“If the pastries and deli sandwiches do so well, why don’t you sell them every day?” I asked, curious.
“Nah, that’s too much work, besides I don’t want people hanging out in here every day,” she teased.
I did like Starlight and Lauren was right, the lady was as Bohemian as you could get. I don’t think the devil could have pissed her off.
***
I was slowly beginning to relax and fall deeply in
love with my new life. I would almost say I had a delightful routine going. Wake up and laugh to Lauren and Levi in the morning, laugh some more with Starlight during the day, drink too much coffee, eat dinner with Lauren, and walk on the beach. By the end of the week I knew everything that I needed to know to be able to keep the shop up and running, not that any monkey couldn’t learn it, but still. I liked my job other than the fact that it needed a good cleaning which I was planning to talk to Starlight about that day, her last day with me. I didn’t want to step on her toes, but come on, I didn’t know how in the world she kept her books up with the mess in the office.
It was well into the afternoon when I finally worked up the nerve to ask.
“Starlight, I was wondering if it would be okay if I done some cleaning and organizing while you were away,” I asked, really fast. I always had a problem with asking for things, even growing up, and it was worse with Drew. He always made me earn it one way or another.
Why was my heart beating so fast? It wasn’t like I asked to remodel the place or anything. The worse thing that could happen was she would say no.
“Honey, you do whatever you want to do here. I don’t plan to spend much time here, now that I have you.
You’re going to be running the joint, so make it your home.”
I smiled, relieved as I relaxed.
Friday was the busiest day I had seen since I had started. I sold some of the clothing articles to some high school girls and some of the Indian figurines to some tourist. The coffee had to be replenished throughout the day and we opened up one of the boxes in the back and restocked the shelves with figurines.
“Where do you get these?” I asked Starlight, unwrapping a family of picnicking figurines.
“I go to this trade show in Las Vegas twice a year.
I will take you some time. It’s the coolest thing ever.”
My heart sped up at the mention of Las Vegas. I wouldn’t be going anywhere near that trade show.
“How do you get the things here?” I asked.
“They ship it to me after the show.”
“There isn’t a website to just order the things?”
Starlight shrugged her shoulders as she continued to unpack the little knickknacks. “Maybe, but the trade show is too much fun for that,” she smiled at me.
Starlight showed me where to find the petty cash, once she remembered where it was herself. She explained that I could use anything from the storeroom that I wanted and to replenish the shelves with whatever I wanted. I was looking forward to getting my hands on the rat race.
Lauren and I ate the meatloaf special for supper at Millie’s, and it reminded of my Grandma Joyce’s. We got the warm apple pie for dessert and then I let her talk me into going to the town bar. I had never been to a bar in my life. I’d been to elaborate restaurants and fancy clubs, but never to a bar. I didn’t want to go to a bar. I just wanted to go home to my little house, sit on my deck and gaze at the beautiful sky overlooking the ocean.
“Come on, please,” she begged.
I acquiesced, against my will. Why not? I had done things against my will my entire life, at least Lauren had my best interest at heart, sort of.
It was just a small bar with an old wooden floor, but the place was hopping, and packed to the gill. There was a band playing toward the right with an area cleared for dancing. A nice looking guy waved us over and we sat at the table with him right in front of the guy singing something about a long black train.
“This is Joel, Riley,” Lauren introduced the guy and then he kissed her.
I wondered if this was the same guy that had spent the night with her the weekend before. Another guy joined us, and she introduced him as Levi. It was nice to put a face with the voice. We were both brought beers. I took my wallet from my purse and Levi put his hand over mine.
“You are offending me, put that away,” he demanded.
I jerked my hand away, not realizing that I did it with so much conviction.
“Whoa,” he stated, putting both hands in the air.
“Sorry,” I said and noticed the puzzled look on Lauren’s face over my reaction. “Thank you,” I said and turned my attention to the singer on stage.