Welcome to Spicetown

by Sheri Richey

  Conrad looked to Cora to signal her to take over. “Oh, this is a lovely place you have here. I’m looking for a gift for a dear friend and I wanted to look around some. I don’t know what I want to get her. She just has everything, and I’m looking for inspiration.” Denise thanked her and took Cora’s arm to begin explaining her product offerings.

  Conrad looked at Saucy curiously. “Do you have any idea what you actually do with these things in here?”

  Rather than a smile or smirk as Conrad had expected, Saucy responded with sincerity. “Actually, I do know a bit about essential oils. I use them for my old man aches and find them quite helpful.”

  Conrad raised his eyebrows. “Really? I didn’t know they helped with things like that.”

  “Oh, they can be used for many things. They can work on muscle pain, skin problems, breathing or digestive problems, colds and some of them just smell good. Lots of people use them to make bath stuff and candles, too.”

  “Do you rub it on you?” Conrad was truly bewildered by more than the information. He was dumbfounded that Saucy knew this.

  “Some you apply to your skin, some can be ingested or breathed in with an air diffuser. See over here,” Saucy said pulling Conrad to the side counter. “This sends a mist into the air and there is oil in the water. That way you can breathe in the benefits or just enjoy the smell.”

  “You have one of these things?” Conrad asked.

  “I do, but it’s mostly just for the scent. Some of these are very relaxing. I use vetiver and chamomile in my diffuser when I sleep. For my joint pain, I use the peppermint or wintergreen mixed with marjoram and rub it in. It helps relax the muscles.”

  “Well, I’ll be.” Conrad just shook his head in disbelief. “Maybe I need to try some.”

  Hearing that, Denise pivoted quickly towards Conrad. “Do you have muscle pain, Chief? Or sleep problems? Or headaches?” Before Conrad could sort out the options, Denise held up a finger and squinted both her eyes. “I bet you could use something to keep you sharp at your job.”

  “Oh, I could use that too,” Cora said chuckling and holding up her hand.

  “I have just the thing for you!” Denise went to the counter and pulled up a small bottle, opening it to hold up to Conrad’s face. “Cypress is just one of many that help clear and calm your mind. You can put it in a diffuser to scent a room, rub a small dot into your wrist or just open the bottle and breathe deeply a few times a day. It has a wonderful manly scent.” Denise was beaming. She loved showing off her products.

  “What about me?” Cora said in a lilting voice. “My mind is far from clear most of the time.” She was relieved that this brought a smile to everyone’s face.

  “For you, I would recommend Rosemary and Lemon mixed together. It not only helps clear your mind, but it also helps with memory recall and battling stress.”

  “Well, I should spray that all over City Hall,” Cora said with glee. She could just imagine everyone’s reaction. “Seriously though, that sounds like it would make a lovely gift for my friend. Surely, she doesn’t have one already. I’ll take one of those machines over there and whatever oils you think are nice. Does it come with instructions and everything so she’ll know what to do with it?”

  “Definitely,” Denise exclaimed. “I even have several recipes for making household products from the oils that I’ll include.”

  The ladies walked back to the counter and Cora waited while Denise gathered everything together for her.

  “Chief, you really should give them a try.” Saucy offered another sample bottle for him to smell. “They really are helpful and pleasant to have around.”

  “I think the PD would be a bit put off if I scented up the place—Not that it couldn’t use a whiff of something besides leather and sweat,” Conrad said smiling.

  Cora joined them with her bag in hand and Conrad opened the door. “You coming, Saucy?”

  “No thanks, Chief. I think I’ll look around a bit.”

  “All-righty then, see you folks later,” Conrad said as he and Cora went through the door.

  “Well, that was something,” Conrad said grinning. “Whatcha got in that bag?”

  “I’m not really sure, but Amanda will sort it all out. It smells lovely and I’m sure Denise can use a sale. Here, can you hold this a second?” Cora pushed the bag into Conrad’s arms as she dug down into the contents and extracted a small bottle. Thrusting it at Conrad in exchange for the bag she said, “This is for you.”

