Shop On the Corner, page 18
Lillian laughed. “I sure do remember that child and her nice family. You two came into our shop many a summer’s day, with your cute little ponytails and short sets, giggling. I know Irma and Ralph Blackwell, too. They go to our church and I went to Elizabeth’s wedding. You were her matron of honor, if I remember right.”
Laura was always surprised at Lillian’s detailed memory of people and events. “You’re right. I was in her wedding, and she’s promised to come to be the matron of honor when Mitchell and I marry this fall. Gainesville is only about two hours from Waynesville. I didn’t realize it was so close, and we’re hoping to see each other more often now.”
“Does Elizabeth have children yet? I remember she was crazy about the little ones at our church, loved to keep the nursery and work with the kids in Bible School.”
“I’d forgotten that, Lillian. Elizabeth and Lee don’t have children yet but she’s the director for a childcare center not far from their home. Lee is a high school basketball coach, loves sports and the outdoors. They recently bought a house near a finger of Lake Lanier and close to their schools.” She paused smiling. “Mitchell and Lee really hit it off. I didn’t know until we visited that Mitchell played basketball in high school. “
“Marriage is a journey in which you’re always learning things about each other, not only before the day you say ‘I Do” but for all the years afterward, too. You’ll find that’s true with your Mitchell as you go along. I have with Bobby.”
“Well, Mitchell can’t wait to go back to Lee and Elizabeth’s for a weekend. They have a little boat, and Lee and Mitchell want to do some fishing. I’ve promised to help Elizabeth go thrift shopping around Gainesville to look for furniture for their house. If any of the pieces need recovering, I can bring them back to the shop.”
“It sounds like everything has worked out real nice for you in moving over to Waynesville. Bobby and I are so tickled about it all.”
Laura took a breath. “You know I have both of you to thank that I’m here at all. You pushed on me to consider a move, to search for a shop someplace other than Amory, to make a change in my life.”
“Well, honey, we could see you were restless and unhappy about so many things. It seemed to me Amory had started to be a place of sad memories and problems for you.” She paused. “I kept praying and praying about it, and then that day when I found you crying, it seemed to me like you just needed a change.”
“Well, thanks for the push. It’s been a happy change.”
“You’re a sweet girl and deserved some happiness.”
Laura heard Bobby calling her in the background.
“Honey, I need to go now. Bobby and I are driving over to the Sullivans to look at some pieces they want us to reupholster for them. I’ll talk to you again soon, and we’ll look forward to seeing you this fall.”
They hung up and Laura sat thinking back over their conversation. These truly had been happy days getting the new business started, falling in love with Mitchell Quinlan, becoming wrapped up in his world and friends. She’d started making new friends of her own, too. While doing an upholstery job for Allison Tate, they’d become friends. Allison was new to Waynesville and had moved here after marrying Drew Tate. She’d started a small business downtown called Good Scents, selling lotions, soaps, oils, and related crafts. Drew had his accounting business near her shop.
She and Mitchell had double-dated with the couple a few times, and sometimes Becky Ray and Mitchell’s cousin, Rob Killian, came with them. Lately, Kent, who worked with Mitchell, and Paula Clancy had started joining them, too. It was fun to have a whole group of couples-friends to share good times with.
A short time later, Laura walked to Main Street to find Evelyn, Mitchell, and the children, sitting in lawn chairs on the sidewalk, ready for the parade to begin.
“We brought you a chair and saved it for you,” Charlie announced.
“Thank you,” she said, as Evelyn lifted her purse from the chair so Laura could sit down. Laura glanced across at Mitchell, who’d just arrived, too. “I imagine you’ve had a busy morning.”
He nodded, drumming his fingers on the armrest of the chair.
Laura noticed the gesture. “Is anything wrong?”
“Someone took down the string of International Flags draped in front of the courthouse last night—six of them, one a US flag. It’s an embarrassment.”
Laura glanced down the street. “There are still flags along the road.”
“Yes, they didn’t bother those, only the ones in front of the courthouse.” He rubbed his neck in annoyance. “The parade travels down Main Street to end with a performance for all the elected officials right in front of Haywood County’s Historic Courthouse. The flags always hang overhead behind them as a backdrop, attached on a long wire between two of the courthouse porch pillars.”
Laura bit her lip thinking about it. “This is the first time for another theft since…”
“Since I got attacked in May,” he interrupted. “Everyone thought that finally put an end to all this.”
