“That’s a relief,” said Mr. Johnson. “I always get edgy at tax time.”
Darcy’s eyes lingered on the clay bowl that held the mashed potatoes. Blue fairies danced on a sandy-brown surface. “This is a lovely piece. Is it handmade?”
Mrs. Johnson nodded. “Charley bought that for me last year for Christmas. From a local kiln.”
“How is Charley? I haven’t seen him around town.” Darcy passed a basket of rolls to Ramsey.
Ramsey turned scarlet and took a roll without looking at her. “He moved to Kerrville,” he mumbled.
Darcy set her fork down. “I thought he worked in the shop with you and your dad.”
“He’s married now.” Mrs. Johnson’s smile was a little too bright. “To, um, Veronica.”
“Oh.” Darcy tried to keep her tone even. How awful to have your big brother marry your fiancé. She struggled to think of something to say, but words eluded her. The juicy chicken she’d just bit into suddenly lost its flavor.
Ramsey stared down at his plate. “It was two years ago. They’re happy.”
Mrs. Johnson held up the chicken, the platter wobbling a bit in her hand. “Anyone want seconds? Or thirds?”
“Maybe one more piece.” Darcy selected a thigh and added it to her pile.
Mr. Johnson glanced up from his still-heaping plate. “Don’t forget to leave room for my Mousse Delight.”
Darcy groaned. “Two more blocks to jog.”
“And worth every step,” said Mr. Johnson.
###
Supper had been over for hours, and the obligatory game of Spades played. Darcy balanced on the pole fence, the white paint gritty under her gripping hands. She’d always worried about getting paint on her clothes when she was a little girl, but despite the texture of the fence, it never happened.
Ramsey teetered beside her, head thrown back in reverence to the half-moon. He hadn’t said much since they’d come outside, but Darcy was used to this. One of the things she’d always appreciated about their friendship was that they could just be, without having to think of something amusing or intelligent to say.
Quiet animal sounds came from the metal barn across the field, where the horse and a few cows were settled for the evening. These were Mrs. Johnson’s special pets. She’d kept a few ranch animals without having a particular purpose for them for as long as Darcy had known her.
Hedges of honeysuckle and Carolina Jasmine perfumed the air. In the morning, they would be a riot of bees.
“The farm hasn’t changed much since I left,” Darcy said at last.
“Nope.” Ramsey shifted his weight on the fence. “Except that Charley and I don’t live here anymore. Mom and Dad keep up with the place pretty well. They make sure everything’s painted every few years and the brush is cut to keep the snakes down.”
“I wonder if your mom would have time to help me in the shop every now and then.” Darcy kicked off her shoes so she could get a better grip on the fence rail. “I have plenty of things to do before the official opening.”
“You’d have to ask her. She keeps busy selling crafts online. Has a shop on something called Betsy.”
“You mean Etsy? I love that website. I’ll have to find out the name of her store and look it up.”
They fell into silence again. Peepers from the pond were in full song, their high-pitched cheeps mixing with the deep thrumming croaks of the larger frogs.
“What was your life like up in California?” asked Ramsey. “I’ve never been there. I feel like you know me so well, but I never really saw the city girl side of you.” He nodded down to her discarded shoes. “If it weren’t for those heels, I’d ask you to go for a ramble up the road, but you might break an ankle in the dark.”
Darcy was glad Ramsey couldn’t see her flaming cheeks. “I’ll have you know I got these shoes in a sample sale at my old job. They were an amazing bargain, and all my friends were envious.” She sighed. “Life in L.A. was frustrating, for the most part. Everyone was always in a hurry. People either trying to get more money or become more beautiful, or both. If my friends saw me on this fence, they’d never understand.” She lifted her hand and swept it out in front of her. “The music of the pond. The moon’s magic. In most parts of the city you can’t even see the stars. How did I survive without this for so long?”
She reached out and caught a lightning bug as it darted past. Her fingers glowed with the same magical green light she remembered from countless times before. She opened her hand. The tiny insect walked along her finger, and then took flight, flashing its message of love to an invisible mate somewhere in the grass.
