Sam choked on his coffee. The image he conjured of the sheriff swinging naked off a rope into the lake was something he could have done without. It also confirmed how dull this place was.
Dottie walked over with his breakfast and said, “Sheriff, you should be counting your blessings that loud music is all you’re dealing with. When I went to visit my son in Chicago, he was so upset with me when I returned home from the store and he found things missing from his car. I guess you can’t leave your vehicle unlocked everywhere.” She sighed. “My wish is that I can get him to move back here when he starts a family. Fresh air and country living. Nothing better.”
For the next half hour Sam sat listening to the two of them as they argued all the reasons why Tremont was the greatest place on earth. He would’ve left earlier but found it interesting how they argued about agreeing. Only in Tremont.
But he couldn’t spend his entire day sitting here accomplishing nothing. He pulled out a twenty and left it on the counter. “I’d like to be able to do this all day, but duty calls.”
“Rub it in,” the sheriff teased.
Sam walked out of the diner and climbed back into his truck. No matter what came next today, nothing was going to be as…interesting as the way his morning started. He was half tempted to take one more drive by the Charleston place. Maybe she hadn’t had her coffee yet. There was something about her eyes that said she wasn’t as harsh as she’d made herself out to be. But why had she thrown him out after asking him to come by?
He could always return and ask her. Sam burst out laughing. “Hell, worst thing she could do is call the police. God knows the sheriff won’t mind having something new to talk about.” Then again, he wouldn’t be surprised if Miss Charleston had a gun on the premises. Getting shot for trespassing, especially here, wasn’t in the long-term plan. Yet, he still wanted answers, and she still needed her box serviced.
As he headed back towards her house, his phone rang. “Hello.”
“This is Mr. Stonewell. My wife said the refrigerator isn’t working. Can you come by?”
Somehow, he was quickly becoming the all-around fix-it man. If it had a wire going to it, they figured he should know how to repair it. Back in Boston, he’d have called a repair man himself, or just bought a new one. Things were done much differently here. They didn’t invite strangers into their homes. If it weren’t for the sheriff letting everyone know who he was and that he could be trusted, basically because his family was from Tremont, Sam wouldn’t be on the to-call list either.
He’d like to tell the guy he couldn’t help, but the truth was, over the past two years, he’d learned a lot of useful shit from YouTube videos. Not that he was about to add any of these newly acquired skills to his resume, but he’d put them to use occasionally. Today seemed to be one of those days.
“Sure, I’ll be right there,” Sam said. He turned the truck around. Miss Charleston was going to have to wait. If I don’t catch you this time, I will when I come back next month. With her bushes tangling with the wires, it was only a matter of time. One good windstorm and she’d be begging him to return. And I will, unless I can find someone to take over.
It would be just his luck that as soon as he did have a replacement, her electricity would go out.
2
Robin couldn’t believe it. The stupid lights were flickering in the bathroom again. She’d changed the bulbs and thought that would take care of it. She considered herself to be self-sufficient, but not when it came to certain things. Actually, she was afraid of electricity. The most she would do was change a bulb. It was right up there with lightning storms. She was a grown-ass woman who still hid under the covers when the storms got overhead. Back in the city, she lived in an apartment complex. It didn’t seem to echo quite as much as here. A few times she swore the bang was so forceful that the pictures on the walls were crooked after. If that was going to happen, then it should be from something a hell of a lot more fun than a thunderstorm. And if it’s really good, it can get just as loud.
Sadly, Robin had been so wrapped up in the past year with trying to save, then find a new location for her shop, that she hadn’t given dating, never mind sex, a second thought. And being out here now, it was like she was living the life of a hermit. Something had to change.
As she flipped the light switch again she heard a buzzing sound, then the light bulb went out for good. Great. That meant showering in the dark. Running an extension from the hall to the bathroom was a risk she wasn’t going to take. The last thing she wanted was this old house to be the death of her.
Grabbing her cell phone, she turned on the flashlight and showered as quickly as she could. Once she was dressed, she’d head into town to see about finding someone to fix it. Robin had met Sheriff Bob when she moved in. Lights out didn’t sound like it should fall under law enforcement, but she didn’t know anyone else to turn to. The sheriff had told her to reach out if she had any problems. It was time to find out if he’d really meant that.
The drive onto the main street wasn’t long at all. Once there, Robin realized how much she needed to get out. Why had she kept herself locked away in that house? She was an outgoing person. Normally. Guess she’d been avoiding having to answer questions. So hopefully the sheriff wasn’t into playing twenty questions today.
She opened the door and walked into his office. It was just as she’d envisioned it. There was a lone desk and a row of filing cabinets. The cell was in plain view as well, and as expected, vacant. What she didn’t see was the sheriff.
She called out, “Hello. Sheriff Bob, are you here?” There wasn’t a response. Was there another place on earth that the jailhouse would be left not just unattended, but unlocked? It only showed how comfortable the people were. It wasn’t that Robin wanted to go back to a high-crime neighborhood. But this wasn’t the place for her either. Even if she opened a tattoo shop, it would be a total failure. She couldn’t go through that, not a second time.
