Shop On the Corner, page 7
Evelyn looked after the children and commented, “I always try to link every event to reading and learning if I can.”
“How well I remember.” Mitchell grinned. “You did it with Alise and me, too.”
“So I did.” Evelyn turned to Laura. “I imagine you’re worn out from a long day with the children and would like to get back home. I hope you will come back and visit with us again another time.”
“I’d love that,” she replied.
“Thank you for helping to make a nice day for Mackenzie and Charlie.” Evelyn paused. “What did you do with Bennett Renfree’s apartment over his shop? He had some incredible pieces of furniture there, used a lot of rich reds, gorgeous lamps and chandeliers, and lovely art and collectibles. I think Becky Ray said no one in the family wanted to take his things and that if the new owners didn’t buy the furnishings, Renfree’s sister planned to have an auction company come pick it all up. Did you keep any of it? I’ve wondered.”
“I’ve chosen to live in the apartment over the shop,” Laura answered. “I thought the realty company’s offer to buy the shop and apartment furnished was reasonable. I needed the additional equipment and furnishings for the shop, not wanting to move any more than I needed to from my other store. I also really liked the photos of the furnishings in the apartment.” She smiled. “My favorite color is red and my own small apartment had a lot of furniture and decorative pieces in red. I’ve found the two melded well together.”
“How wonderful,” Evelyn said. “Let Mitchell come up to see your apartment so he can tell me about it. If I recall, Bennett Renfree had one or two of my paintings in his place. I’d love to know if they’re still there. Later when I’m in town one day, maybe you and I can have lunch and you can show me how you’ve redecorated the place. I was fond of Bennett. I know he’d be happy to think someone was enjoying all the beautiful things he collected. He was quite an artisan in his own way and did a lot to support the arts in Waynesville. I’m hoping maybe you might fill some of his old roles. We always need volunteers at the Haywood County Arts Council on Main. It’s just around the corner from your shop. I’ll take you over to meet some of the staff one day.”
“I’d like that.”
Evelyn turned back toward her painting. “With the children busy for a time I might get this painting finished this afternoon if I get back to work. You two have a blessed afternoon.”
Mitchell led the way back downstairs, marveling as he always did at his mother’s skillful ways of orchestrating his life. Not that she couldn’t keep her oar out when needed but she’d always had a keen sense about people and a way of moving individuals and events around in an artful way, like a person would formulate moves in a chess game.
“Your family has a lovely home and yard,” Laura said as they walked out onto the back patio near his car.
He glanced toward the deep back yard. “In the spring the yard will come alive with dogwoods, yellow forsythia, tulips, and daffodils.” He pointed to a path by the back hedge. “Through the shrubs a side path winds behind the Episcopal church to a pretty Memorial Garden. The flowers and shrubs are nice on the garden walkway in the spring and summer. I used to slip over there to play as a kid, and I take Mackenzie and Charlie now.”
“You have a wonderful family, Mitchell,” she said, climbing into the car as he opened the door for her. “You’re really blessed with that. Your mother is so gracious and the kids are smart and fun with really good manners.”
He walked around to climb into the Bronco and started the ignition to back out of the driveway. “I’m glad you had a good time today, Laura.” Alone with her now he could feel that little sizzle and draw floating in the air. It always made him want to touch her.
“If you have time, Mitchell, maybe you can come up to see my apartment, like your mother suggested. You can look around to see if I have any of her paintings. I guess I didn’t look at the artist names under the different ones on the walls carefully. It would be lovely if I own one of her works. She is so talented.”
Mitchell smiled at how his mother had orchestrated this opportunity. “Maybe I can take you to dinner after as a reward for putting up with my niece and nephew all day. I promise something nicer than hamburgers and shakes.”
He saw her twist her hands in her lap. “You don’t have to do that, Mitchell.”
“I know but I’d like to,” he replied. “You can show me your place, what you’ve been doing in the shop, and over dinner maybe you can tell me how you’re getting along with the Harbecks.”
She hesitated in replying and Mitchell felt that reluctance in her again, even though he believed she really wanted to spend more time with him. What troubled her? Something did. And something held her back. She obviously had secrets of some sort.
CHAPTER 5
Laura had impulsively said yes to Mitchell’s invitation to spend most of her Saturday with him and his young niece and nephew. She was, admittedly, eager to get to know him better but also reluctant to spend too much time with him one-on-one. A day in the company of his family sounded fun and more casual. She wanted to get out and see more of Waynesville. With the shop not open yet, her days were filled mostly with work. A break would be good.
At the end of the day now, as Mitchell drove her back to her apartment, Laura felt glad she’d said yes to his invitation. She’d enjoyed a great time with Mitchell, Mackenzie, and Charlie, loved how fun and relaxed he was with the children. She liked his mother, too, and felt confident in an odd way that the two of them would get along if they got together for lunch later, both loving and appreciating art. The upholstery business was more artistic than most people realized—or it could be for some. It certainly was for her.
Thinking over Evelyn Quinlan’s words about Bennett Renfree’s apartment, Laura was eager to look at her paintings more closely now to see if she owned one of Evelyn’s works. She felt excited, too, about Evelyn helping her to get more involved in the community. She wanted that, wanted to be useful, and wanted to make more friends.
