Small Town Angel

by K'Anne Meinel

  * * * * *

  Amy spent the entire exhausting day in and out of stores. She found the selection at the Fox River Mall to be astounding and overwhelming sometimes, but she got dishes at outlet prices as well as other necessities. She put the back seat down in the SUV to give herself more cargo room and filled it well. She bought more furniture and appliances and some of it was going to have to be delivered. She found that ‘extra’ few miles into Door County caused her to pay more for her deliveries much to her annoyance but she bargained with her charming southern accent with the different stores to reduce it as much as possible.

  She ate alone at some of the chain restaurants, looking around as she people watched. No one paid her any mind unless she opened up her mouth and her accent came out. She looked like anyone else busy shopping in the area. Glancing at her lists she checked off dozens of things she had already picked up, ordered, or arranged for delivery on. She still had a lot of shopping to do and it was with reluctance after her late dinner that she headed back up north when the stores began to close. While she hadn’t dallied in the stores she still shopped thriftily and enjoyed seeing the selections. Tomorrow or the next day she would confine her shopping to Green Bay, if she had the energy. She was exhausted as she drove the long drive up The Thumb.

  She enjoyed the Sirius Satellite Radio that was installed in her SUV, she could listen to all country or all eighties music if she so desired and programmed in a few of her favorite stations. It came free with her purchase for six months so she was going to enjoy it while it was free. She wasn’t sure about paying for radio music. Since it was dark she concentrated on her driving instead of looking out at the ‘view’ but she did note the occasional sign advertising antiques and other sights to see. It made her think about the store she would be opening and the many things she would have to find and do for it yet. She wasn’t surprised to find a note on her screen door of the cabin from Lenora asking that she stop in tomorrow to sign the final contracts. She smiled that things were coming together. She started up the fire that had gone out in her absence to warm up the cabin while she slowly emptied the SUV of all her purchases stacking boxes in the appropriate rooms. It was late by the time she got everything in the house and locked up her SUV as a matter of habit. She knew people probably left their cars unlocked and even the keys in the ignition in this area but she was hoping she would never be that lax.

  The next morning after a long hot shower she began to open and put away the many things she had purchased. Carefully she hung scenic pictures of various artists around the cabin including a couple of Robert Kincaid that reminded her of this area, she pulled back the couch and laid down a rug she had bought and then carefully pulled it back onto the rug. It made the room even homier and warm. She unpacked and washed dishes and glasses and cutlery until she had her shelves and drawers full. She had found a dollar store and had every gadget for her kitchen. All hers!

  Later as she started to burn the boxes she thought about going into town and signing the lease. She knew the fact that she wasn’t on Lenora’s doorstep first thing would annoy her but she had other things to finish before she did that. She was finishing up when a knock sounded on the front door. Opening it she smiled in welcome at Jacob’s flushed face.

  “Hi, I wanted to show you we delivered the last of the six cords and here is your bill,” he said with a smile as he blushed.

  “Oh, let me grab my checkbook and I’ll write you a check, come in?” she asked as she welcomed him into her little cabin.

  He looked around curious and was impressed to see what she had done to the cabin in the time she had been here. He had known it was basic but he couldn’t remember it ever being this clean even when hunter’s he had known had stayed here.

  Amy sat down at her small kitchen table and took her checkbook out and looked at the bill for the wood. It was high and included the chimney cleaning but she consoled herself that she wouldn’t have to buy oil or coal all winter long and having the fireplace was warm and homey. It was really quite romantic and efficient. Handing him the check she smiled as she watched him admire a painting she had hung that contained a couple of Labrador Retrievers, one black, one yellow, in a canoe holding the oars in their laughing mouths.

  “That’s funny,” he said pointing at the painting with his thumb as he accepted her check. He was well pleased that she had paid in full with no argument. Some of the vacationers up here tended to try to stiff him for his hard work. He realized though that she wasn’t just vacationing up here if she was putting in that much wood, she was staying. He’d heard about the store so maybe she was staying for good. She was an attractive woman and while he was married he knew there were a few bachelors that would come calling.

  “I like it, I’d love to have a lab myself,” she commented.

  “Really?” he asked as he turned to look at her again in surprise.

  “Yes, I’d love to canoe too, but I suppose it’s too late in the season?”

  “Not at all, but you have to dress appropriately. The water is still warm from summer, but it’s getting cold quickly. I know someone who has a late litter of labs if you are interested?” he asked.

  Her eyes lit up at the thought and then she thought about all the work she had to do with the store and around the cabin yet. Thinking it over quickly she nodded enthusiastically. A dog would be a companion and help her keep the loneliness away.

  “I’ll give him your phone number if you want?” he asked.

  “I’d like that, here I’ll get you the number, it’s new so I don’t know it yet,” she told him as she went to the kitchen table again and grabbed a pad of paper she had near the phone she had plugged in just last night. It had her new phone number on it and she quickly copied it down for him. “Tell him I’m looking for a big male and maybe I should ask what colors are there?”

