A Timely Vision

She looked at the little girl and tried to smile. “Oh. Thanks anyway.”

“Some items I can only barter for. It’s kind of a state law for thrift shops.” Would she believe it?

She blinked twice and glanced at the girl again. “I don’t think I have anything to barter for it. What did you have in mind?”

I wasn’t quite sure. It had seemed like a good idea when I’d said it. The girl would get the dress and I would get . . . that’s about where my thoughts ended. Now that I’d made up the bartering fantasy, I wasn’t sure where to go with it.

“I need someone to go through all those children’s clothes back there. I’ve accumulated too much recently. I need to get rid of some of them. But I don’t know much about children’s clothes. Maybe you could help me with that.”

The woman grinned. “I’d be glad to. How long would you need me? I have to be at work at the restaurant by six, but I’m off tomorrow. Could I do it then?”

“That would be fine.” I took out a piece of paper. “And your name?”

“Anne Maxwell. And this is Ginny. We live in Duck, down toward Southern Shores. Would it be all right if I bring her with me? I don’t have a babysitter during the day.”

“Sounds fine, Anne.” I reached out my hand to her. “I’m Dae O’Donnell.”

“The mayor? Or is that your mother?”

I laughed. “No, that’s me. I guess I don’t photograph very well.”

“It was probably the black and white,” she suggested. “Anyway, thank you for the opportunity. I’ll see you tomorrow. Say good-bye, Ginny.”

Ginny, probably five, waved her little hand and smiled to show her missing teeth. She had freckles on her cute little face, and her brown hair hung in baby curls on her shoulder.

I waved back, smiling, as they left the shop. “State law that makes you barter stuff, huh?” Trudy laughed.

“Did you see her little face? And how cute were her little hands?”

“Sounds like you’d like one of your own,” Trudy observed. “I know I would. I don’t know if it’ll ever happen for me. But maybe for you. How many times has Tim proposed?”

“Too many. Please don’t start sounding like Gramps.” I tucked Anne’s name into the drawer under the register. At least I wouldn’t have to wonder what if, as I did with Brian McDonald, the purse snatcher. “Besides, we’re independent women, right? We’re business owners. Entrepreneurs. Men aren’t necessary for women of the world like us.”

“I don’t know who you’re talking about, Dae.” Trudy got to her feet and patted an invisible platinum blond hair back into place. “But I’d give up all of this for the right guy.”

At that moment, Kevin walked into the store with an armload of Blue Whale T-shirts. Trudy and I stared at him for a long moment before we both started laughing. “Should I go out and come back in?” he asked.

“No.” Trudy smiled at him. “I think you’re perfect right where you are. You’re not married, are you?”

“No.” He looked at me as if expecting an explanation.

“Kevin, this is my friend Trudy Devereaux. She runs the Curves and Curls Beauty Spa next door. Trudy, this is Kevin Brickman.”

“From the Blue Whale Inn, right?” She walked over to him and held out her hand. “Welcome to Duck, Kevin. I do men’s cuts, manicures, and massages too. Stop in sometime.”

She stood there for a long moment holding his hand and gazing into his eyes. Only a customer trying to get into the shop broke them apart. Trudy smiled apologetically, then went next door.

“Women are very friendly here.” Kevin watched her go as he held the door for two more customers. “Busy day, huh?”

“Yeah. I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”

“Is that a subtle way of telling me to go away? You did offer to let me put some stuff from the Blue Whale here.”

I shook my head. I guessed I wasn’t exactly one of those superfriendly women he was getting used to in Duck. “No. I was only surprised you weren’t putting on roofing or something, that’s all.”

“I would be except that the Blue Whale is pretty much a crime scene and they don’t want me to change anything right now. And it’s almost dinner time, and I can’t get in the kitchen even though nothing happened there. I never realized how annoying it is to have someone murdered in your home.”

My stomach gurgled as I glanced up at the teapot clock. It was almost seven P.M. I hoped Kevin would be nice enough to ignore that abdominal rumble, but when I turned to face him again, I noticed he was laughing. “What?” I demanded. “I skipped lunch. Coffee only goes so far.”

“Cranky and noisy. I guess you’d better buy me dinner.”

“How do you figure that?”

“I came and rescued you by reminding you it was time to eat. I think that warrants dinner. Any suggestions where we should go?”

His enthusiasm was contagious. I’d had a good business day, and it wasn’t unusual for Missing Pieces to be closed by now. The rush had kept me from worrying about Miss Mildred. “I’ll tell you the truth, I don’t eat out much. I probably couldn’t recommend a good restaurant. I’m sure they’re all fine, but I prefer my own cooking. You’re welcome to come to supper.”