by Gerri Hill
“Okay.” She tried not to sound disappointed. He’d warned her it would take four weeks, but she had been hoping to be in sooner. She was already weeks past ready to get out of the Howells’ place. Not that they weren’t a very sweet couple. They were—almost to a fault. Mrs. Howell had insisted she join her and her husband for dinner each evening. Maybe it was because Leah was new in town and didn’t know anyone yet or maybe Mrs. Howell felt sorry for her, being homeless as she was. In order to escape dinner with them some nights, she had decided to try out some of the places in town.
There were some very nice, very expensive restaurants that she passed on. There were a handful of pubs. She assumed there were more, but she’d only noticed two Mexican food places, one advertising Tex-Mex, the other offering “authentic” food. Coming from California, she loathed Tex-Mex, and she was too suspicious of the word “authentic” to actually consider eating at that one. There was a steakhouse she’d tried; while the food was very good, the atmosphere was a bit stuffy. Another steakhouse that catered to the Harley-Davidson crowd looked inviting, but she had been too intimidated to walk in alone. There was a local pizza joint, but she passed on that. There was the Burger Barn at the edge of town and she’d tried that. But after eating at the Phenix Grill, she found the burger they served small and tasteless in comparison. And instead of crispy, spicy onion rings, she had been served limp, soggy fries.
She looked out the window, seeing the lunch crowd starting to arrive at the grill. She knew her parking spaces would be filled shortly, which made her wonder when Mr. Russell was coming by with her signs. He’d simply said “he’d swing by.” She’d learned that not many in town were concerned with time and schedules, which would take her some getting used to.
Oh, well. All she could do was wait. She went back to the storage room in the back that she was going to turn into her office. Well, half of it, anyway. She’d still need a place to store her inventory…whatever that might be.
Yeah…she really needed to decide on that, didn’t she? She hated to think that this whole endeavor was based on a whim, but it came close to that. Aunt Ruby had told her once that if she had to do it all over again, she’d buy a tacky little tourist shop in Idyllwild and live up in the mountains instead of Los Angeles. Leah had recalled that conversation clearly one day while sitting in an endless traffic jam. It had become a fantasy, one she could drift away to when her real life became too stressful. After Aunt Ruby died, she realized her fantasy could become a reality, if she wanted it to. Unfortunately, in all of her dreams, inventory wasn’t ever covered and she wasn’t certain what she wanted. T-shirts, yes. Practically every store in town sold some kind of T-shirts and most of them sold the same ones. But up here in the Ozarks, maybe she should go with wood. Like carvings or hand-made wind chimes. Maybe some chainsaw art like she’d seen on her quick trip to Branson. Maybe some cute wooden signs. Well, whatever route she decided on, it didn’t mean she’d have to stick with it. She could always change. She had time. And thanks to Aunt Ruby…she had money.
* * *
“What are you doing?”
“Trying to figure out what the hell she’s doing,” Megan said as she peeked through the blinds in their office. “Gordon Russell is over there. What do you think’s up with that?”
“Well, she’s having remodeling done, you know,” Nancy said.
Megan looked at her and shook her head. “Gordon doesn’t do remodeling. Besides, Tony and his guys have been parking in the alley in the back. Gordon’s truck is right out front.”
“If you’re so nosy, why don’t you go over and ask him,” she suggested.
“Her bike is there. Why don’t you go over?”
“Because I’m not the one worried about it,” Nancy said. “Although it might be a good opportunity for me to ask her out.”
Megan’s eyebrows shot up. “Ask her out?”
“Yes. You know…like a date.”
“Are you serious?”
“I find her attractive.”
“You’ve seen her one time,” Megan pointed out.
“And? It was obviously long enough to know that she’s pleasant and cute.”
Megan shook her head. “I can’t imagine what you see in her. She’s…she’s irritating,” she said, using her favorite word to describe Leah Rollins. She peeked through the blinds again, then frowned as Gordon started up some kind of a gas-powered tool.
“What is that?” Nancy asked beside her.
