Alice

by Kirsten Osbourne

  Alice looked at the clock. It wasn’t time for lunch, and she had done all of the work she had intended to do for the entire day. She knew Lewis would have a few more chores for her, but she didn’t want to interrupt him. He and Mark were talking quickly and laughing a lot. She couldn’t bring herself to disrupt their meeting.

  Alice decided to review the ledger. Lewis had said in the past that if she was interested in learning more about how the mercantile operated, he would be willing to teach her. In school, Alice had enjoyed numbers and figures and was excited to learn more about how Lewis ran his business. Alice busied herself in learning all about all the transactions that Lewis had written, along with every last detail, in the mercantile’s ledger.

  Before she even realized any time had passed, out of the corner of her eye, Alice saw Mark stand up. He and Lewis shook hands, and Mark began to put his papers in his briefcase. Lewis walked over to Alice. “I see you’re studying the ledgers. I was wondering if you were still interested in that.”

  Alice smiled. “Yes, it’s so interesting. I’m learning a lot just by reading the numbers, but I’m sure you’ll be able to explain it to me and give me the full picture later.”

  “I’d be happy to. As my business grows, it becomes more and more important to review the numbers regularly and make sure nothing is amiss. Sometimes I ask Ruby to check my work, but she hates arithmetic,” Lewis explained.

  Alice grinned. She remembered how Ruby would complain about math when she was still in school. Not only had Alice always had a talent for numbers, but she also liked the subject—it made logical sense. Unlike certain subjects, like literature or history. She’d take math over those topics any day, but she knew her sister didn’t share her view. “Thank you, Lewis. I appreciate it. Also, I got done with all of the chores you asked me to do today. What should I do next?”

  Lewis looked around the mercantile admiringly. “Wow, this place looks great. Let me think about it while I’m on my lunch break and then this afternoon, I’ll give you a new list. Does that sound okay?”

  “Of course. Thank you,” Alice replied. Lewis was a kind and considerate boss. She had known that he was a good man, but she had never thought about what kind of boss he would be. She was appreciative that he treated her well and had reasonable expectations.

  Lewis smiled at Alice and disappeared into the staircase that led up to his home. Lately, he had been visiting Ruby and the children and taking his lunch at home to make sure she was feeling all right. Dr. Harvey said she was healthy, but the baby growing inside of her demanded a lot of rest. Ruby, like all of the Sanders girls, hated not being busy, but she knew it was important to ensure the baby was born healthy.

  Alice started to approach the front entrance so she could lock the door before she began to eat her sack lunch, but she realized that Mark was still there, and he was in her way. “Oh, I didn’t realize you were still here.”

  Mark flashed Alice one of his big white grins. “I stayed because I wanted to ask you something.”

  Alice found herself unable to say anything in response. She looked to the back of the room. Lewis had left. Anything Mark wanted to know, Lewis was probably the right person to answer.

  “This isn’t a question for Lewis,” Mark said gently, as if he could read Alice’s mind.

  Alice frowned. She found her words. “Then what is it?”

  Mark looked down at Alice. “Lewis just placed a very large order with my company. This makes it much easier for me to learn all about the business my uncle left me without feeling pressured to sell many small orders. It also means I’ll be coming back here in two weeks’ time to make the first shipment. When I come back, I’d like to take you to supper with me. Would you go out with me, Alice?”

  Alice bit her lip. She truly didn’t know what to say. She wished one of her sisters were there to tell her what to do. She stood there for a long time, wishing Mark would take back his question. Dinner with him sounded lovely, but she didn’t even know him! It was all happening too quickly.

  Mark frowned. “You look like I’ve just given you terrible news, not asked you to supper. Have I done something wrong?”

  Alice shook her head. “Not wrong, exactly. I don’t quite know what to say. I’m afraid I don’t know you very well, and I don’t feel comfortable with the idea of us going on a date together.”

  Mark nodded. “I see. I can’t say I like your answer, but I can respect it. I hope you have a nice day, Alice.”

  Alice felt relieved as Mark turned to walk away. “You, too,” she called after him.

