A Town Called Valentine(39)
As far as love was concerned, Emily felt even more ancient than they were. How did a relationship last so long?
She was feeling a little down by the time she approached her building, turning into the alley. She came up short on seeing Nate’s pickup, dismayed to find herself feeling a jolt of interest. Oh, this wasn’t good.
And then Brooke came out of Monica’s Flowers and Gifts, keys dangling from her hand, and noticed her arrival. “Hey, Em, you’re just in time. Give me a hand with this mattress.”
Em? Even her mother hadn’t been so casual with her, so . . . familiar. She kind of liked it.
Brooke pulled down the rear door of the pickup, and Emily saw a plastic-draped mattress.
“It’s the one Monica mentioned. Mrs. Shaw was thrilled to get rid of it without a fuss. I borrowed Nate’s pickup.”
“But—what do I owe her?”
“I asked, and she said it was twenty years old, and she hoped you wouldn’t ask for money to take it.”
They smiled at each other.
“Let me unlock the doors and set down my backpack,” Emily said, suddenly eager.
Between the two of them, they dragged the mattress upstairs and plopped it into the frame. Emily was breathing a little hard, but Brooke only wiggled her eyebrows and made a muscle with one arm to emphasize her strength.
After hearing someone come through the door, they left the bedroom to see Monica.
“Hey, this is just like my place,” Monica said, smiling.
Emily looked around her, trying to see the apartment as others did, now that the garbage had been removed. It still needed a good cleaning, of course, and scuffmarks and nail holes decorated the white walls. The two bedrooms—one larger than the other—and bathroom were in the rear of the apartment, overlooking the alley. The main living area was open, with a view of Main Street. The galley kitchen had a small window set in the wall between it and the living room, and a table and two chairs sat nearby. But the big front window let in a lot of light. The place had promise, and hopefully whoever purchased the building would agree.
The only other piece of furniture was a couch with torn cushions, sitting forlornly in the middle of the dull wood floor.
“You don’t plan to use that,” Monica began doubtfully.
Emily shook her head. “No, but I needed another person to help move it.”
“Then let’s go,” Brooke said.
After it had been removed to the Dumpster, Emily led the way into the restaurant kitchen, saying, “Come on in for a soda.”
As they drank, Brooke walked around the place, peering into the dining room. “Hey, what’s this?” she called, walking to the front entrance. She bent down and picked up something that had been slipped under the door. “Guess this is for you.”
Emily’s name was scrawled across a Deering Family Real Estate envelope.
“I was wondering when Howie Junior would get to you,” Brooke said, shaking her head.
“ ‘Get to’ me?”
“Brooke, that’s not fair,” Monica said. “It’s his business to discuss property that’s for sale.”
“Shouldn’t I be talking to him?” Emily asked.
Brooke sighed. “I dated him in high school. He liked to kiss and tell.”
“He’s grown up since then.” Monica shook her head. “Brooke just doesn’t like her private life discussed.”
Emily almost said Just like her brother, but she stopped herself in time.
“And I’m certain she kisses better now,” Monica added solemnly.
“You people all know each other!” Emily said with a laugh. “Is there anyone in town who doesn’t have a story to tell about someone else?”
Brooke and Monica shrugged at each other, then said in unison, “Nope.”
“I took a walk around town this morning, and although people were all friendly, sometimes I felt like everyone was staring at me, just waiting for me to do something worth talking about.”
Monica bit her lip. “Girl, I think you already did. It seems the plumbers—”
“Ned and Ted Ferguson,” Emily interrupted.
“Well, they told Bill Chernoff at the post office, who told Sally Gillroy from the mayor’s office—”
“The mayor!” Emily cried.
“No, she’s the clerk, but she told my mom, who’s a receptionist for Doc Ericson, who told me.”