Mitchell parked his car behind his store and they walked around to Miller Street to cross to her shop. She unlocked the front door.
“There’s an entrance to my apartment directly off Montgomery Street, too, by the parking lot,” she told Mitchell. “But this entrance is closer for us.”
He followed her inside, glancing around. “The vestibule and waiting area look much the same as I remember.”
“They both do.” She turned to grin at him. “Nolan said whenever Bennett got bored that he redecorated the vestibule, recovered the chairs, painted or papered the walls, and switched out the paintings. I had to dust and sweep everything, of course, but I thought the entry area looked beautiful as it was—certainly more so than the entry at my old shop.”
Laura opened the door on their left. “I might re-do the office though to make it more my own style.” She gestured at the vibrant art on the walls. “I’m not very fond of modern art like this, but I do love the furniture and the antique rug. What do you think?”
“Hmmm. The modern art here is a little surreal and abstract for me, too,” he replied. “I like more realistic art. I know many people love art exactly like this, though.”
She nodded and then giggled. “Nolan said I could put these paintings in the upholstery workroom, that they would brighten the place up.”
“I can see that working well.” He leaned his head to one side. “You know, these look sort of like Paul Klee’s colorful buildings and surrealistic art.”
She lifted an eyebrow.
Mitchell spread his hands and grinned. “I was raised by an artist. You tend to pick up artists’ names and remember them.”
Laura walked over to look at the prints on the wall more closely. “These are prints of Paul Klee’s.” She turned to him. “I’m impressed.”
“Come show me how the shop and the salesroom are coming along. Nolan and Rita said they worked some on Friday afternoon to clean both up a little more.”
“Honestly, they all but begged me to stay and work.”
“They’re like that; I don’t think you’ll be sorry you hired either of them.”
“I don’t either and I’m already glad they wanted to come back.” She led the way from the office and vestibule into a hallway. “The salesroom, where customers can look at fabrics for their upholstery jobs, doesn’t look much different from the day when we sat at the table there to talk,” Laura said. “But I’ll show you the big upholstery work room.” She led him to the right into a large room that filled the entire end of the building.
Mitchell followed.
“This is a great work area,” Laura said, stopping to gaze around. “There will be plenty of room for all three of us to work on different projects here, and I love the partitioned sewing area Bennett created. It’s large enough so Rita and I can both sew if needed. Renfree’s business space is bigger than my shop was back home.”
“And where was your shop?”
“In a little town in the deep South you’ve probably never heard of.” She shrugged. “Let me take you upstairs now. I want you to look around to see if I have one of your mother’s paintings.”
Laura felt sure Mitchell noticed her evasive answer about her old shop location, and her quick change of subject, because he gave her an odd look. But he didn’t question her further.
A door from the shop led into the hallway of the back entrance. To the left a wide door led outside to the parking area behind the store, and to the right stairs led upstairs to her apartment.
Laura stopped to unlock her front door as they reached the entry area, and then she ushered Mitchell inside.
“The place looks a little like I remember,” he said, pausing inside the doorway.
“The whole apartment was decorated in rich reds, creams, and white, with a touch of yellow and green, but I toned down the strength of the colors and the elegance of the place to make it cozier and more comfortable for me.”
He smiled. “I can see some of the changes, especially chairs and pillows in red-checked fabric and many of your own things scattered around. The place looks nice.”
“Thanks.” She took off her coat and draped it and his on a coat rack by the door. “I admit I spent most of my time here the last two weeks working to make the place more a home for myself. It was a little posh and elegant for my tastes, and many of Bennett Renfree’s things were still here. I packed up his personal items, clothes, and books in boxes. I’m not sure what I’ll do with them yet.”
“We have a couple of thrift stores that would love to take any of the things you don’t think you can resell.”
“That’s a great idea. I’ve been trying to decide what to do about everything. I also wrote Bennett’s sister. I thought she might like some of the personal photos I found tucked away.”
“That was nice of you.” Mitchell walked around, looking into the dining area to see changes she’d made and glancing into the kitchen. She knew he could see a host of feminine changes throughout, especially in her bedroom with the floral pillows, red and white quilts, and girly items scattered about. She’d even papered her bathroom in a cute floral wallpaper and in Bennett’s old office she’d added colorful pillows and red checked drapes.
Mitchell walked over to a side wall in the office. “Ah, here are my mother’s paintings.” He gestured toward them. “These two paintings of scenes in downtown Waynesville are Mother’s and the one of the town-scape, with the mountains rising in the background behind it, is one of hers, too.”
Laura walked over to study them closer. “Your mother will be pleased to know Bennett had three pieces of her work. And they’re wonderful.”
“I wish I could say Alise or I inherited some of her artistic talent, but Mother thinks Mackenzie is showing promise. Sometimes talent skips a generation.”
Mitchell walked back to the living room. “When Mother comes over, she’ll be able to tell you more about all the paintings in your apartment. Bennett enjoyed buying local art.”
He glanced at his watch. “It’s nearly 5:30. If you’d like, we can go on to dinner. The restaurants get busy if you wait until later on Saturday evening.”