“I’m so sorry.”
He raised his eyebrows. “It’s not your fault, but everyone is certainly upset to see this ugliness show its face again.”
“Did the theft happen during the night as before?”
“Yes. Only during the night could someone have even pulled this off. There was too much activity during the day yesterday and into the evening hours. There were too many people around, too.”
Evelyn leaned toward Laura. “This festival is a huge event with thousands visiting and with all the international dancers and performers traveling from abroad. Mitchell is right that it is an ugly embarrassment to the city for another of these petty thefts to occur just now. It will be especially obvious, too, since videos and hundreds of photos are snapped at that location at the end of the parade.”
“Listen Grammy!” Mackenzie called, pointing down the street. “The parade is starting.”
The elaborately dressed dance troupes and regional visitors soon appeared, giving everyone downtown their first look at all the colorful performers that would be a part of this year’s festival.
“How beautiful!” Laura exclaimed, her mouth dropping open with excitement.
Most of Laura’s experiences with parades had been local ones for Christmas or the Fourth of July with floats, bands, cars, and fire trucks so she was immediately captivated with the gloriously costumed dancers swirling and dancing down the street. She couldn’t help pointing and leaning forward with excitement, just like the children, at the incredible show walking right down their Main Street, the dancers often stopping to sing and perform for the public with the wonderful flavor of international musical sounds in the background.
“I knew you’d love it,” Mackenzie said, sending her a smile.
“I do,” she agreed. “It’s wonderful.”
Sometimes, the dancers swept spectators out to dance with them or interacted with the audience in a fun way. A group of women dancers from India wandered among the women onlookers to put appropriate bindi marks on their foreheads. Evelyn got a small black dot to indicate she’d been a married woman, now widowed, while Laura got a yellow bindi, appropriate for an unmarried girl.
After the women passed, Evelyn leaned toward Laura to say, “Bindi marks show a woman’s marital state. Young unmarried girls in India can actually wear a multitude of bindi colors, except for red, for married woman, or black for widowed ones,” Evelyn added. “They often paint rows of small dots above their eyes, too, to be festive. There’s a lot of symbolism behind the bindi, but here at the festival it’s only for fun.”
Laura’s attention was caught by a new group of dancers coming down the street now, the women twirling and swirling their sumptuously decorated long skirts, the men leaping around them and then squatting low to the ground to kick out their feet.
“This is a Ukranian group and the dance is a Hopak dance, from the Ukraine verb hopaty that means to jump,” Evelyn told her.
“It looks like a Russian Cossack dance to me,” Mitchell put in.
“In Russia that’s what it is called,” his mother replied. “The dance is much the same in both countries.”
The fun of the parade continued for some time, a treat to watch.
“This is simply spectacular,” Laura said to Evelyn. “How did this festival begin?”
“Waynesville started this event,” she explained. “A Waynesville surgeon saw a folk festival when traveling in England and came back with the idea of starting an international folk festival here. The festival, now nearly forty years old, has hosted many thousands of performers over the years from hundreds of countries.”
“I think Mitchell said it lasts all week, too,” Laura commented.
“Yes, it does. The festival started last night with opening events here in Waynesville, but events are now held in nearby cities, too, like Asheville, Flat Rock, and Cherokee. Most of the ongoing events and shows are indoors and fee based, but the parade and the International Day next Saturday, which lasts most all day, are free to the public. The festival officially ends, after the International Day, on Sunday with a Candle Lighting performance and ceremony at the auditorium at Junaluska.”
“How many of the events do you attend?”
Evelyn smiled. “Mostly I’m working during the entire time. The tourist traffic is intense during the festival, and volunteers are always needed in the Arts Council. I have showings and demonstrations at other galleries, too, and I am on the festival committee, so I’m usually helping with one thing or the other the whole time.”
“I’m sure it’s a mammoth project to plan and orchestrate a festival of this size.”
“Look at the new group coming,” Mackenzie pointed with excitement. as a colorful new group of performers caught their attention. This group slowed to encourage parade watchers, mostly children, into the street to join them in a circle dance, and Mackenzie and Charlie were thrilled to be chosen.
At the end of the parade, Evelyn took the children with her to the Folkmoot Friendship Center for more activities while Mitchell and Laura folded up their chairs to carry back to Quinlan’s.
“I hope you don’t mind joining Mom and the kids at the Friendship Center for more celebrating. The kids will be disappointed if we don’t go for a little while at least,” he said, as he tucked away their chairs in the storage room. “I think you’ll enjoy it.”