“Those girls would never understand the reason I’d want to sit out in the country and . . . just breathe. Think. I’m glad to be here, Ramsey. When I found out Gran left me the shop, everyone thought I’d sell it. But I knew I had to come back. So many wonderful parts of my life happened in this town. And . . .” She almost finished with “You’re here” but fell silent. I don’t want him to think of me as some brazen woman here to steamroll his life. But maybe . . . She glanced at him from beneath her eyelashes. His eyes shone, and one eyebrow was up. He was listening, but she couldn’t finish that thought.
He cleared his throat. “So, you had everything most girls could ever want, but nothing to make you happy?”
“That sums it up pretty well. And you might think this is crazy, but . . . I felt like God was telling me to come. Do you think that’s possible?”
Ramsey shrugged. “I’ve felt God speak to me sometimes. Not every day, but at certain times. Especially when I’m praying about something important.”
Darcy told him about the note she’d found in Gran’s Bible. “It’s nice to know she prayed for me. I feel terrible about not coming to see her. And she trusted me with her shop. I hope I can be worthy of that trust.” She stared down at the ground below, the clumps of grass and shadowed flowers. “Oh, Ramsey, what if I fail?”
Ramsey jumped down from the fence and held out a hand to help her. “Darcy, you will never fail. You might have some ditches to cross along the way, but you’ll find bridges over them. You always did before. Remember the time you crawled down that culvert pipe to save Mr. Dreary’s calf?”
When she took his hand, warmth spread through her fingers and radiated down to her heart. His touch tingled with desire, tenderness, and strength. A strong compulsion to press his palm against her face and feel the heat on her cheek filled her being. Instead, she dropped his hand and walked towards the pond, folding her arms against herself. We can’t have this right now. I just broke up with my boyfriend. I can’t make him think he’s a rebound.
“What’s wrong?” said Ramsey. “I don’t have to bring up old stories if you don’t want me to.”
“No, I love them.” Darcy wiped away a few tears that had decided to slide down her cheeks. “I’m sorry. It’s—been quite a week. I probably ought to go home.”
Ramsey studied her face in that unsettling way of his; opened his mouth as if to say something, and then closed it again. They walked back to the house in silence.
6 A meeting on main
L ate afternoon sun burned through the thick window panes at the front of the shop. Darcy tugged down the blinds. It was the end of April but already hot as ‘Jalapenos in Hades,’ as Gran used to say.
Kayla knocked on the door and let herself in. Instead of her normal flannel shirt, she wore a flowing blouse, and her lips shone with just a bit of gloss. She eyed Darcy’s gloves and apron. “You’re not ready?”
Darcy’s shoulders sagged. “The meeting. I completely forgot about it. Sorry, Kayla, I probably need to stay here and work. I have only three more days until my grand opening.”
Kayla surveyed the shelves. “What else do you need to do? It looks perfect to me.” She folded her arms. “Come on, Darcy, you’ve been working your tail off in here. You need some time to get out and talk to folks. Besides, these ladies have great advice and ideas. I’d never have made it the first month without
them. You’ll see.” She clasped her hands together. “Don’t make me get down on this spotless floor and beg, Darcy Norman.”
Laughing, Darcy pulled off her gloves. “All right, give me a minute to change and we’ll go.”
“Don’t get too fancied up!” Kayla yelled as Darcy headed up the stairs. “We’re all real people, you know.”
A few minutes later, the two women headed down the street, moving from one shaded spot to another as quickly as possible.
“Are you doing okay?” Darcy asked. She hadn’t seen Kayla since the backyard drama a few nights ago.
“Yeah, I guess.” Kayla walked in scuffling steps, kicking at loose pebbles when she encountered them. “Greg brought me Chinese food last night, which he knows I love.” She wrinkled her nose. “How do men figure out what it takes to get you back when you’re about to drop them like a rattlesnake?”
“I don’t know.” Darcy had received a few condescending texts from Jared that sounded like he’d chosen to ignore her break-up text. She’d refrained from replying to them. But could I hold out if he was here, standing in front of me? She wasn’t so sure.