“I’m not sure. Looks like he’s drilling into the edge of the sidewalk.”
“Whatever for?”
Megan pulled away from the blinds and stared at Nancy. “You don’t think she’s putting up parking signs, do you?”
Nancy shrugged. “Maybe so.”
Megan put her hands on her hips. “She’s not even freakin’ open yet! I swear, the woman is obsessed with parking spaces!”
Nancy laughed. “Megan, you are the one obsessed with parking spaces.”
“I’m not obsessed. I’m only concerned about our parking situation,” she said. “And you should be too. Where are our customers going to park now?”
“It’s only five spaces. Actually, it’s only four spaces since you always hogged one of them anyway.”
“You’re missing the point.”
“No. The point is, you’re pissed that you lost your ‘reserved’ spot,” Nancy said, making quotes in the air. “We always have more customers than our parking allows and they always park down the street and walk. Nothing has changed except you lost your prime spot. Park in the alley in the back like I do and quit taking up an extra spot up front.”
Megan stared at her, slowly shaking her head. “You do remember why I have a new SUV, right?”
“It’s three years old.”
“Beside the point. You do remember why I got it, don’t you?”
Nancy waved her hand in the air. “So the delivery truck smashed your car? It happened once, Megan. Once.”
“It happened in the alley. And smashed doesn’t exactly describe it. It looked like an accordion when he got through with it.”
“You’re exaggerating.”
“And…and that same guy almost took out Eileen’s little Honda.”
“It was a scratch on her bumper.”
“He is dangerous! I can’t believe he still has a job.” She looked back through the blinds, her eyes widening. “Oh, my God! She is putting up parking signs.” She squinted, trying to read them. “Who the hell is Ruby?”
“Oh, for God’s sake, Megan! Lighten up already. You know what your problem is?”
Megan pointed out the window. “Yeah. It’s right next door.”
“Your problem is, you’re all uptight. You need to have sex. Wild sex. I’m sure it’ll do wonders for your disposition.”
Megan put her hands on her hips. “First of all, I’m not uptight. And secondly, I’m never having sex again.” She paused. “Well, at least not with another person.”
Nancy wrinkled up her nose. “Gross. I didn’t need to hear that.”
Megan rolled her eyes. “As if you haven’t been single for the last ten years.”
Chapter Seven
Leah knew, as a local, that she should do her grocery shopping at Susie’s. Mrs. Howell had told her as much. However, as she entered the small store she wondered if it wouldn’t have been advisable to go to the supermarket down the hill. Her list was long and extensive. But, if she wanted to be considered a local, she should shop like a local.
She pushed a cart in front of her as she moved slowly down the aisles. As she expected, the selection was limited. She wondered if she was going to have to make a trip out of town just to go shopping. Maybe she’d chance it and make a run to the supermarket after all and hope no one spotted her.
“Well, Leah…hello.”
She turned, finding a short, plump woman with blazing red hair walking toward her. She returned Susie’s smile, thinking her hair was even brighter than it had been the first time the
y’d met.
“Hello, Susie.”
“I was wondering when I’d see you. I heard that your apartment was finished and that they’d moved your appliances in this morning.”
Leah didn’t bother asking how she knew this already. Mrs. Howell had warned her that Susie was the town’s gossip.
“Yes, Tony got it all finished. He did a great job.”
“Well, I’m sure you’re anxious to get moved in. He starts work on Monday, right? For the downstairs?”
She nodded. “They’ve already taken down most of the shelves. He said two weeks at the most,” she said. “By the way, I’m looking for organic olive oil. A California brand, if you have it.”
Susie laughed. “Oh, honey, olive oil is olive oil.” She reached for a bottle and placed it in Leah’s cart. “Now, have you met very many people in town? I know you’ve met Nancy and Megan, of course. They’re just the sweetest, aren’t they?”
Leah scratched the back of her neck absently, hiding a smile. “Oh, they certainly are. Nancy especially,” she added.