  “Well, I’ll be.” Conrad sniffed the bottle. “Smells like an evergreen forest.”

  “Sniff on that a while and see if your mind clears up. If it does, let me know. I might need a bottle for everyone on the City Council.” Cora crinkled up her eyes when she grinned.

  Chapter Eight

  Once Denise saw that the chief and the mayor had walked by, she turned on Saucy. “Harvey, what are you doing here?”

  “Hey, I’m trying to help you. I brought you customers, didn’t I?”

  “Okay, yes, you’re right,” Denise conceded, but looked skeptical. “Is there something else you wanted?”

  “A couple of things, actually.” Saucy walked over to the counter. “I’d like to know when I can have my garage back and I had some things I wanted to share with you. I’ve been doing a little research.”

  “I need just another week or so to get my supplies out of your garage. I’ve ordered bottles and labels but they aren’t here yet. I’ll get to them as soon as they arrive.”

  “I appreciate it,” Saucy said. “I don’t like to shovel snow and I like to put my truck up at night.”

  “I understand and I’ll take care of it as soon as I can. What are you researching?”

  “Well, I was thinking on what you could do to boost your business some and I’ve got a few ideas if you want to hear them.”

  “Sure,” Denise said. “As long as it doesn’t cost any money. I’m plum out of that.”

  “No, just some effort and some ink. You know those recipes you have. I was thinking maybe you could print up some of the ones with the yoga mat cleaners on it with your business card at the bottom and go by the gym with them. Ask them if you can leave your card at their door or counter. People would pick it up for the free recipe and your business information would lead them here to buy the stuff to make it.” Denise furrowed her brow in doubt but Saucy continued. “You could do the same thing with that face scrub or moisturizer recipe and take it down to Louise’s beauty shop. She’d probably let you leave some at her counter as long as she didn’t sell those same products.”

  “Harvey, that’s actually a good idea!” Denise’s face glowed with creative thoughts. “I have a recipe for cuticle cream too and I could take that to the nail salon.”

  “There you go.” Saucy smiled with satisfaction just as the chime above the door jingled.

  “I can’t believe you thought of that.”

  “You said that already,” Saucy grumbled.

  “Hi, Bryan,” Denise said as Bryan entered with a box in his hands and Saucy nodded hello.

  “Just came to check on my wee little mints and see if you wanted to add a few herbs.” Bryan lifted the box lid to reveal small fairy plants of sage, spearmint and lemongrass.

  “Oh, those are adorable! Yes, I’d love to put those around the store.”

  “These little plants are yours?” Saucy held up the small sage and touched the velvety leaf.

  “Bryan has these here on consignment. Somewhere warm to show them off during the winter. I’ve sold a few of them,” she said digging in a drawer under the counter to get out her notebook where she kept track of his payment. “Aren’t they adorable?”

  “Yeah?” Saucy said frowning. “But what exactly do you do with them?”

  “Most people just keep them as plants, but you can use them to cook with. They’re herbs, just like the dried bottled stuff you buy at the store, but better.”

  “Well, that’s interesting,” Saucy said. “I didn’t know y
ou could cook with plants like this. Maybe I should get one for June.”

  “You should find some recipes that show fresh spice in them and include them with the plants,” Denise said. “I do that with my oils and people sometimes need a little help to understand what to do with things before they know they want to. Print out a small stack and we can sit them underneath each plant.”

  “Good idea,” Bryan said. “I’ll look into that and put something together for next time. Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome,” Denise said and then looked at Saucy. “It was actually Mr. Salzman’s idea, but it’s a good one. I forget people just aren’t familiar with a lot of my stuff either.”

  “I was going to ask if you’re interested in expanding a little,” Bryan said cautiously. “I have some herbs drying now that I plan to bottle. In the late summer there will be preserves, too. Do you think you’d want to display any of that kind of thing?”