“I’m sure I will,” she said, following him out to his car.
“There will be youth activities, face-painting, dance lessons, and artisans sharing pottery, beadwork, and jewelry. There will also be food vendors with baked goods, ice cream, and some international cuisine. We’ll stay a little while and then slip away to catch dinner.”
They drove to the Folkmoot Friendship Center and enjoyed taking the children around to see the booths and activities going on. At five when Evelyn loaded up two very tired children to head for home, Mitchell said goodbye to various friends and then they walked to Mitchell’s car.
“I thought we’d go eat at Clyde’s not far from here,” he said as they got in the car. “It’s a great old-fashioned diner with home-cooked comfort food. The food is really good with daily specials and great local vegetables. I don’t think I’ve taken you there yet. Will Clyde’s be all right with you?”
“It will be fine,” she assured him. “And I think you’re tired, too.”
“Frankly, I’m wiped. We worked late last night getting things ready for the parade and then I was out again early this morning.”
They drove on to the restaurant and a short time later were seated and began looking over the menu.
“What do you usually order?” she asked.
“I usually get one of the daily specials, a meat with three vegetables.” He pointed to the options on the menu. “The fried chicken is great and you can pick any three vegetables you like with it. I think I’ll get green beans, carrots, and creamed corn tonight but, believe me, everything here is good.”
She studied the menu for a minute. “I’ll have the same,” she said.
He smiled at her. “You’re always so easy to please in a restaurant.”
She grinned at him. “Maybe, but I’m not easy to please with upholstery work. I’m very picky there.”
They visited over dinner, talking about the things they’d enjoyed during the day. Laura told Mitchell about Lillian calling and he caught her up on the theft that had occurred.
“I keep wondering what in the heck they’ve been doing with all that stuff,” he said, frowning. “The police haven’t found a single clue to any of this either. It’s frustrating, and I admit I’m taking all this more personally since I got attacked in May. I worry something worse may happen to someone.”
“Maybe they’ll find some clues after this,” Laura suggested.
“I hope so.” He paid their bill and then they made their way to his car to head home. “I’m going to go crash after I take you home,” he said. “I’ll probably be busy much of this week, too, with things related to the festival. And next Saturday you’ll get to enjoy the big International Day. The next weekend, though, I thought we’d take off on Saturday to go hike a trail in the Smoky Mountains. What do you think?”
“That sounds fabulous,” she said.
“Well, hunt up some comfortable hiking boots between now and then if you don’t already have some,” he added, as he dropped her off at her door with a kiss. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow for church. This Sunday Mimi and Francis have invited us all to their house for lunch. We try to do one grandmother or the other every month to avoid rivalries.”
“I’ll look forward to going to Francis and Mimi’s place again. Those two keep me laughing every time I spend time with them. They are a hoot.”
Mitchell gave her another kiss and then laid his lips against her neck. “I look forward to the time when we don’t have to say goodnight at the door. Won’t it be great to snuggle up all night with each other?” He nibbled at her ear as he said it, making her giggle.
“It will,” she admitted.
“Well, I’m glad we moved the wedding date up to the first Saturday in October. I’m not really loving this waiting anymore.”
She threaded her hands through his hair. “The date is only about two months away now. That’s not long.”
He took a deep breath. “Well, tonight it seems like forever.”
As she climbed out of the Bronco, he added, “Watch for the lights, and I can assure you that you’ll see that extra blink tonight, too.”
Smiling, Laura let herself into the back door. This had been a fabulous, memorable day she’d treasure for a long time.
CHAPTER 16
Two weeks later on a lovely sunny day in early August, Mitchell and Laura headed to the Great Smoky Mountains for a day of hiking. From Waynesville, Mitchell drove toward Maggie Valley and turned to follow Highway 276 to Cove Creek Road, a narrow rural road that climbed over the Cataloochee Divide Mountain range before dropping to the Cataloochee Valley below. At the national park entrance at the bottom of the hill, Mitchell continued straight ahead into Hwy 284, an old dirt and gravel road.
“This part of the Smoky Mountains lies on the far western border of the mountains,” Mitchell told Laura. “Many settlers once lived in the Cataloochee Valley and the old roads and trails they created lattice through the area. I’m taking you to hike on one of my favorite trails today called The Little Cataloochee Trail. It’s a 5.2-miles long hike, about ten and a half miles round trip, so I thought we’d only walk a portion of it today. Unless you hike often, ten to eleven miles can wear you out and leave you with sore muscles the next day.”