As Robin left the sheriff’s office, she looked down the street hoping to catch a glimpse of him. How did I miss that when I drove up? He was parked directly in front of Dottie’s Diner. It was, from what she gathered, the magnet for many in town. Although she hadn’t actually gone inside, she could picture what it was going to be like.
Sure enough, when she walked inside, Robin felt as though all heads turned her way and she was the focal point. Was it her red hair or maybe her tattoos? This was who she was. Robin stopped caring what others thought of her long ago. Of course, that didn’t mean she wanted to be the talk of the town either.
Holding her head up high, she grinned and walked over to the counter. She asked, “Can I buy you a cup of coffee?”
Bob turned to her and said, “I never refuse a free cup.”
Dottie snickered. “Like you’ve ever paid for one before.”
He snorted. “Don’t you have any other customers to harass?”
She huffed and turned to Robin. “What can I get you miss…?”
“Charleston. But please, call me Robin.”
Dottie raised her penciled in brows. “Ester’s niece?” Robin nodded. “That explains the hair.”
She could tell Dottie didn’t mean any harm by the comment, but Robin still didn’t want to be compared to a clown. But there was much worse that could’ve been said, so she’d count her blessings.
“You all settled in?” Bob asked.
“For the most part. I’m having a bit of trouble with my electrical.”
Bob laughed. “I’m shocked you have any at all. Ester kept saying someday she was going to update the wiring. What did Sam say about it?”
“Who?”
“Sam. He said he stopped by a couple of days ago.”
“I never saw—” Shit!
“Is everything okay?” Dottie asked.
“I’m fine.” Totally embarrassed. Wishing I could crawl under a rock. But I’m fine. She replayed the conversation in her head. What had sounded like a very improper come-on line, now made m
uch more sense. Aunt Ester must’ve called him before she’d passed away. I’m such an idiot. “I think I just need coffee.” Dottie reached below the counter and pulled out a cup. She filled it to the brim.
“Anything else?”
“How about some eggs and toast?” Robin asked.
“Coming right up.” Then Dottie headed to the back to prepare her breakfast.
Robin turned her attention back to Bob. “I really didn’t get a chance to…talk to Sam very long. Could you tell me who else I can call?”
“He’s it. Do you have his number?” Bob asked. She shook her head. “I can give it to you, but he just left. Ain’t supposed to be back for a few weeks.”
Weeks? “Is he on vacation?”
Bob said, “Nope. He comes here every few weeks to handle whatever broke.”
“You mean that—”
“You’ll have to wait,” Bob stated as he gulped down more coffee.
Dottie returned with her food. “Or you can call him. There’s no saying. He might come back early.”
Bob laughed. “Sam doesn’t like coming here once a month. What makes you think he’d come back so soon? Heck, I’ve called him a few times and he practically chomped my head off.”
“Look in the mirror and you’ll know why. I have a feeling that Robin might have a different result.” Dottie said with a wink in Robin’s direction.
Bob pulled out a pen, wrote a number on a white napkin and slid it over to Robin. “Good luck. But I have a feeling you’ll be waiting.”
After the way I kicked him out, I have to agree with you. She took the number and slid it into her back pocket. Calling might not get her electricity fixed, but not calling surely wasn’t going to resolve anything either.
“All a girl can do is ask sweetly,” Dottie said teasingly.
And hope he doesn’t know it’s me doing the asking. “I’ll give him a call later. Thank you.” Robin finished her breakfast and paid her tab.
“You leaving already?” Dottie asked.
She wasn’t one to sit around for small talk. And the conversations she’d overheard so far were all about fishing and clamming. “I would love to stick around but I have so much to do at the house.”
“I would’ve thought you’d want out of there,” Bob said. “Ester was a sweet woman, but she had some…strange taste.”
Dottie put her hands on her hips and said, “You best not talk ill about my dear friend. She might have been different, but she had a heart of gold and don’t forget it.”
Robin sat back down and asked, “You knew my great aunt?”
“I sure did. She used to come into the diner and we’d spend hours baking pies together. Actually, I’m a better cook because of her. How are your skills?” Dottie asked.
Robin laughed. “You have a microwave?”
Dottie rolled her eyes. “Not even at my house. What do you say about staying for a bit and helping me peel apples?”
Robin wanted to bow out, but really, what was waiting for her back at the house? More of doing nothing. At least here she might get something she didn’t have before. “Only if you agree to tell me about my aunt.”
Dottie grinned and Bob said, “That’s my cue to leave. Thanks for the coffee.”
Robin smiled. “Thank you for the number.”
Once Bob was gone Dottie tossed her an apron and said, “This was your aunt’s. She never came into the kitchen without it.”
As Robin slipped it over her head and tied it behind her, she found herself glad her power had gone out. If it hadn’t, she’d still be locked away in that house. If she was going to live in Aunt Ester’s house, the least she could do was get to know who she’d really been. There has to be more to her life than the clowns.
* * *
Sam had no idea why someone from Chicago was calling him. “Hello?”
