“Anywhere there’s an open shelf!” Noel’s moving fast, unloading and arranging stock on shelves. “Don’t you have to be at the senior center?”
“Maddie Gamble volunteered to direct the pageant. When I left she was doing just fine.” I carry the soaps to an empty shelf. “I have a few minutes. Do you have an arrangement in mind?”
“Just loading the empty shelves. I’ll add the signs tomorrow.” She grabs a box of white tubes. “Maddie’s such a sweet girl. I remember when Dove was in her mini ballerina class.”
“She’s got the patience of a saint.” I grab a box of lip scrub and arrange the small pots in a pyramid formation with a glass bud vase beside them. “I can’t even imagine trying to wrangle a room full of four-year olds.”
“Whatever, Mindy Ray,
you’ll be a wonderful mother. Just wait.” Noel turns her back, climbing on the step ladder. “These foot creams never sell well. I’ll put them up here.”
“Maybe that’s why they don’t sell? Because they’re hidden way up there?” I squint up at her.
“No, I’ve tried everywhere. It’s better to have them out of the way and let the people who know ask.”
She continues around the room, and I want to ask more about her brother, but I’m not sure she’s had time to notice. Sawyer being unusually quiet isn’t exactly a new thing.
I wonder if he ever tells her his feelings. I know the two of them have a special relationship. I also know she has no idea about our relationship—and Sawyer wants it that way… which kind of hurts. We’re way past the days when our age difference were a potential problem. Now I can’t help feeling if he were proud of me, he’d want to tell everyone.
Mrs. Irene’s right. A month ago, I was able to live this hidden existence. Now, after everything that’s happened in the last month, I can’t be Sawyer’s little secret anymore. If he even thinks of me that way. Hell, I could be romanticizing the whole thing.
“What’s wrong?” Noel is right in front of me, and I step back.
“Sorry… Did I say something?” Lord Jesus, tell me I wasn’t thinking out loud just now.
“You have a look like something’s bothering you.” Her eyes narrow. “What is it?”
Blinking fast, I consider the disadvantage of having a lifelong friend—it’s practically impossible to keep secrets from her. She knows me too well. “Ahh… I was looking at these little bud vases and thinking about time… Want me to bring you some flowers for them?”
“You would be a life saver!” She grabs more stock out of the box in front of me and crosses the room. “I’ll be your best buddy.”
“You already are,” I laugh softly, feeling mildly relieved. “You know, Ms. Turner and Ms. Wilson are at each other’s throats at the civic center. Mrs. Irene said they used to be best friends. Can you imagine?”
“I can’t imagine eighty-year-old women parading around in bathing suits.”
“It’s definitely going to draw a crowd.”
I carry the lip scrubs to the counter by the register. “I think you should keep these close in case people try to steal them.”
She pauses on the ladder. “I hate thinking people would steal from me. They wouldn’t do that, would they?”
“Oh, yes they would. Dove, you make sure nobody slips one of these little guys in their pockets without paying for it.”
Her blue eyes go wide, and she nods seriously. “Pastor Sinclair said stealing is a sin.”
“Don’t tell her that.” Noel walks over and gives me an elbow to the ribs. “Don’t you do anything, Dove. If you see that happen, you come tell me or your daddy or Leon.”
I lean down to her ear. “Or me.” I give her a wink, and she smiles, doing two little fingers from her eyes to mine.
I can only imagine who taught her that.
“I have to hand it to Tom Grady.” Noel returns to the ladder. “Debbie Turner and Olivia Wilson battling for Ms. Silver Peach is the talk of the festival.”
“It gives them something to fight over that’s not Jimmy Hebert.”
Like he deserves it. Although, ever since the incident in the storage closet, Mr. Hebert has stuck pretty close to his own room. Ramona said she heard him one night in bed yell, “I’ll stay away from your grandma!” We both got a big laugh out of that. I’m sure that means I’m going to hell.
“Who had him first?” Noel digs peach and sage candles out of her box and arranges them on a shelf.