  Before he reached the entrance, Mark spun around again. “I’ll be back at least twice a month to make deliveries and talk to Lewis. I’m not going to give up on my plan.”

  “Your plan?” Alice was confused.

  Mark held the door open and stepped out into the sunlight. “I intend to marry you one day, Alice Sanders. And I’m not easily deterred.” The door clanked shut, and Alice was left all alone in the store. Her heart and her mind were both racing. What had just happened?

  Alice looked at the clock. It was already a quarter past noon. She wouldn’t have time to visit one of her sisters and make it back to the store by one o’clock, when she and Lewis re-opened the mercantile after lunch. She longed to tell one of them every single word Mark had spoken and how he’d made her feel. But for the time being, she was going to have to get to work.

  When Lewis got back from his lunch break, he saw Alice reading a book, the ledger folded up neatly beside her. “Did you get tired of all the ledger numbers?”

  “No, I finished reading it while you were at lunch,” Alice told Lewis.

  Lewis looked surprised as he stared at the thick ledger. “You read every single page?”

  “Yes, it only went back a little over a year. I’m assuming you have several more ledgers from years past.” Alice pointed to the back of the mercantile where Lewis’s desk was.

  Lewis nodded. “That’s right.”

  Alice pulled out a folded piece of paper from the book she was reading. On it, she had written a series of figures and symbols. She handed it to Lewis. “I also noticed that it seems like you’ve been overpaying for flour.”

  Lewis frowned as he reviewed Alice’s calculations. “Thank you for doing all of this. I’ll review this and see if I need to make an adjustment.”

  “You’re welcome. It was easy for me to look at because you keep your books in good order,” Alice responded. “I appreciate when things are organized and well-kept.”

  “I’m glad you found them to be in order. I can’t stand it when things get disorganized,” Lewis agreed. “I’m surprised that you picked this up so quickly.”

  Alice looked down. “It was nothing. I’m sure I still have a lot to learn. I’m done for the day with my chores—what should I do now?”

  “I just placed a very large order with Mark Brooks’s company. I’d like you to spend some time rearranging the shelves so we have room for all of the new products he’ll bring,” Lewis instructed.

  “The first shipment is coming in two weeks, correct?” Alice asked.

  Lewis looked at Alice with curiosity. “That’s right. How did you know?”

  Alice felt her cheeks flush. “Mr. Brooks mentioned it as he was leaving.”

  “Hmph,” Lewis cleared his throat.

  “Excuse me?” Alice asked.

  “He mentioned he had enjoyed meeting you. I wondered if he was going to try to court you” Lewis stared right into Alice’s eyes. “I told him he had better treat you well, otherwise, he would have to deal with me—not to mention Cletus. Besides the fact that you’re my sister-in-law, you’re also one of the best employees I’ve ever had.”

  Alice felt happy that Lewis was being overprotective of her. She appreciated that her brother-in-law was looking out for her best interests. “Well, I should probably get back to work.”

  “Alice?” Lewis called after her.

  Alice turned around. “Yes?”

 
“You tell me if he gives you any trouble at all, do you understand? I wouldn’t want to do business with a man who made my family feel uncomfortable,” Lewis said. Although his voice was calm, Alice could tell his words were serious.

  “Thank you, Lewis,” Alice replied. “I will.”

  Lewis smiled as Alice began to rearrange the merchandise on each of the shelves at the front of the store. He and his wife were lucky to have Alice around, and he didn’t want anything to jeopardize that.

  Chapter 3

  Over the next two weeks, Alice filled her days with work, visiting Ruby, and doing her household chores. She also stayed late at the mercantile, poring over ledgers and making notes so Lewis could review them the next day.

  “Wow, Alice, you really are a fast learner,” Lewis remarked.

  “It’s nothing,” Alice said. “I just enjoy being helpful around the mercantile.”

  “You’re more than helpful. By having you check my numbers, it’s saving me a lot of time every month,” Lewis explained. “Would you be interested in staying on here part-time, even after Ruby has the baby and comes back to work?”