“I’m looking forward to this so much and glad it’s a pretty day today.”
Mitchell glanced toward Laura as she spoke, excited, peeking out the window at everything along the way. She wore brown shorts, a pink T-shirt that matched her pink lipstick and cheeks, socks and boots, her hair tied up in a ponytail. “You’re a beautiful woman,” he said.
Her eyes turned to meet his, soft honey brown eyes. “I’m glad you think so, but I’m just a regular brown-haired, brown-eyed girl.”
“Whoever told you that missed really seeing you. Was it your sister?”
Her glance away from his eyes gave him the answer.
“I’ve seen your sister’s pictures. She’s pretty but no more so than you, Laura. From what I’ve heard you’re a lot nicer person in every way, too.”
“So, tell me about the trail,” she said, changing the subject.
“You’ll see it soon. It’s an old settlers’ roadbed. I’ll tell you more about it as we walk along. I like it because it’s a culturally rich trail. Many families lived near this road through Little Cataloochee and there are remnants of their lives all along the way—old cabins, a church, cemeteries, and more. I often wonder what it might have been like to live here, to walk or ride horseback to church or school every day, to live so simply. Eleven houses used to sit off the trail we’ll be walking along, four log ones and seven frame ones, plus barns, smokehouses, corncribs and other buildings. Here and there you’ll see evidences of the settlers if you look closely—crumbling walls, rosebushes they brought and planted, patches of daffodils that bloom in spring, apple and fruit trees, old fence posts.”
He laughed then as his Bronco hit a rutted hole in the road. “Despite how great this trail is, not many people hike it because they hate this piece of rough road leading to it. I don’t know why the state of North Carolina doesn’t repair it. It’s a harsh, bumpy, stomach-bouncing drive.”
Laura gripped the handle above the door as Mitchell hit another pothole. “I notice we haven’t passed any cars on this road.”
He chuckled. “I’ll bet you ten bucks we won’t see a single one either.”
After a time, Mitchell turned into a small pull off near the beginning of the trail. They locked the car, put their waist packs on, and started down a slope that soon flattened out to wind into the valley. Although the road was narrow, it was wide enough for them to walk along side by side. Mitchell pointed out trees and sights along the way, even a few wildflowers beside the path.
Laura was always surprised at Lillian’s detailed memory of people and events. “You’re right. I was in her wedding, and she’s promised to come to be the matron of honor when Mitchell and I marry this fall. Gainesville is only about two hours from Waynesville. I didn’t realize it was so close, and we’re hoping to see each other more often now.”
“Does Elizabeth have children yet? I remember she was crazy about the little ones at our church, loved to keep the nursery and work with the kids in Bible School.”
“I’d forgotten that, Lillian. Elizabeth and Lee don’t have children yet but she’s the director for a childcare center not far from their home. Lee is a high school basketball coach, loves sports and the outdoors. They recently bought a house near a finger of Lake Lanier and close to their schools.” She paused smiling. “Mitchell and Lee really hit it off. I didn’t know until we visited that Mitchell played basketball in high school. “
“Marriage is a journey in which you’re always learning things about each other, not only before the day you say ‘I Do” but for all the years afterward, too. You’ll find that’s true with your Mitchell as you go along. I have with Bobby.”
“Well, Mitchell can’t wait to go back to Lee and Elizabeth’s for a weekend. They have a little boat, and Lee and Mitchell want to do some fishing. I’ve promised to help Elizabeth go thrift shopping around Gainesville to look for furniture for their house. If any of the pieces need recovering, I can bring them back to the shop.”
“It sounds like everything has worked out real nice for you in moving over to Waynesville. Bobby and I are so tickled about it all.”
Laura took a breath. “You know I have both of you to thank that I’m here at all. You pushed on me to consider a move, to search for a shop someplace other than Amory, to make a change in my life.”
“Well, honey, we could see you were restless and unhappy about so many things. It seemed to me Amory had started to be a place of sad memories and problems for you.” She paused. “I kept praying and praying about it, and then that day when I found you crying, it seemed to me like you just needed a change.”
“Well, thanks for the push. It’s been a happy change.”
“You’re a sweet girl and deserved some happiness.”
Laura heard Bobby calling her in the background.
