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  “Hi, I’m Clara,” she said to the gentleman and the teenager who had joined Fran up front.

  “Clara, I’m Jeffrey, and this is our granddaughter, Amelia. It’s nice to meet you.”

  “Jeffrey…Amelia… Fran. Easy names to remember. It’s nice to meet you as well. I feel terrible for interrupting your work. I can wait outside in the car. My ride won’t be here for a little while,” she said.

  “We won’t hear of it. Pull up a chair and make yourself comfortable. Business was slow today, so it’s nice to have someone to talk to outside of ourselves. Isn’t that right, Jeffrey?” Fran said.

  “Absolutely. Can we offer you something to drink?” he asked.

  “Oh, no. I’m fine thank you. The last thing I want to do is be a bother. If I can be of help to you in any way, please let me know. I’ve never worked in a hardware store, but I’m quick on my feet and I’m a quick study. So, whatever you need just say the word.”

  “I won’t hear of it. You’re here as our guest, so go on and make yourself comfortable.”

  Clara looked around and pulled up a wooden stool. Amelia returned to her responsibilities in aisle two, and Fran remained with her, leaving Jeffrey to fiddle around up front.

  “What brings you to Huntingtown at this time of night?” Fran asked.

  “I was actually heading north. Just out for an evening drive, really.”

  “Nowadays, you never can be too safe. Having a cell phone with you is essential. You could’ve been stranded, having to hitchhike into town. And, honey, trust me, hitchhiking is about one of the worst things an attractive woman like yourself should ever be doing. There’s so many crazies out there. Don’t you ever watch those night specials that talk about actual crimes happening across the country? I can tell you stories for days about people who went missing then turned up dead or buried in-”

  “Fran, is that necessary? You’re going to scare the poor woman half to death, for goodness’ sake. Even you can’t watch those shows without checking the windows and making sure the door is locked.” Jeffrey laughed.

  “Tell me about it. I’m actually surprised I didn’t check the front door tonight before we started working on the inventory. I was pre-occupied I suppose.”

  Fran glanced at Clara’s hand, noticing she wasn’t wearing a ring.

  “Do you have a boyfriend or brother coming to bail you out?” She smiled.

  “Yes, my boyfriend is coming. He’s used to zipping up and down route four all the time for work. He knows his way around,” Clara said.

  “Oh, what does he do?”

  It was obvious to Clara that Fran was curious by nature, maybe even a tad bit nosey. But, since they were kind enough to take her in on such a dark night, she figured the least she could do was entertain a few questions.

  “He owns Lighthouse Tours… not sure if you’ve heard of it, but they have two locations. One in Solomons and the other up in North Beach. It’s nothing for him to drive here. He does it multiple times a week.”

  “That’s nice.” She leaned in.

  “He must do pretty well for himself if he owns two locations.”

  Clara smiled to be polite.

  “Jeffrey and I have owned this hardware store for what… fifteen years now… isn’t that right, sweetheart?”

  “Fifteen years and counting,” he said.

  “Seems like it was just yesterday that we opened up for business. Back then we were crazy enough to invest with my siblings. It was the most chaotic time of our lives. Remember that, Jeffrey? It almost caused us to get a divorce, didn’t it, Jeffrey?” She chuckled.

  “It sure did. Your brothers were as crazy as they come back then. Especially the oldest one. Thankfully, we survived without having to go out of business. But, I told Fran if she ever comes up with an idea like that again, I would be adios amigos. Needless to say, my wife came to her senses, and fifteen years later we’re still happily married, and in business here at the store,” he said.

  Fran stood beside Jeffrey, patting him on the back.

  “He’s telling the truth. You know how the saying goes. You can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family.” She continued to smile.

  Clara found it to be ironic that they would touch on the subject of family. Especially on the heels of everything that was happening in her life.

  “So, did you resolve things with your brothers? I’m not sure about the details, but disagreeing over business matters can be rather tough, I would imagine,” Clara said.