  Alice was thrilled that Lewis had asked her to stay on. “As long as that’s all right with Ruby, I’d like that.”

  “I’m sure she’ll be glad to see you more often,” Lewis said.

  “That’s true. I’d be happy to spend more time with her, too.” Alice couldn’t believe that after only a few weeks, she felt like she had worked at the mercantile for years. She was glad she was helping Lewis spend less time on the books. As a husband and father with a growing family, he deserved more free time to spend with Ruby and the children.

  Alice was so busy with work and family that she almost forgot about the man who had asked her out on a date. One morning, a young boy came into the mercantile early in the morning, and Alice smiled at him. “How can I help you?” Lewis was in the back, paying bills.

  The young boy pointed outside. “My boss is out there with a big shipment. Where should we take it?”

  “Let me get the owner of the mercantile. He’ll tell you where to go.” Alice walked to the back of the mercantile. “Lewis, I think there’s a delivery here.”

  “Oh, good!” Lewis stood up, looking relieved. “We’re nearly out of some of the items from Mr. Brooks’s company. It will be good to have them back in stock.”

  “Mr. Brooks?” Alice blushed as she recalled the man who had made her feel so odd just a few weeks earlier.

  Lewis frowned. “Yes, is there something wrong with that?”

  “Oh, not at all. I just forgot he was coming.” Alice looked down at the ground and turned to go back to the front of the mercantile.

  Lewis shook his head. He couldn’t tell if Alice was scared of Mark or flattered by his attention. He would never understand women. Lewis strode to the front of the mercantile and met the young boy. “Let’s go outside, son. I’ll show you where you can pull the wagon.”

  Alice watched from the window as Lewis directed Mark around to the back of the mercantile building. She retrieved a broom and dustpan from the back closet and began to sweep the store even though the floor was practically spotless. She felt nervous and jittery knowing Mark Brooks was so close.

  She hated the effect the man had on her—she barely even knew him, and here she was, getting flustered at the thought of seeing him. Alice swept invisible dust into the dustpan and emptied it outside. When she got back into the store, she saw Mark, Lewis, and the young boy carrying several large crates inside.

  “Hi, Alice!” Mark’s face lit up when he saw her.

  “Hello, Mr. Brooks,” Alice said shyly, looking away instead of meeting his gaze.

  “Alice, would you help us unpack these crates?” Lewis asked.

  “Of course.” Alice set the broom and dustpan aside, wiped her hands on the apron she wore in the shop, and joined the men in the back of the store. Lewis was directing Mark and the boy to load several of the boxes in the storage closet.

  “Alice, here’s a list of all the inventory. Please check each box before we stock it on the shelves. Let me know if you have any questions.” Lewis handed her a stack of papers.

  Alice nodded and began to review the list. Each box had been assigned a letter and a number. She checked carefully and confirmed that each box matched the corresponding letter and number on her list. Alice looked through the stack of papers. There were five pages! It would take all afternoon—and maybe even longer—to get through all this.

  Alice opened the first box on the list and began to count all of the items inside. As she worked, Mark, Lewis, and the boy went outside again. A few minutes later, they returned with even more boxes.

  Inside the boxes were an assortment of products from Mark’s company. There were several bolts of fabric in bright colors and unique textures. There were jars of canned goods, boxes of pens and pencils, and sheaths of paper. There were also a few small figurines and other items that Alice thought Edna Petunia might enjoy.

  Alice made marks on the paper indicating the number of each item. When she got to the jars of canned goods, she noticed something odd. The paper list said there should be one dozen cans of beans, one dozen cans of peas, and one dozen jars of peaches. Instead, there was one can of beans, one can of peas, and one jar of peaches. There were also several dozen cans of corn, which Alice couldn’t find anywhere on the list.

  Alice checked a few more boxes. To her dismay, there were several other errors. One list said there should be fabrics with flowers on it, but in the corresponding box, there were only flour sacks. In another box, instead of fabrics, like Lewis had ordered, there were cans of pears. Alice shook her head. This didn’t make any sense.