“Honey, I need to go now. Bobby and I are driving over to the Sullivans to look at some pieces they want us to reupholster for them. I’ll talk to you again soon, and we’ll look forward to seeing you this fall.”
They hung up and Laura sat thinking back over their conversation. These truly had been happy days getting the new business started, falling in love with Mitchell Quinlan, becoming wrapped up in his world and friends. She’d started making new friends of her own, too. While doing an upholstery job for Allison Tate, they’d become friends. Allison was new to Waynesville and had moved here after marrying Drew Tate. She’d started a small business downtown called Good Scents, selling lotions, soaps, oils, and related crafts. Drew had his accounting business near her shop.
She and Mitchell had double-dated with the couple a few times, and sometimes Becky Ray and Mitchell’s cousin, Rob Killian, came with them. Lately, Kent, who worked with Mitchell, and Paula Clancy had started joining them, too. It was fun to have a whole group of couples-friends to share good times with.
A short time later, Laura walked to Main Street to find Evelyn, Mitchell, and the children, sitting in lawn chairs on the sidewalk, ready for the parade to begin.
“We brought you a chair and saved it for you,” Charlie announced.
“Thank you,” she said, as Evelyn lifted her purse from the chair so Laura could sit down. Laura glanced across at Mitchell, who’d just arrived, too. “I imagine you’ve had a busy morning.”
He nodded, drumming his fingers on the armrest of the chair.
Laura noticed the gesture. “Is anything wrong?”
“Someone took down the string of International Flags draped in front of the courthouse last night—six of them, one a US flag. It’s an embarrassment.”
Laura glanced down the street. “There are still flags along the road.”
“Yes, they didn’t bother those, only the ones in front of the courthouse.” He rubbed his neck in annoyance. “The parade travels down Main Street to end with a performance for all the elected officials right in front of Haywood County’s Historic Courthouse. The flags always hang overhead behind them as a backdrop, attached on a long wire between two of the courthouse porch pillars.”
Laura bit her lip thinking about it. “This is the first time for another theft since…”
“Since I got attacked in May,” he interrupted. “Everyone thought that finally put an end to all this.”
“I’m so sorry.”
He raised his eyebrows. “It’s not your fault, but everyone is certainly upset to see this ugliness show its face again.”
“Did the theft happen during the night as before?”
“Yes. Only during the night could someone have even pulled this off. There was too much activity during the day yesterday and into the evening hours. There were too many people around, too.”
Evelyn leaned toward Laura. “This festival is a huge event with thousands visiting and with all the international dancers and performers traveling from abroad. Mitchell is right that it is an ugly embarrassment to the city for another of these petty thefts to occur just now. It will be especially obvious, too, since videos and hundreds of photos are snapped at that location at the end of the parade.”
“Listen Grammy!” Mackenzie called, pointing down the street. “The parade is starting.”
The elaborately dressed dance troupes and regional visitors soon appeared, giving everyone downtown their first look at all the colorful performers that would be a part of this year’s festival.
“How beautiful!” Laura exclaimed, her mouth dropping open with excitement.
Most of Laura’s experiences with parades had been local ones for Christmas or the Fourth of July with floats, bands, cars, and fire trucks so she was immediately captivated with the gloriously costumed dancers swirling and dancing down the street. She couldn’t help pointing and leaning forward with excitement, just like the children, at the incredible show walking right down their Main Street, the dancers often stopping to sing and perform for the public with the wonderful flavor of international musical sounds in the background.
“I knew you’d love it,” Mackenzie said, sending her a smile.
“I do,” she agreed. “It’s wonderful.”
Sometimes, the dancers swept spectators out to dance with them or interacted with the audience in a fun way. A group of women dancers from India wandered among the women onlookers to put appropriate bindi marks on their foreheads. Evelyn got a small black dot to indicate she’d been a married woman, now widowed, while Laura got a yellow bindi, appropriate for an unmarried girl.
After the women passed, Evelyn leaned toward Laura to say, “Bindi marks show a woman’s marital state. Young unmarried girls in India can actually wear a multitude of bindi colors, except for red, for married woman, or black for widowed ones,” Evelyn added. “They often paint rows of small dots above their eyes, too, to be festive. There’s a lot of symbolism behind the bindi, but here at the festival it’s only for fun.”
Laura’s attention was caught by a new group of dancers coming down the street now, the women twirling and swirling their sumptuously decorated long skirts, the men leaping around them and then squatting low to the ground to kick out their feet.
