Be My Guest

by Caroline Clemmons

  Once they reached the shop, Aurora understood why Rose had tried to prepare her. In the front window sat a jumble of items with no apparent order or theme. Even with Rose's warning, Aurora was unprepared for the interior of the store. The dimly lit store seemed cluttered, and desperately needed a thorough cleaning. Each of the fluorescent light fixtures designed to hold four light tubes had only two working tubes and, combined with dark blue walls, made the store seem dark and dreary. Indoor/outdoor carpet in a darker blue advertised the lack of thorough cleaning.

  Aurora visualize great potential. She itched to make some changes and hoped Peggy would agree to give her a free hand. A good cleaning and more light would do wonders.

  Raphael's shop owner and Rose appeared very different in both appearance and nature. Peggy reminded Aurora of an aging beauty losing the battle to appear forever young. Bracelets on her wrists jangled as she came forward to meet them. She shook Aurora's hand with a limp greeting then crossed her arms defensively. A single finger twirled one of the necklace strands dangling from her neck.

  In spite of Peggy's guarded manner, empathy for this woman hit Aurora. Even through her makeup, Peggy's skin displayed an unhealthy pallor. Lines of strain creased her face and weariness showed in her eyes, and her shoulders slumped in fatigue.

  Peggy called to a small, dark-haired woman--"Mattie, will you watch the register while I show these ladies around?"--as she led Aurora and Rose through the shop.

  "You can see that we're a small shop, but we have a good location and a nice variety of merchandise. Of course, we're not as busy now as at Christmas time, but this is one of our busiest seasons." She turned to Aurora. "In spite of Rose's assurances, I'm worried about leaving the shop right now. Are you sure you're willing to try to keep things going while I'm out for four weeks?"

  "I'll do my best, I assure you. I'm on my way to Colorado, but I'll stay until you're able to return to work," Aurora placed her hand on the woman's shoulder and gave a reassuring pat. "I'll be here when you open tomorrow morning. You can show me exactly what you want me to do while you're out. By Saturday evening, you'll have shown me everything you want done. You'll have seen the way I work and will know whether or not you want to trust me while you're recovering from your surgery."

  Peggy's delicate fingers fluttered to her throat and a flush crept over her cheeks. "Oh, um, my goodness. I didn't mean to imply I don't trust you...It's just that this store is so important to me. It's also my primary source of income and I can't afford to neglect it. However, if Rose says you're a good business person, then that's good enough for me."

  "Thank you, Peggy," said Rose as she offered further reassurance, "I called Aurora's former employer in Houston and talked with him, with her permission, of course. Aurora will show you letters of recommendation as well as her credentials. You won't have to worry, my dear."

  Aurora added, "I think it's best to keep this on a professional level if possible, Peggy. I wouldn't want anything I do or say to harm your friendship with Rose." She reached into her handbag and extracted several sheets of paper. "I've brought you a copy of my resume and letters of recommendation. Please call any of the places I've worked while I've been traveling and my former employer in Houston."

  Rose nodded her satisfaction. "It's not as if you'll be out of the country, Peggy. If Aurora has a question, she can call you and ask."

  Peggy appeared only somewhat mollified by these reassurances, but agreed to let Aurora try managing the shop for her. They agreed on a modest salary, and Peggy gave Aurora keys to the front and back doors.

  As Rose and Aurora were about to leave, Peggy admitted that each day she grew worse than the day before. "Unless I do something to improve my health soon, I'll have to give up the shop entirely."

  Rose took Peggy's hand and patted it. "It'll all work out, dear, you'll see."

  A worried frown crinkled Peggy's brow but she tried to smile at the other two women. "I hope so."

  Chapter Eight

  Working with Peggy positively ranked as the most frustrating job experience of Aurora's life. It soon became obvious that Peggy Hopkins wanted absolutely no changes of any kind from a girl less than half her age. Aurora's few tentative suggestions met with disapproval from both Peggy and her devoted assistant Mattie. With more patience than she knew she possessed, Aurora learned as much as possible about the mechanics of operating the store exactly as Peggy wished.

