by Judith Post
She frowned.
Just as he'd thought. She looked as though he were a stalker who'd hunted her down. He forced a smile and held the bag in front of him as an offering. "I'm taking Bridey to the mall today. We were passing your place so thought we could save you a trip if we delivered your shoes ourselves."
She reached out a hand and grabbed the bag, pulled it inside. She was about to close the door when she hesitated. Her sigh didn't reek of welcome, but she opened the door wider. "Thank you. This is awfully kind. You didn't have to do it, but I appreciate it." She nodded for them to enter.
Gino started to shake his head, to usher a polite "no thank you," but Bridey bounced inside ahead of him. She stopped in the middle of the room and stared at the walls, fascinated. "Are these pictures of you?"
Evelyn went to join her. "Some of them. Most are pictures of my students in different performances."
Gino felt foolish, standing in the doorway alone, so followed inside, too. He gazed at the walls and understood Bridey's reaction. Frame after frame held colored photos of dancers performing jazz or ballet.
Bridey pointed to a particular picture. "You look beautiful."
A blush rose from Evelyn's throat to her hairline. "I was younger then."
"You're still beautiful. Isn't she, Gino?"
"Breathtaking." He grinned. Evelyn was uncomfortable, he could tell. He focused on Bridey. "And you'll be pretty as a princess, too, once we buy you new clothes. It's Sunday—the day of rest. Let's not take up any more of Evelyn's time."
Evelyn glanced at the bag in her hands, pulled the shoes out of it, and inhaled softly. She touched them reverently. "How do you make them look new again?"
Bridey answered for him. "He has magic. Daddy told me."
Evelyn blinked, caught off guard, and then she smiled. "I do believe he does. Thank you."
Gino grabbed Bridey's hand and hurried her out of the apartment before she could say more. Once back in the car, he frowned. He'd caught a glimpse of a tiny, galley kitchen with a single bowl of half-eaten soup on the counter. Maybe Evelyn was simply frugal. The new soles he'd put on her shoes should be working by now. He'd expected to see at least one new item in her home somewhere.
As he pulled away from the curb, he chided himself. Maybe she rarely wore the sandals. If those soles weren't enough to help her, he'd just tripled their effect. Soon, Evelyn should be more carefree.
* * *
Fall blazed through Emerald Hills with reds, golds, and oranges. Bridey started all-day kindergarten and loved it. A school bus picked her up and delivered her at Gino's door each week day. Tourists clogged sidewalks and shops, grateful for the cooler temperatures and crisp air.
New batches of boots and winter shoes arrived. Gino could hardly keep up with sells, so one Thursday, when thunderstorms rolled into town, he was almost grateful. Customers with umbrellas sporadically came and went, and he spent his spare time reorganizing the shop. When the bell rang above his door, he was surprised to see Evelyn stroll inside. As usual, she carried a bag under her arm. New soles.
Gino scowled when he saw her, and she stopped, surprised.
"Oh, sorry," he said, "but I thought you'd be buying new shoes the next time I saw you."
She struggled for an answer. "Are you tired of fixing my old ones?"
"No, nothing like that, but my soles have magic in them. Your money should be better by now. I don't understand it."
She stared at him, confused. Then she smiled. "You're teasing me, aren't you? You like humor, I've noticed. Do you have Bridey convinced she can click red shoes to go home?"
"You don't know much about Emerald Hills, do you?" He winced. He wished he could take back those words. They came out rude. Where was his usual charm? Where was his magic?
She didn't seem to mind. "The town's history? No."
He shook his head, frustrated with himself. He sounded like an idiot. "Never mind. I think I've inhaled too much shoe polish. How can I help you?"
She showed him three pairs of dark shoes—a pair of flats, a small heel, and a high heel—ever practical. He made out an order form and said, "The weather's keeping customers away. If you're going to be in town, I can have these ready for pick-up by the end of the day."
She looked relieved. "Thank you. I know you're rushing to get them done. I appreciate it."
He would be rushing, but if it saved her a trip, why not? He had another idea. "I'm making chicken piccata for supper tonight. Bridey loves talking to you about dancing. Would you like to stay to eat with us?"