“Nancy is close to your age, I guess. I’m sure you would have more in common with her.” She waved her hand. “Megan is still a young thing,” she said with a laugh. “Although she has issues,” she said, lowering her voice.
Leah’s interest was piqued. “Oh?”
“Women issues,” she whispered. “In that she has the worst luck.”
“I see.”
Susie shook her head. “Oh, but I don’t like to gossip. It’s not really my business.” She looked around, seeing no one listening to them, then she leaned closer. “The poor thing was heartbroken when they moved here. Took her eight years before she’d date anyone. And then, she chooses Erin Wright, of all people. She wasn’t even a local,” Susie said, waving her hand in the air. “Her father bought the old Stafford House and turned it into a B&B. She was in town long enough to make Megan fall in love with her, then she promptly cheated on her with a seasonal worker, of all things. Megan found out about it on her birthday and was heartbroken all over again. Thank God Erin and her new flame moved out of town. Why, it was downright awkward around here for a while.”
“I’m sure it was,” Leah said.
“Well, that was a year ago. Now it looks like Mary Beth is making a play for her.” Susie laughed. “And don’t believe what you see on Facebook. As I hear it, it was only in Mary Beth’s dreams that they slept together the night of her birthday.” Then her smile faltered a little. “Of course, she is in possession of Megan’s red bra.” She shook her head quickly. “No, no. I’m sure she stole it.”
Leah stared at her, not sure what kind of reply that statement warranted. “Well, I’m not friends on Facebook with anyone here yet so I’m out of the loop, I’m afraid.”
“Oh, honey, we can’t have that,” Susie said with a laugh. “How do you expect to keep up? Do you have your phone? You can friend me right now and I’ll hook you up with everyone.”
In the blink of an eye, Leah found herself “hooked up” with half the town. Thankfully, someone needed Susie’s attention and she was left in peace. But as she browsed through the produce section, her curiosity got the better of her. As discreetly as she could, she pulled up Mary Beth Sturgeon’s page.
“Wow,” she murmured as her eyes were glued to a bare thigh. A bare thigh, firm calf and very nice foot. She flipped through more pictures, each one less revealing than the thigh. She finally found one of Megan in bed, obviously asleep, lying on her stomach, the sheet reaching only up as far as her lower back. “God, she’s cute,” she whispered. Then she frowned. What would Megan Phenix possibly see in Mary Beth Sturgeon?
She heard voices behind her and she quickly pocketed her phone, embarrassed for nearly having been caught looking. But as Susie had said, how was she going to keep up with everything if not through Facebook?
* * *
Megan literally groaned when she saw Mary Beth step into the grill. She narrowed her eyes at her.
“What are you doing here?”
Mary Beth gave her a big smile. “Oh, angel, I came to see you, of course.”
Megan’s mouth dropped open as Mary Beth pulled her shirt off her shoulder slightly, revealing the strap of a red bra. Her bra!
“Jesus,” she hissed. “Cover that up before someone sees you!”
“Can we talk?” Mary Beth asked. “Alone?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she said. “I’m likely to strangle you.”
Mary Beth laughed. “Oh, you’re so funny, Megan. But I have a proposition.”
“Whatever it is…no.”
“No?” Again, a syrupy smile. “Have you seen my Facebook page today?” Then she laughed. “No, of course you haven’t. I forgot. I had to block you. We’re up above your knee.”
Megan gritted her teeth, counting to ten. Well, she made it to five, at least. “What…do…you…want?”
“A date.”
“A date? Well, to hear everyone in town talk, we’ve already had a date. I mean, you are wearing my bra.”
“Craig will reserve a table for us. Prime rib. Wine. Candlelight.” She batted her eyes. “Very romantic.”
Megan took her arm and pulled her to the side, away from curious stares. “Look, I know you’re having a little fun here with my picture on Facebook and all…but really, why would you want to go on a date with me?”
“Everyone wants to go on a date with you. You play hard to get.”
“I don’t play hard to get,” she insisted, shocked that Mary Beth would even think so. “There’s no one in town I want to date! That’s not playing hard to get!”