  As Aurora had anticipated, she was told the stock of cards, gift wrap, and other items carrying the card company name and logo had to be purchased. Those seasonal items not sold were the property of the store, and could not be returned to the card company for even partial credit. That made good marketing and careful buying even more crucial.

  Aurora shook her head once more as she surveyed the dusty shelves and poorly arranged merchandise. Peggy seemed her own worst enemy. Suffering from the fatigue and discomfort of her medical problem, she could hardly manage to get through the day. Perhaps she no longer even saw the dust.

  Although mentally and physically exhausted, by Saturday evening Aurora had a very nice feeling about her ability to manage the store. Over dinner that evening, she relayed her feelings to Rose and Will.

  "It's small but it could be such a great store if some changes were made! Even as it is, it can be a good store. A good cleaning and some extra light tubes in the fixtures will help a lot." Excitement bubbled up in her as she thought of the improvements she could make in the store with no additional expense and only a little extra effort.

  "Well, you survived three days with Peggy Hopkins without losing your temper and choking the woman. That's more than I could do." Will shook his head, then his eyes widened. Apparently he realized what he'd said about his favorite aunt's best friend.

  Rose’s mouth opened in astonishment. "Why, Will, I had no idea you thought that about Peggy!"

  "I'm sorry, Aunt Rose, that sort of slipped out. Frankly, though, now that it's out, that woman is a dingbat! I never understood how the two of you could be such lifelong friends---you're such opposites."

  "Maybe that's why. When her husband was alive, though, she wasn't quite as much of a 'dingbat' as you call it. I think Harvey's death left her at a total loss." Rose tapped her fingernails on the table and lost herself in memories. "My, my. That was ten years ago. She depended on Harvey so much to help her with all her decisions. They married right out of high school, you see. She went from her domineering parents' home to life with Harvey. Peggy never learned to do anything on her own until Harvey died. It was quite a shock, as you can imagine. You know, I think that's when her business started to go downhill."

  Aurora wondered why Peggy had no family helping her while she was in such poor health. "Does she have any children who might help?"

  "Her only child lives in Florida. Clara has a pack of kids and it's really hard for her to get away. Clara and her husband have asked Peggy to come live near them, but she's afraid. In fact, she doesn't even visit them often because of the store."

  Will grimaced. "If she's so worried about the store, why doesn't she fix it up? It's a depressing place. I don't know how she stays in business."

  "Well, in my opinion, Peggy seems afraid to make a change or try anything new because it's impossible to first talk it over with Harvey. Those few changes she's made, such as the dark walls and carpet, have been disastrous. As a result, the store just hasn't kept up with the times." Rose stood up, "Now, you two go for a walk or something. Aurora's worked all day and I haven't, so I'll handle the dishes by myself."

  Will seized the opportunity to be alone with Aurora, due to Kelly spending the weekend with her maternal grandparents in Snyder. He invited her on a driving tour of Post, and started at the statue of town founder C. W. Post, the cereal manufacturer, on the lawn of the Garza County Court House. From there, they drove four blocks west to the old C. W. Post home.

  By this time dusk crept over the town. "I guess I'll save the rest of the tour for another day. Old C. W. Post
was ahead of his time, you know, a real pioneer. He planned the streets and growth of the town very well." Will guided the truck aimlessly up and down the streets, anxious to prolong their time together.

  "I have to confess that I read about Mr. Post and his organization of the town. At the Chamber of Commerce I found information on the history of the town and the area. I know I should have told you earlier, but I enjoyed the drive with you." She flashed an impish grin. "The tour is much nicer with a handsome guide.”

  The effect of that grin amazed Will. "Let's go back to Rose's and sit on the porch swing."

  "That sounds perfect. Although the view from her front porch can't compare with the view from your patio, it's a nice evening to sit in the porch swing."

