by Cindy Bell
“You have to admit that it’s pretty cool.” Ally revved the vacuum and grinned.
“You fell for it hook, line and sinker, Ally, haven’t I taught you better?” Charlotte narrowed her eyes, then pointed a finger at her. “Wait a minute, I know I have, you’re up to something, aren’t you?”
“Of course I am.” She smiled as she turned off the vacuum. “If we took the offer, it might stop them from going off to the next shop to peddle it. You know that someone around here would have gone for it. If those two try to swindle us, they’re going to regret it, but if they try to swindle some of these other shop owners, they might not know enough to defend themselves against it. I just thought we could maybe prevent another shop owner from being taken advantage of. We have to look out for our community, Mee-Maw.” She winked at her. “Besides, if this thing does what they say it does, it will make things easier around here. There’s no real risk.”
“I see your reasoning, but I’m still not so sure I agree with it.” She grinned as she studied her. “But then you have always led me on new adventures.”
“Hopefully, this one isn’t too much of an adventure.” Ally winked at her, relieved that her grandmother wasn’t upset with her. The truth was, she was curious about the little machine for more than just the shop. She had a cat and a pig at home to clean up after, and if this could help with that, she could see her life improving greatly.
At the end of the day Ally tried the machine out. It whirred to life and did as Carl and Marcus claimed it would. She was rather impressed with the suction, and the spray feature. A few minutes into the cleanup, Charlotte insisted on taking over, and wouldn’t give it back until every inch of the shop was spotless.
“Hmm, Mee-Maw, it seems to me you’re having a little fun.” Ally laughed as she put away a few stacks of chocolate boxes.
“Fine, you were right.” Charlotte smiled as she tucked the machine into its charger. “It’s pretty fun. It easily cleaned up the mess from the chocolate caramels.”
“See?” Ally smiled. “If it still works tomorrow I might just take it home and use it to clean up Arnold’s favorite spots, and all of the cat litter that Peaches likes to track around.”
“We just might have to get two. Or three.” Charlotte’s eyes sparkled. “Won’t Carl and Marcus be thrilled?”
“Yes, they will. Are you sure you don’t want to join us for dinner. With Jeff visiting his grandkids for a few days, I doubt you have plans.”
“I’ll be fine, thanks sweetheart. You enjoy your time with Luke. I’m looking forward to finishing my book, I want to know who the murderer is.”
“Goodnight, Mee-Maw.” She gave her a light peck on the cheek. “I’m going to lock up in just a few minutes. Luke should be here soon.” She turned to gather some of the trays of chocolates to take to the back. Since Luke was picking her up for dinner, Charlotte had taken her car. They had spent so long sharing the cottage that Charlotte’s move to Freely Lakes had left Ally a little unsettled. She was happy that her grandmother was happy, but she still sometimes missed the comfort of having her by her side in the evenings. Blue River was a nice town, with a tight-knit community. Ally’s decision to move back to her hometown after her divorce had been the best decision for her. She had relaxed quite a bit and settled into the more country style of living in Blue River.
When the bell over the door rang again, Ally turned back to face it with a smile.
“What did you forget, Mee-Maw?” She froze at the sight of a short, burly man and a tall, quite muscular woman who stood just inside the door. Both wore dark leather jackets on a fairly mild evening, and the woman even had sunglasses on, despite the fact that the sun had already set. She pulled them off, and scanned the variety of wooden figures and toys that lined the shelves of the chocolate shop.
“I’m sorry.” Ally laughed nervously. “I thought you were someone else.”
“Sorry to disappoint.” The woman flashed her a brief smile. “We’re just taking a look around.”
“There are samples up here if you’d like to try some of our candies. Our coffee pots are already off for the evening, but if you’d like a cup I can brew some fresh for you.” She watched as the man who had been silent continued to study the contents of the shop. “Everything on the shelves is for sale, if you have any questions just let me know.”
