How (Not) to Fall in Love(9)

He nodded, watching me warily. Did he think I’d make fun of the display?

“It’s great,” I said, meaning it. “Did Charlie do this?”

“I did.”

“Really? I thought you were the repair guy.” I forced myself to maintain eye contact with him, drawing on the very small amount of “Tri Ty” DNA I’d inherited.

His lips quirked. “Among other things.” He reached for the door and opened it, and I jumped again, this time because of the goofy Halloween “bwahahah” laugh that sounded, the kind that people rigged up on their front porches to scare little kids.

Lucas laughed as he propped open the door with his body. “No ghosts, I promise. It’s just Charlie’s way of announcing customers. You can go inside.”

Toby dragged me into the store, excited to meet new people to fall in love with.

You can do this, I told myself. Just breathe.

I looked around, but didn’t see anyone. Then curtains sectioning off a far corner of the store parted and my uncle walked out. He paused before grinning and exclaiming, “Darcy! I’m so glad you came.”

He still had the long ponytail and scruffy beard. In his old Beatles T-shirt and jeans he looked exactly as I’d imagined him.

“Hi. So wow, you recognize me?” Duh. Who else would Lucas have brought here? I winced at my awkwardness.

Charlie chuckled, then stepped close to hug me. I held the hatbox in one arm while hugging him with the other, Toby forcing himself into the middle of our family reunion. My uncle still smelled like coffee and cinnamon.

“Of course I recognize you,” Charlie said, after we hugged. “You’re my favorite niece.”

“And your only one,” I muttered.

He grinned and looked down at Toby. “Toby. How delightful to make your acquaintance again.” He smiled at me. “Last time I saw him he was a puppy.”

A little late I asked, “Is it okay if he comes in your store?”

Charlie nodded. “My store, my rules. So yes.”

He glanced at the hatbox. “You still have it. Amazing. How about the pepper shakers?”

I nodded. “I have all of them.”

His brown eyes, so much like my dad’s, widened in delight. “You do? I’m thrilled. I was afraid your dad…” He stopped, watching me with questioning concern.

“It’s okay,” I mumbled.

Charlie motioned me toward a long Formica counter lined with turquoise vinyl barstools that made me think of a 1950s diner. As I perched on a stool, I glanced at the large mirror behind the counter. It reflected shelves overflowing with old appliances, glasses and dishes, ancient radios and TV sets, and wicker baskets overflowing with toys. Two of the walls were covered in murals. The images were from all around Colorado: the zoo, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and the boathouse at City Park. The far wall was lined from floor to ceiling with more shelves.

“Oh,” I gasped. I slid off the stool and hurried to one display.

I’d never seen so many salt and pepper shakers in my life. A sign on the bottom shelf caught my eye: “Not for sale.” I bent down for a closer look and my breath caught.

There were the mates to all of my pepper shakers at home. I recognized them from my birthday cards: the yellow Labrador lying on his back, the angel kissing air, Wilma Flintstone, a blue Siamese cat looking down his snooty nose, a laughing lady chef and the rest of the mates to all seventeen of my pepper shakers.

“I always knew you’d show up some day,” Charlie said softly. He’d sidled up to me so quietly I hadn’t heard him. I rose to face him, speechless.

Who was this amazing guy? And why had Dad banished him from our lives?

Charlie grinned. “Coffee? Donut?” He put an arm around my shoulder and steered me back to the counter where I was grateful to sit because my shaking legs might not hold me up. Toby had finally stopped stalking Lucas and curled up on a rug like he lived here.

Charlie lifted the lid off a round glass pastry dish piled high with donuts. A hand-lettered sign said, “Donuts: 50￠ each or free if you tell me a good story.”

His eyes were kind. “Have as many as you want.”

“I’m going to Liz’s,” Lucas said, shoving off from the counter where he’d been leaning, watching us. “You want anything?”

Charlie shook his head then glanced at me. “I have plain old coffee but Liz makes the good stuff. Do you want a mocha? Tea?” He flashed an apologetic smile. “I don’t even know if you’re a coffee or a tea person.”

It was a small thing, but seeing the flash of regret in my uncle’s eyes threatened to break my heart. I swallowed over the lump in my throat. “Nothing right now,” I said.

Charlie glanced at Lucas. “Take your time. Darcy and I have a lot of catching up to do.”

Lucas nodded, shooting me another curious glance before he left, setting off the Halloween laugh when he opened the door.

“Now, have a donut. I insist.”

I hesitated, then pointed to one with pink icing and sprinkles, my favorite. “I’ll take that one.” I looked at him shyly. “Do I really have to tell you a story?”

He slid the donut toward me on a paper napkin. “I have a feeling you’ll be telling me plenty of them now that we’re getting reacquainted. I’ll put this one on your story tab.”