She bit her bottom lip. Why was every decision so hard for her? He watched her battle with herself. Finally, she said, "Are you sure I wouldn't be a bother?"
He laughed. "I put my guests to work. You and Bridey will be in charge of the salad while I do the chicken."
That eased her a little. She gave a quick nod. "I'll see you at 5:00 then?"
"Five's okay, but Bridey gets home from school at 3:30. If you want to hang out with her, you're welcome."
She glanced outside at the rain. "Do you think she'd like that?"
"Oh, yeah, she misses having a woman around. She'll probably try to bully you into playing tea party. Better you than me."
A wistful expression came and went. "I like kids. I'll be back around 3:30 then. She's a little older…." She broke off quickly, gulped hard, and rushed out the door.
Gino spent more time and attention than usual on her shoes. He massaged the polish into the leather, cleaned the insides with a special mixture. For some reason, his magic wasn't working like it should be. Had he lost his touch?
He called Tana's husband, Nate. "How are the boots I fixed for you? Have you had any problems with them?"
Nate had a pair of hiking boots that he refused to let die. He'd brought them to Gino for a miracle cure.
Nate paused. "They're great, but this is some kind of Emerald Hills thing I don't know about, isn't it? What's your real question?"
Nate was a sharp one. There was no fooling him. Gino explained.
"If that's what you're worried about, your magic's in fine shape," Nate told him. "I just got a huge assignment for a magazine. Lots of money. When business slows down, Tana and I are traveling to Brazil to take pictures and write about the social scene down there."
Gino suffered a short jab of jealousy. He'd played with the idea of becoming a photo-journalist, but knew it wasn't right for him. Shoes were in his genes. A person should never deny his magic. "I'm fighting back envy."
"No, you're not. You're happy doing what you're doing. That's why we like you." Nate and Tana came for supper once a month and stayed to play cards, even now that Bridey was part of the package.
Gino felt better after talking to Nate, but Nate's answers made him even more puzzled. If his magic was intact, why wasn't it working for Evelyn? When Bridey got home from school, he told her about Evelyn coming for supper, and the little girl flitted around the shop, excited.
"We have to have a dessert," she said.
"Sorry, no time. Besides, if we fuss too much, it will bother her. You know how she is. She can hardly let anyone be nice to her."
Bridey's hands went to her hips. Her bottom lip thrust forward. Thankfully, Evelyn stepped through the door before she could engage in full battle. She turned to Evelyn instead, all sweetness and charm. "Gino didn't fix a dessert. Will you make one?"
Evelyn glanced from one of them to the other. "Is it all right with your uncle?"
Bridey's jaw dropped open.
"What is it?" Gino asked.
Evelyn's expression turned tender. "You've quit thinking of him as an uncle, haven't you? He's so much more."
Bridey wiped at her eyes.
Evelyn smiled. "I think that's nice. It shows how close you two are."
Slightly mollified, Bridey returned to what was important. "Will you make a cake?"
Evelyn's cheeks burned. Gino watched, fascinated. Finally, she said, "If it's out of a box."
"A box?" Bridey star
ed at Gino, horrified.
Her expression looked so shocked, Gino couldn't help it. He threw back his head and laughed. "I have a better idea." He took out his wallet and handed Bridey a ten-dollar bill. "I have to work until closing. You two take my car and go to Isak's bakery. He and Rachel will have something wonderful we can buy."
Bridey tugged on Evelyn's hand. "We hardly ever buy cakes or pies. Come on. Hurry. Before he changes his mind."
Gino tossed Evelyn the keys to his car. "It's out back. You won't have to walk to yours and get wet."
"You're sure?"
"Go. Take Brat Girl with you. Let me finish up here."
After they left, he finished Evelyn's shoes between what few customers wandered in and out of the shop. He was turning the sign in the door to Closed when the girls returned with a high, square, white box. He shook his head. Their eyes shone with sugary happiness. "Come on. Let's go upstairs."
When he opened the door to their apartment, Evelyn let out a small breath. Gino turned to her in surprise. She hugged herself. "It looks so warm, so cozy."