  Mark, Lewis, and Mark’s young helper came back into the mercantile, carrying more boxes. Mark set down his boxes and clapped his hands. “That should do the trick. We’ll see you again in two weeks’ time.” Alice wanted to say something about the incorrect order, but she felt frozen in place.

  “Thank you, Mark. See you again.” Lewis waved goodbye to his new friend. “Goodbye, Toby!” Lewis called to the boy. The boy waved back, and he and Mark made their way to the door. Alice wanted to shout at them to stop but couldn’t bring herself to do so.

  “Everything in order?” Lewis smiled at Alice.

  “Actually, it’s not.” Alice showed Lewis the lists and opened a few of the boxes that didn’t match. “I don’t know how this could have happened!”

  Lewis’s face grew red. “Please, excuse me.” Lewis rushed out the back entrance to the mercantile. Alice followed closely behind. Mark and Toby had already climbed into their wagon and had set off for their next stop. “Wait a minute! Wait a minute!”

  Mark stopped the wagon and looked down. “What’s going on, Lewis?”

  “You cheated me on my order!” Lewis fumed. Alice had never seen her brother-in-law so angry.

  Mark looked genuinely puzzled. “What are you talking about?”

  “Stop hiding in your wagon now and come face me like a man.” Lewis’s voice was deep and gritty.

  Alice saw a look of fear flash across Mark’s face, but he stopped the wagon and climbed out.

  Toby tried to climb out, too, but Mark held up his arm to stop him. “Stay in the wagon.”

  Mark walked up to Lewis. “What’s all this about?”

  “I had Alice check your order. You haven’t given us everything we ordered! And you’ve given us worthless items that we didn’t order instead!” Lewis shouted. “What kind of business are you operating? Your uncle was a respectable man. You’re just a good-for-nothing thief!”

  Alice watched, unable to move. She felt sorry for Mark, who seemed like he didn’t know what to say. Then she remembered that he had cheated Lewis. He didn’t need her sympathy.

  “I don’t know what you mean, Lewis. Please, show me what’s wrong.” Mark was a little afraid of Lewis Darcy. Lewis looked strong and powerful. Mark didn’t want to take his chances.

  “Alice, show him!�
� Lewis roared.

  Alice held out the papers she had been carrying and showed a few of the notes she had made to Mark. She felt embarrassed on his behalf. “This box . . . this one . . . and this one.”

  Mark smoothed back his hair. “I can’t tell you what happened. I am so, so sorry. This won’t happen again, I can assure you.”

  “You’re right it won’t! I’m no longer doing business with you. You can consider our contract null and void!” Lewis folded his arms and glared at Mark.

  Mark opened his mouth to protest, but then stopped. “Lewis, I made a mistake.”

  “Several mistakes!” Lewis cried.

  “Several mistakes,” Mark repeated. “I completely understand if you never want to see me again. But please, I want to make this right. I’ll do whatever it takes to correct your order. Then, once it’s done, if you still never want to see me again, I’ll respect that.”

  Lewis looked suspicious. “How are you going to correct it?”

  Mark was at a loss for words, but he soon recovered. “First, I need to go back to the warehouse and discuss with the men who did the packing for me. I’ll find out what happened and make sure it doesn’t happen again. Next, I’ll come back here and make a delivery each day until your order is perfect.”

  “How can I be sure you’re telling the truth?” Lewis shifted his weight from one foot to another.

  Mark thought for a moment. “I’ll return your deposit you gave me.”

  Lewis frowned. “Why would you do that?”

  “My uncle told me you were one of his best and most loyal customers. I would hate for this to ruin our friendship. I believe I can earn your trust again.” Mark looked back at Toby. “We should get back now so we can begin to sort out this mess.”

  “Hm.” Lewis still didn’t seem convinced.

  “I’ll bring your deposit back tomorrow. In cash,” Mark promised.

  Lewis looked Mark in the eyes. “Why should I believe you?”

  “I’m good for it,” Mark said, meeting his gaze.