The Pine Woods Bed and Breakfast was a century-old two-story farmhouse that had been converted into the coziest little hotel tourists could wish for. Darcy paused in the garden to admire the brightly colored brick containers, overflowing with flowers of every shape and hue. The brickwork continued over the ground, and a path of yellow blocks led to the wrap-around porch. Eighteen-inch square columns supported a red-shingled roof, with curled gingerbread woodwork dripping from every corner and beam.
Darcy gasped. “This is simply beautiful.”
“You’ve never been to the inn before? You’ll love it.” Kayla opened the door and they went inside.
They walked through a long hallway with rows of doors that just begged to be opened. Darcy stopped to touch one of the shiny brass knobs.
“You can get a tour later,” Kayla scolded. “Everyone’s waiting for us and I want to make sure I get a scone.”
The back room of the bed and breakfast had long window seats built into each wall. These benches were covered in cushions. A round table loaded with treats stood in the middle of the room, and fragile cups waited to be filled with a variety of teas.
Ms. Travelsham rose when they came in. “Kayla, you brought her after all! Miss. Lorinda isn’t here yet, but she gave me a key. She should arrive at any minute.” She gestured to a petite girl with straight black hair which fell over her glasses in thick bangs. “Darcy, have you met Lila Wilkes? She owns the florist shop at the end of the block.”
Lila stuck out a hand, a dozen silver bracelets clinking on her arm. “Welcome. I’ve only been open six months, so I know exactly what you’re going through right now. Stick with these ladies and you’ll do just fine.”
Darcy shook her hand. “Thank you. I’m glad to be here.” She sank down on a particularly plump cushion and took the teacup Ms. Travelsham offered her.
The bookshop owner returned to her seat. “Hang on, we have a few more members but I’m not sure who else is coming today.”
Kayla sat down and pulled a jar out of her purse. “I brought preserves.” She removed the lid and placed it on the table next to a plate of biscuits.
“Don’t mind me a bit of jam, as long as it isn’t rhubarb.” Ms. Travelsham scooped some onto a biscuit. “I never liked rhubarb. A good crab-apple jelly, I’ll take that any day.” She regarded the biscuit with an appraising eye before taking a bite. “Of course, we don’t get those much here. Mama made both when I was a little girl in Pittsburg.”
“Yep, haven’t seen either rhubarb or crab-apple at the Wimber Stop-n-Shop.” Kayla took a second biscuit from the platter. “This jam is prickly pear. I get it from a lady in town who makes all her preserves from local sources. She even keeps bees.”
Darcy shivered. Spiders and crickets she could handle. She’d even had a run-in with a garter snake while she’d been out watering the bushes in front of the shop a few days ago. But insects of the buzzing, stinging variety she could do without.
The door creaked open, and Miss Lorinda poked her head into the room. “Yoo-hoo. Sorry I’m late. I had to walk Gertrude around the property a few times. I was afraid she might eat the siding off the house again. Poor thing.” She nodded to Darcy. “She eats when she’s bored, like most of us.”
“What kind of dog is she?” asked Darcy.
“Heavens, Gertrude isn’t a dog, she’s a 700-pound pig.” Ms. Travelsham wiped crumbs off her lips with a paper lace napkin. “She was supposed to be a miniature, wasn’t she, Lorinda?”
“I’m afraid so.” Miss Lorinda threw her handbag on top of the pile with everyone else’s purses. “When I rescued her, she was such a darling little thing, with her wrinkled nose and those snorts! The owner promised me she wouldn’t get bigger than a basset hound. Now she takes up the entire sofa.”
Darcy’s eyes widened. “You mean she stays in the house?”
“Of course she does, dear. It isn’t her fault she got so big. Well, besides the eating, I suppose.” Miss Lorinda glanced around the room. “This everyone tonight? Agatha still feelin’ poorly? I met June this afternoon. She has a wedding dress to finish tailoring before tomorrow so she won’t be coming.”
Kayla leaned forward and put her chin in her hands. “I took some chicken soup to Agatha today. You’ve met her, haven’t you?” she turned to Darcy. “She’s your neighbor on the other side. She owns the herb shop.”
“I might have seen her once through the fence.” Darcy replied. “Is she African American? And, well, old? She had a net, I think.”