  “That’s an understatement. We couldn’t seem to get on the same page regarding finances, so that made it even worse. You know how it is when opinions and egos get involved. We thought it would be best to buy them out and salvage the family ties. Don’t get me wrong, I was ready to kick them to the curb, but I’d never forgive myself if Fran had to sever ties with her own flesh and blood. It wasn’t worth it. Thankfully, we worked everything out… and now, as they say, everything else is history.” Jeffrey explained.

  Fran wore more of a serious expression on her face.

  “Don’t mind us. If you sit here long enough, we can tell you stories for days. Enough about me and my siblings. What about you? Do you have a lot of family here in Maryland?” she asked.

  “No, I don’t. I have a sister who’s in town visiting, but we’re from New York. I moved here several years ago. I love living by the water and don’t see myself leaving anytime soon.”

  “Well, that’s nice,” Fran replied.

  “It’s funny you should mention not getting along with your sibling. My sister and I have struggled with being on the same page for most of our lives,” Clara said, looking downward.

  “Honey, welcome to the club. I’ve never seen three people born from the same woman, with such vastly distinct personalities. I mean so different until it used to make me wonder if some of us were adopted.” She laughed.

  “I’m teasing, of course. Family is all you have. So, we’ll continue to do as we’ve always done… learn to forgive, try to forget, and move on with life.” Fran continued.

  “But, what if you can’t forgive anymore? What if you’ve simply reached the end of your rope?”

  Fran came from behind the counter.

  “Something tells me you’re currently going through something,” Fran said.

  “Yes, except the only difference is it appears to be a lifelong thing for me. Not just an incident here and there. My sister and I have always been at odds.” Clara shrugged her shoulders.

  “You and your husband have been so gracious to let me hang out here until my ride shows up. The last thing you need is a stranger unloading all of her problems on you.” She continued.

  Fran hobbled a few feet away, reaching for another stool and made herself comfortable.

  “I’m a big believer in the idea that things happen for a reason. It’s no coincidence that your gas ran out here. It could’ve happened anywhere… but perhaps I have something in my arsenal of tools that I can impart to help you with your situation. So, unload if you want to. Tell me what’s on your mind. Maybe I can help,” she said, folding her arms, ready to listen.

  “Eh, there’s so much I wouldn’t know where to begin,” Clara responded, wondering how far she should go with a stranger.

  “Honey, I have two siblings that almost caused us to lose this business. One who still causes trouble every year when he shows up for family holidays, and the other who’s finances are so out of sorts he’s practically become a child of mine. Would you like for me to go on?” She smiled.

  Clara relaxed a bit.

  “No, it’s okay. It’s obvious you understand where I’m coming from. Of course, the details may differ a bit, but I guess we all have challenges, don’t we?” she said.

  “Exactly.”

  “Well, as I mentioned, in my situation, my sister and I grew up at odds. She was always the ungrateful and self-centered one, always looking to get over. Have you ever met somebody who depletes and drains the life out of you by
the choices they make?” she asked.

  “Certainly. We all have I would imagine.”

  “Yeah, well, that’s my sister. Except I thought I freed myself from that over ten years ago when I left New York. Now, she’s back… and the only reason is because she’s in trouble and desperately needs help. You mentioned having a dependent, and I know exactly what that’s like. The worst part is I finally have a life now. I spent several years focusing on work, and I’ve finally come out of my shell and met an amazing man. But, just when life was going really good, she shows up,” Clara said, sounding weaker the more she spoke.

  “Sweetheart, listen to me. You’re probably not going to want to hear this, but the worst thing you could ever do is run from your problems. You’ve got to embrace this head on. Confront things with your sister, set your expectations, and always believe there’s room for healing.”

  “I’m not running,” Clara responded.

  Fran tilted her head downward, being intentional about looking Clara in the eye.