“I know, I know…you swore off women. We all know the story, Megan,” Mary Beth said. “But obviously you didn’t swear off them totally. I mean, Erin waltzed into town and swept you off your feet.”
Megan rolled her eyes. “I wouldn’t exactly call it sweeping me off my feet,” she murmured.
“And then she dumps you and leaves you here with a broken heart…and now you’ve again sworn off women. Well, we can’t be that choosy, Megan. You know, the town isn’t that big.”
“Tell me about it,” she muttered.
Mary Beth shook her head. “Younger women,” she said disgustedly. “You should know better, Megan. You can’t trust them. Me? I’m fifty-three. I’m mature. I’m—”
“Mature? Really? You have my freakin’ photo on Facebook and you’re wearing my bra!”
“And it’s a very nice bra too,” she said. “Now…how long will you hold out before you go out with me?”
“I’m not going out with you! I’m not ever going out with you.”
Mary Beth’s smile never faltered. “You know, there’s not a whole lot left after the thigh. Another leg…arms…stomach…all before we get to the good part.”
God…are you freakin’ kidding me?
“You know what…Nancy is forty-seven. Much closer to your age. And you know…she’s looking to date. Unlike me. I’m not ever dating again. But Nancy…she’s on the market, if you get my drift.”
“Oh, Megan, really? Nancy and I are friends. I wouldn’t want to date her.” She looked past Megan and waved. “But I should at least go over and say hello to her.” She patted Megan’s arm, letting her hand linger there. “I’ll see you before too long.”
Chapter Eight
“Do you think I should get a restraining order?”
Nancy looked at her and frowned. “For Mary Beth?”
“Yes, for Mary Beth,” she snapped.
“Get serious. Mary Beth is harmless.”
“Harmless? She’s a stalker!” She pointed to the laptop. “Bring up her Facebook page. I want to see how far she’s gone.”
“Your upper thigh. I will say, it’s quite an alluring shot. I had no idea your legs were that nice.”
Megan groaned and covered her face. “This has got to stop. I’m starting to get whistled at in town.” She pulled her hands away. “She is going to stop, right? I mean, tourist season of
ficially starts on Friday. So she’s going to stop, right?”
“I imagine so. I told you, she’s just having a little fun.” Nancy laughed. “You can’t go anywhere in town without someone talking about it. And the fact that she had to block you on Facebook is hilarious.”
“Oh, right…it’s freakin’ hysterical,” Megan said sarcastically.
“Well, you could put an end to it,” Nancy said. “Simply go out with her. That’s all she wants.”
Megan went to the window and looked out, seeing their neighbor’s bicycle propped up against the storefront. She turned back to Nancy. “First of all, I can’t believe you’d even suggest that,” she said. “And if I thought that would put an end to it, I might just do it. But it would set a precedent,” she said with a wave of her hand. “Then Julie would ask me out. And Melissa. And then Sarah.”
“True. Sarah was all over you at your birthday party.”
“She was?” She shook her head. “That night is still a blur.”
“Speaking of parties, Susie told me that the kickoff party will be at Craig’s on Thursday.”
“I thought it was Paul and Michael’s turn,” she said.
“They’re having some last-minute painting done or something,” Nancy said. “Anyway, I’m getting Johnny to whip up a big batch of queso. You’re in charge of the chips.”
“Thank you. I can handle that.” She looked out the window again. “Do you think the crazy lady next door got invited?”
“Oh, I’m sure. Susie said she visited with her the other day. Seems she’s super nice. Susie said she hooked her up with everybody on Facebook so she’ll be in the loop.”
Megan’s eyes widened. “Oh, my God. Facebook?”
“Oh…yeah,” Nancy said with a smile. “You’re kinda all out there, aren’t you?”
The ringing of Megan’s phone kept her from issuing a snarky retort. She looked at her phone, then looked at Nancy.
“It’s Mom.”
“So answer it.”
“She always calls you, not me.” She raised her eyebrows. “You think something’s wrong?”