Gino shrugged. "I grew up here. My parents took the furniture when they moved, but I've looked at these walls all my life."
"You're lucky." She meant it, he could tell.
He looked at Bridey. "Evelyn and I had a deal. You two are in charge of the salad while I make the chicken. What's for dessert?"
Bridey lifted the lid of the box to reveal a tall torte with whipped cream, strawberries, and kiwi nestled between each layer.
Gino raised a dark eyebrow. "You got that for ten dollars?"
"Rachel waited on us. She called it a late day special."
"Right." He smiled. "You thanked her?"
"She had perfect manners." Was Evelyn siding with Dimple Devil? Were they trying to double team him?
Gino eyed them warily. "Good, then let's get busy, so we can eat and get to coffee and dessert." Gino started loading greens on the table for them—lettuce, romaine, cucumbers, and scallions. He'd changed into jeans and a T-shirt, kicked off his shoes, and set a heavy cutting board on the counter top, along with his meat mallet. When he pulled on a butcher's apron, Evelyn looked him up and down. He caught the small glimmer of appreciation she tried to hide and pretended not to notice.
Bridey aprons out of a bottom drawer for her and Evelyn while Gino pounded chicken breasts thinner. She and Evelyn began chopping tomatoes and carrots at the butcher block. Gino breaded the chicken and placed it in hot oil to sauté. Then he started whisking a salad dressing.
Evelyn watched him in bewilderment. "Do you do this every night?"
"This? We like to eat in during the week. You? Do you do take-out most of the time?"
She avoided his gaze. "No, I've been budgeting lately. I usually open a can of soup."
He remembered the half-empty bowl on her kitchen counter top.
Bridey stared. "A can?"
"It's no fun cooking for one person. I just heat something up."
"But Gino says…."
Gino cut her off. "Not everyone likes to cook."
"But you said it's not healthy!"
Evelyn gave a soft laugh. "You've taught her well. It's not healthy, but it's easy and cheap."
Bridey opened her mouth to argue, but Gino side-stepped her. "I'm thinking you don't teach dance classes on Thursday nights. What's your schedule like?"
"I have two classes on Thursday mornings. That leaves the rest of my day free."
The change of subject worked. Bridey turned to pester Evelyn for answers. Gino listened while he cooked prepackaged gnocchi, boiling it first, then sautéing it in butter.
When they sat down to eat, Evelyn shook her head. "I only eat like this on special occasions."
"Then let's hope you like it. Dig in." Gino passed the food, and Bridey started telling Evelyn about her day at school. She talked about a boy who hit her in the head during dodge ball and a girl she always played with at recess. Gino realized she talked more to Evelyn than she did to him. Could his dad be right? Did she miss having a woman in her life? They chatted all the way through dessert, and Evelyn insisted on staying to help with clean up. It was late when she was finally ready to leave.
"It's dark and raining," Gino said. "I'll drive you to your car."
She protested, but not too much, so Gino and Bridey drove her to the parking lot for tourists about two blocks away. He waited while she got in and started the engine. A good thing, because nothing happened. No noise. Not even a small growl. If Gino had to guess, her starter was shot or her battery was dead. He let her make a few, futile attempts, then got out and knocked on her car window. She rolled it down, looking miserable.
"Looks like you're stranded." He knew her money was tight. He doubted she had enough to fix her car and stay at a motel. "Why don't you stay at our place tonight? We have a guest bed in my office. Then you can talk to Manny at the garage in the morning."
She gripped the steering wheel as though she could will the car to life. It didn't work. She blinked back tears and sighed. "I'm really sorry. I've been such a nuisance for you…."
Bridey ran to open Evelyn's car door and grabbed her hand. "I've never had a sleepover. Come on! You can read me stories till bedtime."
Shoulders slumped, Evelyn returned to Gino's car. He'd listened while she described her teaching schedule to Bridey. She didn't have a class until two on Friday afternoon. He'd ask Manny to make sure she could make it home by then.