  “I don’t know you that well, but in this brief conversation, you’ve shared enough details to let me know you’re running. What do you call leaving your home state of New York? Or better yet, getting in your car tonight and fleeing whatever transpired back home?”

  Clara adjusted herself upright, sitting at full attention. Fran’s words of wisdom stung and left her feeling exposed.

  “Even if that’s the case, she pushed it way too far this time. There’s no turning back. Eh eh… no way. At this point I’m starting to think I’m better off when I stay disconnected from everyone… that way my life can be free of disappointment, embarrassment, and the shame that comes along with having to share this with others. It’s too much.” She confessed.

  Fran tapped her pointer finger on the counter, not holding back an ounce of passion.

  “I don’t know what she did or didn’t do, but none of it is worth losing close relationships over. Those who truly love you will understand. You have to trust and believe it’s true,” she said.

  Jeffrey returned from his work, pointing toward the front door.

  “Ladies, I hate to interrupt your conversation, but it appears as though a vehicle has pulled up in the parking lot. I thought it might be your ride,” he said.

  Shortly after, a car door slammed, the door opened, and Mike stepped in waving at Clara. Fran took one last opportunity to conclude their conversation.

  “Try not to close yourself off to others when things get tough. I’m older than you and already had to learn these lessons the hard way. The only one who will truly suffer in the end is you.”

  Mike walked up to Clara, giving her a kiss and placing her cell phone in her hands.

  “I made it here as quickly as I could. Are you okay?” he asked.

  “I’m fine. Fran and Jeffrey have been gracious hosts. I don’t know what I would’ve done without them.”

  “It was our pleasure to have you. This was a pleasant end to the workday. I’m just sorry we couldn’t talk longer,” Fran said.

  She then turned to address Mike.

  “Be sure to keep a close eye on her. She’s quite the gem,” she said, smiling.

  “I certainly will, ma’am,” Mike responded, extending his hand.

  “Please, call me Fran.”

  “All right, Fran.”

  Clara shared one last heartfelt word of gratitude and invited them down to Solomons sometime.

  “If you 're ever in the area, we’d love to have you down for a tour,” she said, and Mike concurred.

  “That’s a great idea. Please, as my way of saying thank you, it’s on the house. Come anytime.” He offered.

  Jeffrey and Fran thanked them and waited by the front door until Clara’s car was up and running.

  Her cell phone rang as she followed Mike down route four. The screen flashed Mike’s name. She knew in the pit of her stomach he would have questions, and she would have some explaining to do.

  “Hi,” she answered.

  “How are you doing back there?”

  “I’m fine. I didn’t realize it was going to downpour like this tonight. It’s awful out here.”

  “I know. To think you would’ve been on the road in this weather by yourself even if you didn’t run out of gas is pretty scary,” he said.

  “I know. It was stupid of me to take off like that. I should’ve at least slowed down for a second to grab my phone.”

  “No, Clara. A better solution may have been to run out and talk with me. Or if you didn’t want to talk, at least sit with me, so I would know that you’re okay. You don’t deserve your sister showing up in your life and dropping all this on your plate, I get it. But, the people in your life who love and care about you don’t deserve to be worried sick about you all the time. Honestly, I don’t get why your only response is to run. You have more of a say so in this than you think,” he said, trying to plea on her behalf.

  “Mike, that’s well said, coming from an outsider looking in. But, it’s not as easy as you’re making it sound,” she replied.

  There was a moment of silence, followed by the sound of heavy rain and windshield wipers on both ends of the line.

  “So, I’m an outsider now?” he asked.

  “Mike, you know what I mean. I’m going through a lot right now, and I don’t have the patience for your overly sensitive feelings about every little thing.” She retorted.

  “Mmm, I see. Well, on that note, you know best. Me and my sensitive feelings will stay out of it.”

  Clara’s eyes burned with aggravation, mixed with regret for not choosing her words more carefully. She refrained from saying another word, creating an awkward ending to their conversation and car ride home.