“Okay. Let me tidy up for a minute.” She glanced down at her brown slacks, white shirt and tan sweater. “Do I need to change clothes?”
“No,” he said. “You’re fine. I’m not changing either. Casual clothes are okay where we’re going. I thought we’d walk over to the Firefly Taps & Grill on Main. It’s only about two blocks from here. Have you been there yet?”
“No, but I’ve seen the brown awning and the cute restaurant front.”
“They have good food—trout, sirloin, ribeye, several chicken entrees, country fried steak, nice salads, and sides.”
“It sounds perfect. I’ll go zip in the bathroom, brush my hair, and be right with you.”
A few minutes later, they headed back downstairs to let themselves out of the shop and walked up Miller to the main street that ran through downtown Waynesville.
“Have you met the people in the big Davis Furniture store behind you yet?” he asked.
“I honestly have worked so hard to settle in that I haven’t been anywhere,” she answered. “Just getting out today was a treat.”
Mitchell pointed out different shops and places as they walked along, telling her local facts, keeping her entertained. As they stepped inside the restaurant, several people waved at him and one man across the restaurant stood to walk toward them.
“Hey cousin,” he said, grinning at Mitchell. “Becky Ray and I just sat down to have dinner. Will you guys come and join us?”
Mitchell glanced at Laura for an okay.
“That would be fine,” she assured him. “Becky and I are already friends. She helped me buy the shop and she’s stopped by a time or two to check on me already.”
The young man, about Mitchell’s age, reached out a hand to take hers. “I’m Rob Killian. Mitchell and I are cousins on the Dawson side of the family, and we went to school together.”
“This is Laura O’Dell,” Mitchell said, making the introduction. “She bought Renfree’s old upholstery shop and building across the street from Quinlan’s.”
His eyes lit. “Ah. Becky was telling me someone bought the building. Glad to meet you.”
They walked over to join Becky at a round table near the middle of the room.
After greetings were exchanged, Laura settled into a chair, studying Becky with her curly dark hair, her smile as friendly as always. She wore a jeans skirt, casual shirt, and boots. Rob was casually dressed, too, in jeans and a flannel shirt. His height was similar to Mitchell’s but his hair darker and he had dimples that flashed when he smiled.
“I’m pleased you’ve met Mitchell although I’m not surprised.” Becky grinned. “He tends to get around to meet any new business owners in town.”
Mitchell laughed. “Well, what I’m surprised about is to see you two out for a date. I seem to remember you two had a long running grievance going between you.”
Rob frowned at him and turned to Laura. “You may not know it, but all three of us went to school together here in Waynesville. Becky and I dated in high school and then I foolishly ticked her off by running around with another girl our senior year. We went off to college after but whenever I ran into Becky, here in Waynesville later, she tended to avoid me.”
“I totally avoided you. No tending to about it,” Becky added, grinning.
Rob rolled his eyes. “Well, anyway, I finally talked her into helping me find a house through Re/Max, and while we spent time driving around checking out houses in the area, I apologized. Abjectly, too.” Rob looked across the table at Becky and winked. “We found that while we spent time together, that ‘old good feeling’ we had in high school kicked up between us again.”
Mitchell laughed. “I always thought you’d been foolish to let Becky get away.”
“Here, here.” Becky agreed.
“Well, I’ve made amends,” Rob added.
The waitress came to drop off menus and take drink orders then.
They chatted amiably while they looked over menu options and then ordered. Mitchell ordered steak and Laura decided to try the salmon. Their drinks came in cute mason jars, and the ambience in the restaurant was cozy, with wood floors, a beamed ceiling, and soft lighting.
Laura enjoyed listening to the casual banter of Mitchell, Rob, and Becky, obviously long-time friends.
“I’m sure you both heard about pranksters taking down the flag at the courthouse and hoisting that Jolly Roger pirate flag, didn’t you?” Rob asked.
They nodded.
“Well, last night someone stole the old historic bell in front of the high school,” he continued.
Mitchell looked up in surprise. “Really? I missed hearing that one. But I took Mackenzie and Charlie to the movies and the park today. I dragged Laura along and I guess we were so caught up with the kids we didn’t pick up on the news. What happened?”
“Like the other time, someone came in the night, unscrewed and detached that big bell from its concrete base and simply carried it off,” Rob told them. “No one saw or heard anything.”
“Everyone in town is so upset,” Becky added. “You know that bell used to be on top of the first school in Waynesville and it was rung to call the kids to school. Over time, the old bell has been saved and moved whenever a new school was built. It was at the old high school and then moved to Tuscola High School when it opened. Tuscola still rings it on the first and last day of school, when they win a ball game, or for any other major event. It’s a part of our town’s history. Everyone is in an uproar over this. You can’t replace something like that old bell.”
“Who’d want to make off with an old bell?” Laura asked. “Is it valuable?”
“Probably not, and if someone tried to sell it, they’d be tracked down,” Mitchell added.
“I can’t figure out who’s doing these things. Or why.” Rob shook his head. “A lot of people are getting mad at the mayor, the town aldermen, and the police for letting these things happen.”