  “Well I saw them a few weeks ago and it seemed he had three different colors in the litter. They should be about ready to go from the mother. I’ll have Stephan call you with the details and how much he is asking and you two can work out the details,” he said with a smile at her enthusiasm. He liked how her eyes had lit up at the thought of a puppy.

  “Thank you so much, I’d like that!” she said in reply as she escorted him to the door.

  “Have a nice day!” he said with a swipe to a non-existent cap he should be wearing in the cold fall weather.

  She watched thoughtfully as he left in his truck. She was surprised she hadn’t heard it when he drove up but she had been lost in thought and she must have learned to ignore such sounds long ago.

  * * * * *

  Going into town she waved at some of the few people she recognized. She liked how friendly the people had been to her but she realized she was already making friends and being recognized by them in return. She was sure she was the subject of conversation for many people. She didn’t mind as they didn’t really know her other than she was from the south. She hadn’t told too much about herself other than she was a ‘widow.’

  “Oh I thought you’d be here hours ago,” Lenora lightly chastised her.

  Amy almost said something about Lenora saying anything to her but thought better of it. The woman probably didn’t have a lot of business in this area and the monies she would earn if and when Amy bought the cabin and the business would earn her a decent commission. She smiled as she said, “Oh I had a few things to finish.” She read through the contract one more time to be sure everything she had noted was now in it.

  Lenora tried not to show her impatience over her client’s perusal of the contract. It wasn’t like she hadn’t known her job or how to draft it but between Abby and Amy her patience over this was wearing thin. Everything was finally in order though and she breathed a sigh of relief when Amy finally signed below Abby’s own untidy scrawl. Amy noted the signature and wondered at it as her own neat signature was added to the document as well as her initials at various points. She was, for better or worse now in a contract with the brunette to
possibly buy the store and in the meantime it was up to her to maintain and develop it. She cheerfully wrote out her deposit which Lenora just as cheerfully accepted.

  Thanking Lenora, who promised her a copy of the contract later that day, she left and looked around the small town. The cracker box houses mixed with Victorians and single-family homes as well as weekend get-a-ways were quaint and beautiful. Today it was overcast and a bit drab but she felt fine, really fine. She started up the SUV and headed for the little cable company office that served this area to arrange for service not only for her cabin but her new store eventually. The hassle of it, the unhappy employees in the office all made her wonder. She had experienced that with the electric company, the phone company, the cell phone company, and even the post office workers. There was no post office in town and she had had to go down to the next larger town to arrange mail delivery. All of it made her wonder how the people in this little town had coped with poor service like that for so long.

  Amy was on the roof installing her screen and watershed when she saw a police cruiser pull into her driveway. Her heart palpitated until she saw Abby’s frame uncoil from the driver’s seat and get out of the car. “Hi there,” she called to alert her guest to her location.

  Abby looked up surprised to see the southern belle on the roof of the cabin. She watched as the redhead easily finished up her project before heading over to the edge and just as easily climbed down the overhanging logs. No child could have been prouder at the ease in which she climbed down them. Her answering smile of welcome was pulled out reluctantly as Amy walked over pulling off her gloves. “Protecting your chimney?” she asked as she looked up at the shiny new watershed.

  “Yeah, you wouldn’t believe the mess that was in the chimney that Jacob pulled out, I ended up having to clean the whole cabin again!” she laughed showing even white teeth against her pale skin.

  “Oh I would believe it, worse is when the varmints get into the cabins and cause damage.” She reached back in the vehicle and pulled out the copies of Amy’s contract. “I saved Lenora a trip out here since I was heading this way anyway,” she told her as a way to explain her presence here in the cabin yard.

  “Oh thank you,” she said in genuine appreciation as she took the copies.

  “You sure you want to start all those plans you were telling me about?” Abby grinned at her enthusiasm. It lit up the redheads green eyes like nothing else.

  Amy smiled at her teasing. “I can’t wait!” she told her.

  “Well as of the first of next month it’s all yours,” she said in reply.

  “Will you miss it?” Amy asked concernedly.

  Abby shook her head. “I think Heather will miss it more but if you don’t mind her occasionally dropping in she is looking forward to seeing the changes you are going to make.”

  “I don’t mind at all, I like children. I hope to meet your son someday too. Will he miss the store?”

  Abby shrugged. “Who knows, boys are…different.”

  “Who watches them when you go to work?”

  Abby glanced at Amy to see if she was serious but she obviously was as she seemed genuinely interested. She apparently didn’t know the gossip which surprised her as they both knew Lenora. “My mother-in-law lives with me and takes care of them when she can keep track of them in between her soaps.”

  Amy laughed ruefully. “Yeah those soap operas can be addictive.”

  Abby had called them ‘soaps’ for so long it was funny to hear them called the old fashioned phrase of ‘soap opera.’ With the southern accent it was charming.

  Just then the cable company pulled into the yard behind Abby.

  “Ooops, looks like you have company, I should go,” Abby said reluctantly. She enjoyed talking to the redhead and hoped they would be friends.