  “I’d love the herbs,” Denise said, “but I don’t know about the preserves. I’d have to check with City Hall and make sure I can sell edibles with my business license.”

  “I didn’t think about that. I’m in the county, so I don’t have those restrictions. You let me know if you’re interested. It will be a few months before those are ready anyway.”

  “Okay, Bryan. Thanks,” Denise said as the door jingled on his exit.

  “So, you don’t buy these things from him?”

  “No, I can’t afford to invest in anymore overhead. He just puts them here on consignment. If they sell, I pay him a percentage of the sale. It works well for me. They’re cute and add to the earthy natural look of the store I think. I’d buy them if I could. It helps him out too because during the winter, he doesn’t get any traffic out his way.”

  “Yes, it was an excellent idea,” Saucy agreed. “How did you meet Bryan? I don’t really know him but I knew his dad. I know he runs the tree farm north of town.”

  “He just came in here one day after I opened and asked.” Denise shrugged her shoulders. “I drove out and checked out his place first before I answered him. He’s got a nice little business and a huge greenhouse. He showed me the plants and other things he has planned. It’s a nice place and everything is organic.”

  “At least it’s authentic,” Saucy said with a disapproving scowl, which she ignored.

  “I don’t want any lip from you, Harvey. You’re not perfect either, don’t forget.” Saucy made no further comments but gathered up the bottles he had removed for the Chief and put them back into their proper place.

  “Bryan left his money,” Denise exclaimed. “Is his truck still out there?” Running to the front window, she spotted him standing in the open door of the truck putting boxes in the extended cab. “Let me catch him,” she yelled to Saucy as she ran out the door.

  Denise yelled his name twice before he leaned back and she ran across the street to his truck. “Here’s your money. You forgot it on the counter.”

  Bryan thanked her and Denise quickly ran inside rubbing her arms briskly from the cold.

  “I’ll get out of your hair,” Saucy said as he moved toward the door. “Let me know when you need me to move some stuff over here.”

  “I will. Thank you, Harvey.”

  Saucy nodded with self-satisfaction and pulled the door shut to head down the street to his truck. He was parked in the middle of the next block and passed Amanda Morgan on his way.

  “Ms. Morgan,” Saucy said with a nodding smile.

  “Hello, Mr. Salzman,” Amanda said in return. Then she walked briskly across the street to the Caraway Café.

  Chapter Nine

  Amanda glanced across the street once Saucy passed by and saw Bryan driving away. She didn’t look in his direction and hoped he hadn’t noticed her. She had spotted him at his truck when she approached and had intentionally walked on the opposite side of the street. She wasn’t ready to run into him yet. She still felt unsettled about their evening.

  Seeing Denise Ivy run out to him was curious. She couldn’t imagine what the two would be doing together, unless of course Bryan was dating her, too. They were about the same age she guessed. She didn’t know Denise. She wasn’t from Spicetown, but maybe Bryan had taken her to lunch. Maybe he just tried out several girls to see what he liked, and that’s why he took her home early. She might never hear from him again.

  It would make seeing him at City Hall uncomfortable though. He came in every few weeks and if it snowed heavily, she saw him more often than that. She could stay in her office, out of the lobby, if that’s what she needed to do. It was really disappointing though. She had liked him. He was quietly handsome with dark hair and light gray eyes. Even though she hadn’t let him talk much at dinner, when he had the chance, he was thoughtful and kind. At one point when they were out waiting on the fireworks he had begun telling her about his business expansion this spring. She had seen a light in his eyes and an eagerness that made his plans exciting. They were interrupted by one of her old high school friends and never finished the conversation.

  She hadn’t been to the tree farm, but the greenhouse and all the natural products he was making sounded intriguing. She always tried to eat healthy foods, regularly went to a yoga class and loved the outdoors. He had said he wanted to offer food items, too, like jams and breads. His whole demeanor had changed when he began telling her his plans and then her friend had to ruin it.