Once they were back in the apartment, Gino handed Evelyn clean sheets and led her to the small, third bedroom that he used as an office. He slept here when his parents came to visit. "Make yourself at home. When you're ready, there's a pile of books on the window seat in Bridey's room. That's where I read to her before she's ready to sleep."
She stared. "You read to Bridey every night?"
He grinned. "We're both fans of Harry Potter. What can I say?"
He didn't get the chance to say more. Bridey claimed Evelyn as her own and dragged her into the bedroom. He heard Evelyn reading before he turned on the TV and plopped a couch pillow under his head. He must have dozed off before they did, because when his alarm went off in the morning, the TV was turned off, and Evelyn was already awake and dressed. He gave her Manny's number, and she was walking to the garage before he could get Bridey off to school. She called him to thank him before she drove back to the city.
"You remembered the shoes I repaired?" he asked.
"Yes, and I have the slice of torte you packed for me with my name on it."
"Bridey enjoyed having you here."
"I enjoyed her, too. It was the battery. Not that expensive. I got lucky. Thanks again for everything. You have no idea how nice you are. What if you and Bridey come to a dance program my students are giving in two weeks?"
His heart gave a little lift. "Bridey would like that." He wrote down the time and made arrangements. When he hung up, he couldn't help but smile. She was that type of person. If you were nice to her, she wanted to give something back.
A half hour later, his first customer walked through the door, and he didn't have a minute to think until he turned the sign to Closed at the end of the day. He and Bridey grilled sausages to have with bruschetta for supper. Then, they rambled around the apartment, restless. Finally, they went for a walk and stopped for ice cream before calling it a night.
Saturday was crazy. Tourists drove to Emerald Hills in droves. Busses parked in the gravel lot at the edge of town. Gino didn't even get a snack break. He and Bridey walked to Nancy's restaurant for supper, but it was packed. They didn't want to bother with the hour wait, so finally grabbed deli meat and cheese and settled for paninis for supper.
Bridey glanced at the kitchen clock and wrinkled her nose. "Do you want to play a game?"
No, as a matter of fact, he didn't, but they always stayed up later than usual on Saturdays. "What about a movie?" he asked. That's when the friendly bickering began. Gino refused to sit through Cinderella…again. Bridey nixed Harry Potter
and the Sorcerer's Stone, so they compromised on How To Train Your Dragon.
When he finally tucked Bridey into bed, he sat on the balcony and drank a beer, listening to music from a party someone was giving a couple blocks away. He used to go to parties. He used to flirt with girls and drink more than two beers at a time. Did he miss that? Not really. He glanced inside the dimly lit apartment. He didn't realize how much Bridey would change his life. Did he regret taking her in? Hell, no.
On Sunday, after church, his father called, as usual. They talked for a couple of minutes until his dad said, "Okay, 'fess up. What's bothering you? I can always tell."
"It's this girl…."
A happy sigh filled the phone.
"No, not like that." Gino hurried to explain. "She keeps coming to the shop to have me put new soles on her shoes. And she's struggling with money, I can tell. But my magic isn't helping her. It's driving me nuts. At first, I thought I'd lost it, that my shoes were just shoes now, but Nate says my magic worked for him. I don’t know why it won't work for Evelyn."
His father hesitated before answering. "Do you picture the girl in your mind while you work on her shoes?"
"Yes."
"You're not distracted by other thoughts?"
"No."
His father sighed. "I've never had anything like that happen, but let's think about what our magic really does."
"It helps a person find what she needs to have a firm foundation for her life, to have a better future, right?"
"Maybe the soles know what she needs, but she won't listen," his dad said.
"It doesn't work like that, does it? It just happens. The person gets a chance at a better job or a way to find new savings."
"Maybe she was offered a better job and turned it down."
"Why would she do that?"
His father sighed, then his tone changed. He sounded mysterious. "Maybe the magic has something even better in mind for her, but it will take a little more time than usual. Maybe one or two new soles aren't enough."
"I've done more."
"Maybe it will take half a dozen. Maybe this is something big."
"Like what?"
His father chuckled. "Have patience, Gino. Magic has a way of making things happen."