“Hi. Is this…Sam?”
The voice sounded vaguely familiar but he couldn’t place it. “It is. What can I do for you?”
“I’m having issues with my electricity.”
He figured that much. “I’m not sure I’m the right person for the job.” He didn’t like to turn people away, but it was bad enough to travel to Tremont, he wasn’t about to hop a plane to Chicago.
“But I have no lights in my bathroom.”
Sam figured he’d try basic troubleshooting. “Did you change the bulbs?” It sounded like a dumb question, but surprisingly enough, there were many people who hadn’t over the years.
“I’m not stupid. I know the difference between a light out and electrical problems.” He heard her huff. “I knew calling you was a waste of time.”
He had no idea why she seemed so frustrated. Even though he couldn’t fix her issue, maybe he could find someone in her area who could. “Not necessarily. I could recommend someone who might be better suited to help.”
“So you’re not an electrician?” she asked.
“I am, but I handle commercial properties, not residential.”
“I’m sorry I wasted your time. Obviously Sheriff Bob gave me the wrong number. Have a great night.”
Sheriff Bob? This woman was from Tremont. “Wait you’re—” The line went silent. She had hung up. He tried calling her right back, but she didn’t pick up. It wasn’t like he could help her immediately anyway, but at least he could’ve told her when to expect him.
What Sam couldn’t figure out was why she had a Chicago area code. Was it possible she lived in Chicago and owned property in Tremont? As far as he knew, there weren’t any apartments there. Everything he’d seen was a one-family home. Since he couldn’t reach her back and had no idea who she was, Sam opted to reach out to Bob.
It was one of the few numbers he knew by heart. That wasn’t a good thing. It meant the sheriff called him more often than he’d like. Hell, even his parents didn’t hound him so much. Thankfully they were never serious issues, but nonetheless, they were inconveniences all the same.
“Sam, if you’re calling me to give me another name of some half-ass hacker electrician as your replacement, you’re wasting your time.”
“No, Sheriff. I’m calling about a woman.”
Bob said, “Well that’s a first. Does this woman have a name?”
“I’m sure she does, but I don’t know it. She called and said you gave her my number.”
Laughing, Bob said, “Ha. I was right.”
Sam had no idea what Bob found so funny. “Would you care to let me in on the joke?”
“Nope,” Bob said firmly. “Some things are better left to be learned on your own.”
Oh you really have too much time on your hands. Cutting to the chase, Sam tried again. “She said she has no power in her bathroom. Does this ring a bell?”
“It does.”
“Can you let her know that I’ll be back in Tremont in a little more than two weeks?”
“I can. She’s not going to be happy. She’s not like us, you know.”
Us? Sam wasn’t like them either. But somehow the people of Tremont accepted him as though he was. He wasn’t sure whether that was a good or bad thing.
“I’d deliver the message myself, but she’s not picking up my calls.” Of course, it wasn’t as though he had tried a lot. But once was enough for him.
“What I don’t understand is why you didn’t fix it when you were there the other day? Maybe you’re slipping.”
So this was someone he’d met. “Was her fridge out before?”
“Got no clue. Those Charleston women don’t really share much. More on the quiet side.”
Ester Charleston was anything but quiet. Next thing Bob would be telling him was that Ester was shy too. This changed everything. It shouldn’t, but it did.
“I’ll be back in Tremont tomorrow morning.”
The surprise rang loud and clear over the phone. “Tomorrow? Damn it. You don’t know what you just did Sam. I ain’t ever going to hear the end of it.”
Did he have a bet going on with Miss Charleston? Was it possib
le that there wasn’t an electrical problem after all? She didn’t strike him as a prankster, but then again, the fire in her eyes said she was unpredictable. Normally he’d avoid people like that. He was task driven. Or at least he used to be. Now he wasn’t so sure what was driving him. Nothing had been the same since he started traveling back and forth to Tremont. Why should this time be any different?
“Trust me, I won’t be there long. Hell, I might be gone before anyone even realizes I’m there.”
“Good luck with that. If Dottie finds out, you might as well have taken out an ad in the paper. I’ll see you in the morning. And I’ll let Miss Charleston know you’re coming.”
“Thanks,” Sam said and ended the call.
He wasn’t due to return and had things scheduled for tomorrow. Nothing pressing. Mostly he was going to a few job sites to make sure his crew was doing what they were supposed to. It seemed the only time he got his hands dirty any longer was when he went to Tremont. Although he liked being on the top and running the show, there was a part of him that missed the hands on. There was a sense of satisfaction he had when he flipped the switch, everything worked, and the customer was so elated instead of bitching. When things were simple.
He wasn’t even considering walking away from all he’d built. That didn’t mean he didn’t enjoy dabbling in a different life every once in a while. And Ester might just be the distraction I need.
3
Robin woke to her cell phone ringing in the other room. Not many people called except for her parents. Right now she didn’t want to go into how things were going. Because as far as she was concerned, they weren’t. Yesterday it was her bathroom that had no electricity. Today she added her bedroom to that list. What was going to come tomorrow?
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