“This is a Ukranian group and the dance is a Hopak dance, from the Ukraine verb hopaty that means to jump,” Evelyn told her.
“It looks like a Russian Cossack dance to me,” Mitchell put in.
“In Russia that’s what it is called,” his mother replied. “The dance is much the same in both countries.”
The fun of the parade continued for some time, a treat to watch.
“This is simply spectacular,” Laura said to Evelyn. “How did this festival begin?”
“Waynesville started this event,” she explained. “A Waynesville surgeon saw a folk festival when traveling in England and came back with the idea of starting an international folk festival here. The festival, now nearly forty years old, has hosted many thousands of performers over the years from hundreds of countries.”
“I think Mitchell said it lasts all week, too,” Laura commented.
“Yes, it does. The festival started last night with opening events here in Waynesville, but events are now held in nearby cities, too, like Asheville, Flat Rock, and Cherokee. Most of the ongoing events and shows are indoors and fee based, but the parade and the International Day next Saturday, which lasts most all day, are free to the public. The festival officially ends, after the International Day, on Sunday with a Candle Lighting performance and ceremony at the auditorium at Junaluska.”
“How many of the events do you attend?”
Evelyn smiled. “Mostly I’m working during the entire time. The tourist traffic is intense during the festival, and volunteers are always needed in the Arts Council. I have showings and demonstrations at other galleries, too, and I am on the festival committee, so I’m usually helping with one thing or the other the whole time.”
“I’m sure it’s a mammoth project to plan and orchestrate a festival of this size.”
“Look at the new group coming,” Mackenzie pointed with excitement. as a colorful new group of performers caught their attention. This group slowed to encourage parade watchers, mostly children, into the street to join them in a circle dance, and Mackenzie and Charlie were thrilled to be chosen.
At the end of the parade, Evelyn took the children with her to the Folkmoot Friendship Center for more activities while Mitchell and Laura folded up their chairs to carry back to Quinlan’s.
“I hope you don’t mind joining Mom and the kids at the Friendship Center for more celebrating. The kids will be disappointed if we don’t go for a little while at least,” he said, as he tucked away their chairs in the storage room. “I think you’ll enjoy it.”
“I’m sure I will,” she said, following him out to his car.
“There will be youth activities, face-painting, dance lessons, and artisans sharing pottery, beadwork, and jewelry. There will also be food vendors with baked goods, ice cream, and some international cuisine. We’ll stay a little while and then slip away to catch dinner.”
They drove to the Folkmoot Friendship Center and enjoyed taking the children around to see the booths and activities going on. At five when Evelyn loaded up two very tired children to head for home, Mitchell said goodbye to various friends and then they walked to Mitchell’s car.
“I thought we’d go eat at Clyde’s not far from here,” he said as they got in the car. “It’s a great old-fashioned diner with home-cooked comfort food. The food is really good with daily specials and great local vegetables. I don’t think I’ve taken you there yet. Will Clyde’s be all right with you?”
“It will be fine,” she assured him. “And I think you’re tired, too.”
“Frankly, I’m wiped. We worked late last night getting things ready for the parade and then I was out again early this morning.”
They drove on to the restaurant and a short time later were seated and began looking over the menu.
“What do you usually order?” she asked.
“I usually get one of the daily specials, a meat with three vegetables.” He pointed to the options on the menu. “The fried chicken is great and you can pick any three vegetables you like with it. I think I’ll get green beans, carrots, and creamed corn tonight but, believe me, everything here is good.”
She studied the menu for a minute. “I’ll have the same,” she said.
He smiled at her. “You’re always so easy to please in a restaurant.”
She grinned at him. “Maybe, but I’m not easy to please with upholstery work. I’m very picky there.”
They visited over dinner, talking about the things they’d enjoyed during the day. Laura told Mitchell about Lillian calling and he caught her up on the theft that had occurred.
“I keep wondering what in the heck they’ve been doing with all that stuff,” he said, frowning. “The police haven’t found a single clue to any of this either. It’s frustrating, and I admit I’m taking all this more personally since I got attacked in May. I worry something worse may happen to someone.”
“Maybe they’ll find some clues after this,” Laura suggested.
“I hope so.” He paid their bill and then they made their way to his car to head home. “I’m going to go crash after I take you home,” he said. “I’ll probably be busy much of this week, too, with things related to the festival. And next Saturday you’ll get to enjoy the big International Day. The next weekend, though, I thought we’d take off on Saturday to go hike a trail in the Smoky Mountains. What do you think?”