“No coffee, thanks.” The woman walked towards the counter with confident strides. “I’d sure love a few pieces of candy, though. I’ve got a bit of a sweet tooth.”
“Then you’re in the right place.” Ally laughed and slid the sample tray closer to her. As she reached out a strange sensation rippled through her. She did her best to ignore it.
“Don’t eat them all, Sally!” The man finally turned his attention to the front counter and eyed his friend with some annoyance. “I want some, too, Sal.”
“Well, you’d better get over here then, Barry, it’s not like I’m going to save you some.” Sal chuckled as she popped another chocolate into her mouth then stepped aside as Barry’s short, thick fingers began to clear off the remainder of the tray.
“Mm, best stuff I’ve ever tasted. Box me up some will you, doll?” He winked at Ally. She raised an eyebrow at the doll comment, and guessed from their accents that they weren’t locals.
“Sure thing. Any specific kind, or would you just like a variety?”
“A variety is perfect,” Barry mumbled over the chocolate crammed into his mouth.
“Make that two large boxes.” Sal smiled as Barry’s eyes widened slightly at her request. “What? Don’t you want to spoil your wife?” Sal looked at Barry with a cheeky smile.
“Coming right up.” Ally did her best to present a friendly attitude, but she hoped they wouldn’t linger. It was already time for the shop to close, and something about the couple made the hairs stand up on the back of her neck. She packed up the boxes, then rang up the sale. As she gave the total, she heard the bell ring over the door. She smiled as she saw Luke step inside. The badge on his belt sparkled in the overhead light.
“Hey, Ally I thought you’d be closed up by now.” He surveyed the couple near the counter.
“Just taking care of a couple of new customers.” She smiled at them both as she handed over the boxes. “Thanks, and here’s a business card if you’re interested in ordering more.” She handed the card to Barry, who shot a look in Luke’s direction.
He snatched the card from her, then jerked his head towards Sal.
“Let’s go, Sal, you heard the lady, the shop is closed.” He stared hard at Luke for a moment, then held the door open for his wife, before they stepped out.
Luke turned his head to watch them go, then looked back at her, his lips set in a tight line.
“Why do I get the feeling I scared them off?”
“Oh no, they were just finishing up. Actually, I’m glad you came in when you did, I was hoping they would head out pretty quickly. I just have a few things to do to close up. Do you mind waiting for me?” She flashed him an apologetic smile and then gave him a quick kiss.
“Not at all. Anything I can do to help?” He snatched the one chocolate left on the sample tray.
“Yes!” She thrust a broom handle towards him. “Just out front here, and I’ll be done in a snap.”
“Great.” He grinned. “Now, I have chores.”
“I guess it depends on how hungry you are.” She laughed as she headed into the back. With their dinner plans hanging in the balance she worked as quickly as she could to get the paperwork in order for the night. When she returned to the front she found Luke studying some of the wooden pieces on the shelves. He had made some of them himself. She took a moment to watch him with a soft smile. He was handsome, but that wasn’t what made her heart flutter around him. In her opinion, he was one of the kindest and most determined men in the world, and she felt very lucky to have him in her life.
“Ready to eat?” He caught her staring, and she thought she detected a bit of a blush in his cheeks.
“As long as you don’t mind sharing a meal with a pig and a cat.” She grabbed her purse and walked towards the door, which he held open for her. As she was about to step through it, a man barreled towards them. He wore a wide-brimmed hat and a long coat. Ally drew back as he approached, but he was too fast, and slammed his shoulder directly into hers.
“Hey! Watch it!” Luke snarled at the man who continued to stomp past them. “Stop!” He turned on his heel and was about to chase after the man. Ally grabbed on to his arm to stop him.
“Luke, don’t worry about it. He’s probably just having a bad day. Let’s just go.” She forced a smile. The man had frightened her, but he hadn’t done her any real harm, and she didn’t want the incident to ruin their chance of a nice evening.
“Are you sure?” He frowned. “I could arrest him for—”
“No, there’s no need for that.” She ran her hand along his arm. “We all have bad days.”