“That’s her.” Kayla nodded, and her silver feather earrings swung wildly. “She’s older than dirt. She says so herself.”
Darcy leaned back in her chair. “I’ve wanted to check out her store, but the shop always seems to be closed when I pass, and I’ve never seen a sign with hours on it.”
Ms. Travelsham chuckled. “That’s a typical Wimber shop. Agatha opens when she has a mind. There’s an old trunk on the porch. People will slip their orders and money through the mail slot when they want something. She leaves the herbs, or soaps or lotions in the box. The inside of the shop is open Thursdays and Fridays.”
“Except for third Fridays,” said Kayla. “She goes to visit her son in Kerrville.”
“Yes, and she still drives that ’67 Chevy truck that belonged to her late husband. Don’t know how Ramsey keeps it going,” said Ms. Travelsham.
All heads swiveled to Darcy.
“So, I remember you and Ramsey Johnson used to be pretty close friends.” Miss Travelsham gave Darcy a smile, revealing a thin stain of lipstick on her teeth. “Such a nice young man. and he works so hard for his father.”
“A shame about him and Veronica Perkins.” Lila took a sip of her tea. “She was in my senior class, and that girl couldn’t make up her mind about anything.”
Miss Lorinda clapped her hands. “Ladies, be kind. Darcy is a newcomer, and even if she doesn’t know when ya’ll are being nosey, I do.” Her smile bloomed across her face. “Darcy, we are all dying to know what’s going on with you and that Johnson boy, but as you can tell, we are far too polite to come out and ask.” She lifted her chin. “Therefore, I will change the subject. Let’s talk about May Market Days. And Darcy, did Kayla tell me you are planning to open Saturday?”
Darcy exhaled and hoped Miss Lorinda noticed the thankfulness in her face. “Yes, I do. If all goes well, of course.”
Ms. Travelsham shifted forward. “Do you still have my pink teapot?”
“I think I found the one. It’s polished and ready for you. I’m putting it in the front display case.”
“Are you really going to ever shell out $50.00 for it?” Kayla teased. “You’ve been talking about that teapot for years, Ms. Travelsham.”
“I actually raised the price to $75.00,” Darcy admitted. “The value has gone up. But I’ll still honor the 50.00 if you buy it this week.”
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br /> “That’s the way to do it.” Miss Betty chuckled. “You’ll be fine here. Especially after you put Vera Greer in her place.”
“I learned from a good teacher.” Darcy stirred a spoonful of sugar into her tea. “Gran was fair, but she had her share of dealers come through, and she could tell when folks were just out to make a profit. Does Vera’s shop even do well? Women’s suits and pearls—who buys that sort of thing anymore? I’d think the fanciest ladies around here would be more into cowboy boots and rhinestones.”
“It’s a wonder,” said Miss Lorinda. “Apparently, she has another shop in Dallas as well, so we figure she must get funding from both. You’d be surprised. Some of the tourists like those hoity-toity duds.”
“Not to mention, she has a thriving online business as well. She’s definitely an antique scalper,” said Kayla. “You can find her ebay store under vgreer. She doesn’t try to hide it.”
“Huh. I was right, then. She is a dealer.” Darcy folded her arms.
Ms. Travelsham shook her teaspoon at her. “That instinct will serve you well. So many people think all that’s needed for a successful business is cash and a dream. But instinct . . . money can’t buy it, and you gotta have it in spades.”
The other women nodded.
After the meeting, Darcy and Kayla walked back to their side of the street.
“Thank you for making me go,” said Darcy. “You were absolutely right. It was tons of fun, and I know I can learn a lot.”
“Told ya,” said Kayla. “I wish you could have met Agatha, though.”
“I hope we didn’t get off on the wrong foot that one day,” said Darcy. “She popped out, said something in Latin, I think, and disappeared before I could say hello.”
Kayla laughed. “She was probably in pursuit of a bug or butterfly. Some she photographs. But the rarest ones are caught and sent to a zoo in San Antonio that breeds them. Sometimes she gets carried away and forgets about the rest of the world.”
Tangled in Time, (Miss Main Street Book 1) Page 5