“That sounds fabulous,” she said.
“Well, hunt up some comfortable hiking boots between now and then if you don’t already have some,” he added, as he dropped her off at her door with a kiss. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow for church. This Sunday Mimi and Francis have invited us all to their house for lunch. We try to do one grandmother or the other every month to avoid rivalries.”
“I’ll look forward to going to Francis and Mimi’s place again. Those two keep me laughing every time I spend time with them. They are a hoot.”
Mitchell gave her another kiss and then laid his lips against her neck. “I look forward to the time when we don’t have to say goodnight at the door. Won’t it be great to snuggle up all night with each other?” He nibbled at her ear as he said it, making her giggle.
“It will,” she admitted.
“Well, I’m glad we moved the wedding date up to the first Saturday in October. I’m not really loving this waiting anymore.”
She threaded her hands through his hair. “The date is only about two months away now. That’s not long.”
He took a deep breath. “Well, tonight it seems like forever.”
As she climbed out of the Bronco, he added, “Watch for the lights, and I can assure you that you’ll see that extra blink tonight, too.”
Smiling, Laura let herself into the back door. This had been a fabulous, memorable day she’d treasure for a long time.
CHAPTER 16
Two weeks later on a lovely sunny day in early August, Mitchell and Laura headed to the Great Smoky Mountains for a day of hiking. From Waynesville, Mitchell drove toward Maggie Valley and turned to follow Highway 276 to Cove Creek Road, a narrow rural road that climbed over the Cataloochee Divide Mountain range before dropping to the Cataloochee Valley below. At the national park entrance at the bottom of the hill, Mitchell continued straight ahead into Hwy 284, an old dirt and gravel road.
“This part of the Smoky Mountains lies on the far western border of the mountains,” Mitchell told Laura. “Many settlers once lived in the Cataloochee Valley and the old roads and trails they created lattice through the area. I’m taking you to hike on one of my favorite trails today called The Little Cataloochee Trail. It’s a 5.2-miles long hike, about ten and a half miles round trip, so I thought we’d only walk a portion of it today. Unless you hike often, ten to eleven miles can wear you out and leave you with sore muscles the next day.”
“I’m looking forward to this so much and glad it’s a pretty day today.”
Mitchell glanced toward Laura as she spoke, excited, peeking out the window at everything along the way. She wore brown shorts, a pink T-shirt that matched her pink lipstick and cheeks, socks and boots, her hair tied up in a ponytail. “You’re a beautiful woman,” he said.
Her eyes turned to meet his, soft honey brown eyes. “I’m glad you think so, but I’m just a regular brown-haired, brown-eyed girl.”
“Whoever told you that missed really seeing you. Was it your sister?”
Her glance away from his eyes gave him the answer.
“I’ve seen your sister’s pictures. She’s pretty but no more so than you, Laura. From what I’ve heard you’re a lot nicer person in every way, too.”
“So, tell me about the trail,” she said, changing the subject.
“You’ll see it soon. It’s an old settlers’ roadbed. I’ll tell you more about it as we walk along. I like it because it’s a culturally rich trail. Many families lived near this road through Little Cataloochee and there are remnants of their lives all along the way—old cabins, a church, cemeteries, and more. I often wonder what it might have been like to live here, to walk or ride horseback to church or school every day, to live so simply. Eleven houses used to sit off the trail we’ll be walking along, four log ones and seven frame ones, plus barns, smokehouses, corncribs and other buildings. Here and there you’ll see evidences of the settlers if you look closely—crumbling walls, rosebushes they brought and planted, patches of daffodils that bloom in spring, apple and fruit trees, old fence posts.”
He laughed then as his Bronco hit a rutted hole in the road. “Despite how great this trail is, not many people hike it because they hate this piece of rough road leading to it. I don’t know why the state of North Carolina doesn’t repair it. It’s a harsh, bumpy, stomach-bouncing drive.”
Laura gripped the handle above the door as Mitchell hit another pothole. “I notice we haven’t passed any cars on this road.”
He chuckled. “I’ll bet you ten bucks we won’t see a single one either.”
After a time, Mitchell turned into a small pull off near the beginning of the trail. They locked the car, put their waist packs on, and started down a slope that soon flattened out to wind into the valley. Although the road was narrow, it was wide enough for them to walk along side by side. Mitchell pointed out trees and sights along the way, even a few wildflowers beside the path.