“You’re so kind.” He smiled at her. “I wish I was as forgiving as you.”
“Well, I also don’t have a gun and a badge, so maybe that has something to do with it.” She laughed, then turned and locked the door of the shop. As she felt his hand fall lightly to the curve of her back she bit back the rush of emotions that subtle touch stirred. He always managed to make her feel safe and he always stood up for her.
Chapter 3
As Ally and Luke walked up to the cottage, she spotted a cat in the front window, and a snout pressed against the window by the side of the door.
“Oops, it looks like they’ve noticed that I’m late for dinner.” She shot a smile in Luke’s direction.
“Uh oh, do you think they destroyed the house?” He winced.
“No, they better not have.” She quickened her pace to the door and Luke used the keys in his hand to lean over her and unlock it. The moment it swung open she was surrounded. Peaches wove through her legs and Arnold butted his head against her knees until she reached down to stroke the top of his head.
“I’m here, too, you know.” Luke put his hands on his hips as he gazed down at the animals basking in Ally’s attention. Although, they were very close to Luke, they always wanted Ally’s attention first. “They do adore you, don’t they?”
“The feeling is mutual.” Ally smiled as she scratched under Peaches’ chin. The cat purred and tilted her head up to give her a better angle. Arnold, not to be left out, nuzzled his snout into Ally’s hand until Peaches was pushed away by his insistence. Peaches, not pleased by this turn of events, swatted at Arnold’s ear and hissed sharply.
Arnold let out a loud squeal as Ally reached down to separate them.
“Ugh, don’t you two see that we have company?” She smiled. “No manners.”
“Aw, they don’t need manners around me. I’m not company, I’m a friend.” He reached down and patted Arnold’s head. Arnold snorted happily. When he tried to pat Peaches’ head, the cat eyed him with some suspicion, but she did not duck away from his hand. “She doesn’t seem to like me at the moment, does she?” He raised an eyebrow.
“You know she likes you, she’s just worried that you’re going to get fed first.”
They laughed as they walked through the door. The cottage was a source of comfort to her, not just because of her memories of her grandmother there, but because she’d spent most of her life in it. It bore the marks of her presence in the notches she’d carved into a door frame, and the faded crayon marks on a baseboard. She could remember trying to scrub them clean, but no matter how much she tried, there was still a subtle ghost to give her away. If her grandmother ever noticed she never said a word about it.
“It shouldn’t take long to get things going.” She turned on the oven, then fed the pets. Both were quite happy to dig into their meal while Ally set about creating something delicious, or at least she hoped it was delicious, for Luke.
“Scoot, out.” She waved Arnold away from the kitchen, but he ignored the gestures, and nudged his way closer to the oven.
“He’s acting like he’s as hungry as we are, didn’t he just eat?” Luke laughed as he reached down to pat his back.
“He’s always hungry.” Ally rolled her eyes. She pulled open the oven and slid a pan inside as Luke began setting the table.
“You know you really should update your security here.” He swept his gaze around the kitchen. “I really think you should replace those locks like I suggested.”
“They still work.” She stirred the gravy on the stove. “I think this is a pretty safe place to live.”
“Sure, it’s safe, but I don’t like you living alone.” He shrugged and leaned back against the counter not far from her.
“Honestly, I have the best protection I can ask for with these two at my side. If a squirrel even looks in the window, Peaches throws a fit, and Arnold is very protective of me. I can only imagine how upset he would be if someone tried to break in and woke him up.”
“A cat and a pig?” He grinned at her. “I know I’d be pretty scared.”
“Sure.” She smiled and locked her eyes to his. “You should come by more often, then I’ll have you for protection as well.” She grinned.
“Okay.” He smiled as he walked towards her and leaned in for a kiss, just before their lips could meet Arnold stepped between them. Luke took a step back and laughed as he patted Arnold’s head. “Great timing, buddy.”