  A couple of blocks later as they passed one of the convenience stores with gas pumps in front, Aurora grabbed Will's arm and shouted, "Will, please drive by that little store again. I'm sure I saw one of the men who tried to run me off the road."

  Will turned the truck right and circled the block. When they returned to the small store, only a battered Ford Escort sat at the gas pumps. The vehicle Aurora saw on their first pass by the store had disappeared from view.

  Will parked his truck in front of the store and opened the door of his truck. "I'll see if I can find out anything about the guy who just left."

  Aurora slung her purse strap on her shoulder and followed fast on his heels. "I'm coming with you."

  The cashier of the store insisted he had never seen the man before and that the man paid in cash so there was no way to get the truck license or owner's identity. No amount of prodding could produce a satisfactory answer from the man, so Aurora and Will left.

  As Will drove the truck out of the parking lot and toward Rose's house his jaw clenched several times before he spoke. "That guy was lying. He knew exactly who we were asking about."

  "Yes, I'm sure of it. He must be a friend the cashier protected." Aurora crossed her arms and glared ahead, checking for a glimpse of the truck once again.

  "We need to let the sheriff know about this, as well as the trooper in Snyder." Will wondered if he should warn her and take a chance on frightening her? Better to be frank than take a chance.

  "Aurora, if that cashier knows the men who tried to abduct you, he's sure to pass along the news that we were asking questions. The cashier may not know who I am, but there aren't many women who meet your physical description. That will alert the two you're in town and can identify at least one of them."

  The truth of Will's statement sent shock waves through her. Her stomach clenched in fear as it has when the men had tried to hijack her. She sat in silence, chewing on her bottom lip. Seeing one of the men who had tried to run her car off the road brought back the memory of her near-abduction. She shuddered now at the memory of that day. She hadn't met any women in Post her height who also had long auburn hair and green eyes. She had first seen the two men at a coffee shop in Sweetwater when she stopped there for breakfast after spending the previous night in Abilene. If those two men followed her from the coffee shop the day they tried to abduct her, they were sure to recognize her description.

  Until now, a safety net surrounded her. This changed everything. No longer could she take the security of her friendly environment for granted. She must be ever wary and vigilant. At least she would be in a different car now. That would make locating her a little more difficult.

  Once back at Rose's, Aurora felt safer. The realization had tarnished her stay in Post. No longer did the town’s friendly atmosphere seem enough. She had the urge to flee before the men could locate her. They’d be watching, so she’d have to be vigilant.

  Dismayed to learn that such a person might be a resident of her nice little town, Rose tried to reassure Aurora. "Now don't worry. You're among friends now."

  The trite phrases offered comfort. Travel to new places brought excitement. In time of potential trouble, however, it seemed good to be among friends--even new friends. The knowledge that these new friends were good, dependable people brought reassurance. Why did things have to change when everything had been going so well?

  Will stepped inside to call the office of the Garza County Sheriff. The deputy with whom he spoke agreed to relay the information to the Scurry County authorities and the Texas State Trooper at the Texas Department of Public Safety. The sheriff's deputy also promised to talk to the cashier at the store. Perhaps a deputy could elicit more information from the man than Will and Aurora could.

  While she waited for Will to come back to the porch swing, she reviewed once again the recent events. So many changes occurred in her life in the past eight or nine days. How could she assimilate all of them?

  Will returned to rejoin her on the swing, and he tried to take her mind away from unpleasant thoughts. Aurora and Will exchanged anecdotes of all that had occurred since the previous Sunday. Will held her hand in his left hand as his right arm lay lightly around her shoulders, occasionally tightening for emphasis in his story. A light breeze danced with swaying Lebanon cedars at each edge of the porch.

  For a while, the beauty of the night escaped her notice. Her thoughts centered on the truck at the convenience store. Sitting here with Will made her feel safe for the time being, but what if the men who tried to abduct her lived right here in Post?

  Will was right, if the clerk at the convenience store knew those men, he was sure to tell them about Will and me asking questions. Now those two will know I'm in this area and can identify at least one of them. What can I do other than be on my guard? No plan came to her mind. For the time being, defeat and helplessness overwhelmed her.

