“Perfect, you’re a miracle worker.” I looked at my list and scratched off find sheets.
A middle-aged woman hurried up to us, frantically trying to get her arms through the company apron all the employees wore. “Ms. McKarn, I’m so sorry I’m late. I was helping the group set up the memorial, and then my car wouldn’t start and I had to wait for a tow, and then the rental place was super-slow.”
Jen held up a hand. “I’m just glad you made it, Ginny. I had just started trying to find someone to cover your closing shift.”
I felt the pause in Jen’s voice and realized the word she didn’t say was “again.” I pressed my lips together so that she wouldn’t see the smile and turned to examine a patterned sheet that wouldn’t match anything I’d ever own.
“Oh, I’m so glad you didn’t. I really need the hours. I was going to talk to you about increasing my shifts this week anyway.” Ginny Dean pulled out a piece of paper from her apron. “I can work any day but this Saturday. Next week, I’m clear on Monday morning until ten, Tuesday afternoon between one and four, and any time on Wednesday or Thursday. Unless the funeral is scheduled those days. And of course, I can’t work the weekends.”
This time the sigh was audible. Jen put her hand on Ginny’s shoulder. “Just put a note in my mail slot and I’ll see what I can do. You know, we really need people to work full six-hour shifts.”
“I know, and I can on a few of these days.” Ginny peered at her crumpled schedule.
Jen glanced at me and rolled her eyes. “Let’s just see what I can work out, okay?” She pointed to the back room entrance. “We got a delivery today of the new Home Chef cookware. Can you restock that section?”
Ginny’s head nodded like one of those bobblehead dolls they give out at baseball games. Greg had a collection on a shelf in his office—they always creeped me out.
We watched her scurry away, and this time, Jen leaned against a display bin of pillowcases. “The woman has a big heart, but she’s the worst at keeping a schedule. I’m always having to fill in part of her shift because of car trouble or this crazy group she belongs to.”
“Which makes me very glad I’ve got a small shop and there are only four of us.” I glanced at my watch. “The bad news is, there are only four of us, so like tomorrow I have to take Aunt Jackie’s shift. If no one else is available, it’s up to me to work.”
“The joy of management and ownership.” Jen laughed and reached for another set of sheets. “Of course, I’m just a manager. I don’t get to make the big decisions, not like you.”
“Seriously, sometimes I wish I didn’t have everything on my shoulders.” I grinned, picking up the blue and pink sheets. “Of course, I have Aunt Jackie to tell me what to do, so I guess I am in the same boat.”
“Hold on, let me see that photo again. I’m worried the rose is too pink for the quilt.” She held out her hand.
“I’m sure it will be perfect. No need to be so detailed.” Jen didn’t drop her hand, so I handed her my phone. Please be a match, please.
I watched as she set the phone down on the sheets, turned it one way, then the other, and then shrugged. Jen handed me my phone back.
“I would go with a shade deeper in the blue, but if you’re really happy with what we found, who am I to push?”
My shoulders dropped in relief. I imagined setting up the room tomorrow before going to work Aunt Jackie’s shift. I might even take a quick picture and post it on my Facebook page. My joy decreased a bit with Jen’s next words.
“Remember, you need to wash the sheets before you use them. They’ll be all stiff if you don’t.” Jen looked at the list. “You want to look at pillows and shams today? We have a pretty set of cream crocheted pillowcases that would be perfect.”
I nodded and followed her to the next station.
By the time I’d stuffed my too-hot-to-handle credit card into my wallet and the bags of fluffy warm linens into the car, I felt worn to the bone. I’d not only purchased new fluffy pillows for the guest room, but had added on new ones for my room, along with a Memory Foam mattress pad for my older mattress that Jen had sworn by.