“Dinner’s ready.” Ally laughed as she turned back to the oven to retrieve the tray of chicken and vegetables.
“It smells delicious.”
“Anything would smell fantastic at this point.” Ally grinned as they headed for the table.
“Don’t put yourself down. I’m sure it will be delicious.” He sat down across from her.
“I think you are just being kind, or you have a short memory of my cooking.” She raised an eyebrow as she dished up.
After catching up on what had happened over the last few days during dinner, which tasted surprisingly good, Luke guided her outside onto the porch. They stood side by side as they leaned against the railing.
“So beautiful.” Ally gazed at the stars.
“Stunning!” Luke brushed his hand through her hair then turned her around to face him. He looked into her eyes. “Absolutely, stunning.” He leaned forward for a lingering kiss. After he pulled away she noticed him sneak a look at his watch.
“You have to go, don’t you?”
“Yes, I’m sorry, sweetheart. I’ve got a very early start tomorrow.” He gazed at her.
“It’s okay, Luke, I understand. You warned me you couldn’t stay late. I’m just glad we got to spend some time together.” She nodded and smiled. After another kiss goodbye she watched him as he headed off into the night.
As she walked back into the cottage Arnold and Peaches came to greet her.
“Well, I guess you two will have to keep me company.” She smiled at her pets.
Ally spent a little time cleaning up the kitchen, then settled on the couch with some soft music playing. The moment she sat down Peaches jumped up onto the couch with her. She rubbed her cheek along Ally’s and meowed softly.
“I missed you, too, sweetie.” She smiled as she pet the cat. Peaches had been her best friend through a lot of tough times. The cat seemed to have a special instinct about people, and she often warned Ally about someone before she even had the chance to get to know them. She was rarely wrong.
“What do you think, Peaches? Will Luke and I get to have some time to relax together soon, without one of us having to run somewhere.” With his profession she guessed he saw far more danger than she could imagine. Most of the time he seemed positive, but it made sense that he was also cautious of people. Her thoughts traveled back to Luke’s reaction to the man that had barreled into her and her grandmother’s reaction to the salesmen. She always trusted Luke and her grandmother’s instincts. Often Ally felt as if she was lost in a sea of uncertainty, bouncing between suspicion and trust, the same way a ball would bounce
from wall to wall with no set landing place.
“What do you think, Peaches? Am I too trusting?” She stroked her fingertips along the silky surface of the cat’s ear. Peaches tipped her head and nuzzled her hand.
“Aw, I know, you think I’m wonderful.” She laughed then coasted her hand across the length of the cat’s back. “But that’s because I know where the treats are.”
Peaches’ head perked up at the word ‘treats’, her eyes grew wide.
“Oops, I said it, now I guess I have to get some.” A smile crossed her lips as she headed for the kitchen. When she returned with treats for both Peaches and Arnold, she realized that the evening had been a success even though Luke wasn’t there. She had the opportunity to snuggle with her pets and watch her favorite show.
Early the next morning Ally headed into the shop. When she spoke with her grandmother that morning they made plans for Charlotte to come in during the afternoon so that Ally could run some errands. Until then, she would be on her own. As proud as she was of the chocolate shop, and that her grandmother had asked her to take it over, it still felt a little lonely when she was there without her grandmother. They’d spent so much time together talking and laughing, that their relationship was etched into the walls and floors of the shop. She found as much comfort being there as she did when she was at home in the cottage.
She turned on the lights and took a deep breath of the familiar scent of the shop. Even though everything was scrubbed down at night before she went home, the aroma of chocolate and sweets still lingered. She headed into the back to get things moving for the day. When she returned to the front to start the coffee pots, she heard a light knock on the front door. The sound made her jump as she’d been lost in thought during her routine. She’d yet to unlock the door because it was still ten minutes before opening time. As she turned towards the door she caught sight of a man she recognized. Mr. Michaelson. He smiled at her as he waved through the door. As she headed for the door she wondered what he could need so urgently. When she opened it he hurried to step inside.