  “You don’t have to go do you?” Amy asked equally as reluctant. She too enjoyed talking to Abby but didn’t want to impose on her.

  “Well, I do have rounds to make but I’m sure I’ll see you around. Besides I know Craig is probably anxious to get on with his work.” Her thumb pointed back at the curly blonde man getting out of the cable van.

  “Craig?” Amy asked confused and then realized in a small town like this everyone knew everyone else. “Oh yeah, I need internet and cable, I bought a television but couldn’t see anything!” she exclaimed.

  “Yeah, we went digital up here a while back and the reception never was that great except for one or two of the stations out of Green Bay.”

  “Well, I’m going to need the internet to find some of the things I need for the store. Do you know or can you recommend someone to help with the remodel?” she asked before Abby could leave.

  “Yes, I have a couple of names I can give you if you stop by the store,” Abby told her as she got into her vehicle.

  “I’ll do that and I want Craig to install high speed internet into the store too if that’s okay with you?” she quickly asked.

  “Sure, anything you need, let me know. Call the store or here,” she fished in a pocket for a pad of paper and quickly wrote down a couple of numbers. “That’s my cell and that’s the house if you need anything. Just give me a heads up on any work or deliveries so I can tell Bonnie that they are coming.”

  “Bonnie?” Amy asked hesitantly as she accepted the piece of paper.

  “My mother-in-law,” Abby answered with a wry little grin.

  “Oh, yeah, of course, thank you!” she said backing away as Abby started up the car and drove towards the garage slightly so she could back out next to the cable van.

  “I coulda moved it,” Craig called from where he walked up next to Amy but Abby waved at them both as she left.

  Craig turned to present himself to Amy. “Hi, you called for cable and internet?” he asked pleasantly.

  Amy showed him where she wanted them and he told her she was going to need a modem or a router. She was ahead of him there as she had also purchased a lap top and anticipating the need had purchased an all in one which she had him hook the high speed internet up to. As the cabin had never before been wired for cable or internet it took him a while to get them both into the house and he ran the cables into the basement and up through a relatively small hole in the corner to keep it discrete. She had cable in both bedrooms and the living room by the time he was finished and with the router could go anywhere in the cabin, probably even out to the garage if she wanted to use the internet on her new laptop.

  Not wanting to bother him while he worked she instead played with her new cell phone. She hadn’t had time to program it before, but she knew so few numbers that she quickly had Abby’s in it as well as Lenora’s and the few others she had accumulated since she came to town. It startled her when her house phone rang as she certainly hadn’t been expecting a phone call. “Hello?” she asked cautiously.

  “Hi, is this Amy?” a cheerful male voice answered her hesitant greeting.

  “Yes, this is Amy,” she responded wondering who was calling her.

  “This is Stephan,” he answered and waited. At her silence over his announcement he added, “I have Labs for sale?” he added.

  “Oh, hello, sorry I didn’t remember the name that Jacob told me!” she said feeling apologetic at not recognizing the name.

  “That’s okay,” he accepted graciously. “Still interested in a pup?” he asked.

  “Yes, yes I am, how old are they?” she asked as she sat down on her couch.

  “They are twelve weeks,” he told her and then went on to tell her about the unexpected litter. They hadn’t even known their bitch was in heat. They suspected the neighbor’s male lab was the father but as they didn’t know who really was the parent he wouldn’t be able to supply papers and the pups were reasonably priced even though his hunting bitch was papered and a champion. The reason they were so old was it was the wrong time of year and he hadn’t wanted to take them to the pound where they might be put down.

  Amy didn’t care about papers but wanted to see the pups
so she made arrangements to go see them and he gave her directions to his place. She would leave as soon as Craig the cable guy installed her service.

  “Well there you go, you are all set up,” he told her a while later as she signed for his services. As an independent contractor for the main cable company he needed the signature to get paid.

  “I’m going to need high speed internet in the store I’m opening in town, do I call you or the cable company to come out?” she asked.

  He whipped out a card and said, “Call me when you’re ready and I’ll hook you up.” He smiled charmingly at the double entendre.

  She laughed at his wit and thanked him for his time. She waved as he packed up his van and left. Smiling she stored the card’s numbers in her new phone and then filed the card on the kitchen table before locking up and heading out in her SUV.

  * * * * *

  The directions that Stephan had given her went right through town and then south into an area she hadn’t seen before but it was pretty in the late afternoon light. She pulled into a yard with a house that had to have been built in the seventies from the architecture. It reminded her of something out of the TV series ‘The Brady Bunch’ but she didn’t have a lot of time to look at it as a pack of Labrador Retrievers came running towards her SUV. She stood there as they thoroughly sniffed her and determined she wasn’t a threat, their tails wagging madly as she looked on in delight at the different dogs. There seemed to be three adults and at least six pups. One of the younger pups after sniffing her sat back and watched its siblings. Its eyes were an oddly human blue against its almost white coat. She wondered if it were an albino and she had heard that albino pets were frequently blind or deaf, but this one saw her all right as it watched both her and its litter mates as they vied for her attention. She was trying to pet them as quickly as she could.