  It made her realize even more that their evening could have been so much richer if she would have just stopped talking and she regretted the missed opportunity.

  Amanda glanced in Ivy’s Oils & Organics as she passed the door. Denise was at the counter talking on the phone. No one was in the store shopping and she hesitated but kept walking. She wanted to go in and look around, but it was too obvious. She couldn’t do that today.

  §

  When Amanda returned to the office with her sandwich, a large brown paper bag with cord handles was sitting on her desk and Ivy’s Oils & Organics was scripted across the side of the bag. She was staring at it stunned when Cora swept in the door behind her.

  “Mandy, there you are. I didn’t realize you were out getting lunch. I was just looking for you.” Cora walked through the office and into her own, leaving Amanda standing with sandwich in hand, waiting for an explanation for the bag on her desk.

  “Garrett brought this list by of things they will need for the coming year and I need you to dig up some prices for me.” Cora shuffled papers around on her desk as Amanda stood in her doorway still holding her lunch bag. “Where did I put it? It has a few items that are new and so he doesn’t have amounts on them. I’ll need to know since it might affect the budget entries. Oh, here it is,” Cora said thrusting it in Amanda’s direction.

  “Do you know where the bag came from?” Amanda asked quietly as she leaned forward to accept the forms.

  “The bag?” Cora said puzzled at first. “Oh, the bag from Ivy’s, yes. I picked that up at lunch. Can you see if you can put it together and get it working for me? Set it up somewhere in here. It’s not urgent or anything. I just thought I’d give it a try. It’s one of those aromatic things that makes the place smell good.”

  “Oh, sure,” Amanda said relieved. She’d been afraid it had something to do with Bryan. “Do you mean an oil diffuser? Does it have essential oils with it?”

  “Yes, that’s it. It comes with oils and I guess you mix them or put water in it or something,” Cora said waving her hands in the air in confusion.

  “Yes. I have one at home, too. I’ll set it up for you.”

  “Perfect. I knew you’d know what to do. No hurry though.” Cora sat behind her desk lifting her reading glasses. “Oh, and I saw Chief Harris, so that’s taken care of now, too. Did you need something?” Cora looked confused for a moment.

  “No. No, everything is fine. I’ll get right on this,” Amanda said as she turned towards the door. “Did you see Bryan at Ivy’s?”

  “Why, no dear. Why would he be there?”
<
br />   “Oh, I don’t know. I thought he was there when I went to get my lunch. I thought maybe you had run into him.”

  “No, I just saw Saucy. He uses these oils and such. Can you imagine? He said they help with pain or something. He was the only one there when I left.”

  “Okay,” Amanda said as she left and pulled Cora’s door shut. Amanda pulled the items out of the bag, eager to see what Denise Ivy had sold to Cora. She had a number of oils at home that she ordered online. She’d learned about the use of oils when she was in college.

  In her freshman year she had a roommate, Roxanne, who knew all about them. Roxanne had taken her to yoga classes, told her about meditation and was a vegetarian. Amanda had learned all about a culture completely foreign to her that first year. Growing up in Spicetown had been limiting, she’d quickly found out. She didn’t endorse all of Roxanne’s lifestyle choices, but it was an educational year for her and she did choose to make some changes from what she learned.

  One of them was the essential oils. Roxanne taught her a lot about them, and soon she grew to love the constant fragrance. It would be nice having them at work if Cora enjoyed them. Maybe she could bring some of her own too. After all, her parents had learned to like the oils.

  Unpacking the diffuser, she saw it was a quality machine that would run several hours. The oils were a brand she did not have experience with but she was pleased to see lavender included in the set and thought she would start with that.

  Setting everything up, she turned it on and let it run hoping Cora would find it soothing.

  §

  Conrad walked in the side door of the PD and heard voices tinged with accusations raised to unnecessary levels. “What’s going on in here?”

  “I tried to run a plate, and she tells me it doesn’t exist.” Officer Roy Asher pointed a finger at Georgia in the dispatch booth. “I was looking right at it!”