  Her musing produced a lull in the conversation. Will released Aurora's hand to turn her face to his.

  "Let the sheriff work the problem for now. The evening's too lovely to waste thinking of those two ruffians."

  "That's true," she answered softly. The scent of honeysuckle drifted in the air from the vine trellised at the end of the porch. With a sigh of surrender, she leaned toward him.

  Will kept his kisses gentle at first, but their intensity grew as Aurora melded to him. The flash of headlights of the car delivering the family next door startled them. As if the spell were broken, the two broke their embrace. Will took a deep breath and ran his hand through his hair.

  Aurora ran her hand down her lap to smooth her skirt. Why must she always be so pliant in Will's arms. What about this man effected her so differently from any other man? When he kissed her she forgot about Colorado, about travel, about everything but him and his kiss. She sighed again and relaxed against Will's arm. Who of her friends in Houston would believe her to be capable of such behavior?

  Well, perhaps light conversation proved the safest behavior with him so near. When her breathing returned to normal, she asked, "I guess you're going to Lubbock tomorrow to be with your mother for Mother's Day?"

  His foot sent the swing swaying gently to and fro in the shadows. "Yes, I'm supposed to pick her up in time for church in the morning." As if it just occurred to him, Will asked, "Would you like to come and meet her?"

  Caution overruled the temptation to satisfy her curiosity. "Another time, Will. I think you should give her your full attention tomorrow, especially since she doesn't even know me. Besides, I've promised to go to church with Rose in the morning. After church I'm taking her out to dinner. It's my treat for her as a special friend on Mother's Day."

  "So that's why she said she had plans and couldn't join Mom in Lubbock. That's great. She's a wonderful aunt and deserves special treatment. What about your mother and family?" Will again took Aurora's hand in his.

  Her feet curled to the side on the seat and she leaned gently against him. "Earlier in the week I sent Mom a gift. I'll call her in the afternoon tomorrow. Both my brothers are supposed to be there, so I'll have a chance to talk to them, too." She let the swing rock gently a couple of times before she added, "Are Lori Beth and Tommy going with you to your mother's?"

  "Yes, even though they just
saw her last weekend. Tommy's an only child whose parents were killed in a car accident a few years ago, so he and Lori Beth spend holidays with Mom." Will slapped at his neck. "Hey! These mosquitoes are big enough for hand to hand combat. Why don't we go into the house and see if we can talk Rose out of any more of that German chocolate cake?"

  * * *

  The first day without Peggy at Raphael's proved uneventful. Not one of the busier days in any week, the Monday after a gift-giving holiday found even fewer customers in the shop. She and Mattie had time to put all the Mother's Day cards into storage boxes and replace them on the display racks with Father's Day selections.

  Aurora regrouped all the things the store carried for men into a Father's Day display at the front of the store. She cleaned the display area of the front window thoroughly. With duplicates of some of the Father's Day merchandise, she arranged a display for half the area. The other half of the window display she saved for weddings. Mattie clearly resented even this slight change.

  "Mattie, surely you don't expect us to leave things set up for Mother's Day until Peggy gets back?" Aurora asked with a growing sense of frustration at the attitude of the store assistant.

  Her face sullen and her lips pouting, Mattie gestured toward a small area. "No, but we've always had the Father's Day display there at the side of the store. And we've never used so much space for it."

  "Well, just this once, it's going to be at the front of the store and it'll be as extensive as we can make it. And I'm going to change the front window merchandise every week."

  Mattie sniffed and tilted her nose in the air. "Of course, I don't have some La-Ti-Da degree, but I know how we've always done things all these years.”

  Aurora suppressed the retort that immediately sprang to her mind and said instead, "I appreciate your help and input, Mattie, but this will give a nice change. You can see how customer reaction to this display compares to the interest generated by displays from the other years. Of course, since I've not been here before, I can't judge accurately. I'll rely on you for that information."