registered Chloe that afternoon while the store was closed for a 45-minute noon break. She would begin fifth grade next week when school opened.
The girl shrugged. “It’s old. Not like home.”
“I know. Little towns have a lot of old things, like this building. But at least we have a video store right next door.”
“Maybe they’ll give us a key!”
Lia laughed at the image of the slovenly owner being overtly kind. “And we can get videos any time! Let’s check out the Community Center tomorrow. That’s fairly new and just down the block. You can sign up for gymnastics again if you want.”
Chloe scooted over and laid her head against Lia’s arm.
“Oh, sweetpea, I know it’s hard and that it will take time to get used to everything. Just remember Jesus is taking care of us. I think we’ll like it here. But Chloe?” She put a finger under the girl’s chin. “You tell me when you don’t like something, okay? Promise me you will.”
“Okay, I promise.”
“Thanks.” She kissed her forehead. “All in all, I think it was a pretty good day, not easy, but pretty good.”
Chloe nodded, a somber pose on her lips.
“I just wish you could have met the teddy bear.”
“The peppermint teddy bear.”
“Peppermint?”
“I remember he smelled like peppermint.”
Chloe’s grin was the reward Lia needed. The answer to prayer. Thank You, Lord. Please, please make it work out here.
Four
Isabel fussed at herself for choosing the Italian Village. She had forgotten about the candlelight and cozy booths. On the spur of the moment, at the pharmacy when Tony invited her to dinner, it had simply been the first decent restaurant that came to mind.