  Chapter 7

  Mackenzie closed the cash register in time to look up and see Brody walking in. He removed his baseball cap, nodding his head to greet a customer before looking her way.

  “Brody, is that you?” she asked.

  His face lit up with a smile.

  “Yep, it’s me… in the flesh. Figured I’d come over and try something from your menu before I start working on the boats this afternoon,” he replied.

  “I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen you in here. I always thought you were more of a bring your lunch from home kind of guy. I think you used to tell me it was your way of saving money for a rainy day, isn’t that right?” she asked, grabbing a menu and leading him to a window seat.

  The afternoon bridge club gathered in the center of the café, reshuffling their cards, and taking restroom breaks before the next round.

  Brody took a seat at a booth.

  “Technically, that’s true. I try to be wise with my funds, however I’ve been told more than once that I need to learn to get out more. So, I figured I’d start by coming over here and treating myself to a nice lunch,” he said, clearing his throat and adjusting his clothing.

  “Okay. Sounds good to me. You look nice, by the way. You certainly don’t present yourself like a man who works with dirty motors and parts all day.”

  “Thank you.” He smiled at her, probably a minute longer than he should’ve, but he found her to be attractive and couldn’t help but stare.

  “Today for our specials we have a delicious corn chowder soup, red snapper, or a hot brisket sandwich if you’re interested.”

  “It all sounds delicious. Now I see why the others like to come over here so much,” he said, skimming over the menu.

  “We definitely should have something to satisfy your palate. I’ll tell you what. Take a few minutes to glance over the menu and I’ll be right back to take your order. Can I grab something to drink for you?” she asked.

  “A glass of water will do.”

  Again, he looked her in the eyes and smiled, this time quickly returning to the menu as not to look like a weirdo.

  Mackenzie passed by the bridge club table, checking to see if anyone needed refills on their drinks.

  “Ms. Violet, is your tea still nice and hot? I
can bring some more hot water if you’d like?”

  “I’m good. Thank you, Mackenzie. It’s time for me to kick some serious butt in this next round. If anybody tries to stop my winning streak, they’re going down,” she said, pumping her fists in the air.

  “Oh, dear. All right, I’ll leave you to it.” Mackenzie laughed.

  “By the way, I’d like you to meet the newest member of the club. Darla, this is Mackenzie… she’s the head boss in charge… tip her well and she’ll take good care of you. Isn’t that right, McKenzie?”

  “Ms. Violet, I’d like to believe you get stellar service from me whether a tip is included or not.” She smiled.

  “Hey, I’m just trying to look out for you, that’s all,” Ms. Violet said.

  “Mackenzie, it’s nice to finally meet you. I’m new to the area, but I’ve already been hearing rave reviews about the café. Trust me, I don’t like to cook much, so don’t be surprised if you see me in here every day.”

  “Well, we’re happy to serve you, Ms. Darla.”

  “Please, call me Darla. Ms. Darla makes me sound old. In my mind I’m not a day over forty.” She chuckled.

  Ms. Violet found her comment to be humorous.

  “You ought to stop telling yourself those lies,” she said, glancing over her cards.

  It was all Mackenzie could do to keep a straight face in front of these women.

  “I’m teasing. You look dashing, honey. Why don’t you go ahead and try a slice of that hot apple pie you ordered before it cools down? I want to whisper something to Mackenzie right quick,” she said, motioning for McKenzie to come closer.

  “Is everything okay?” Mackenzie asked, lowering her voice.

  “Oh, yes. Everything is fine. But, I noticed that fella over there… the one you seated by the window. He’s been staring at you from the moment he walked in to the moment you walked over here. I think has a little crush on you.” Violet winked.

  “Oh no, Ms. Violet. He’s one of the guys from Lighthouse Tours across the street. There’s nothing there.” She chuckled, dismissing the idea immediately.

  “Listen. I might be seventy-seven, but I still have twenty-twenty vision. What I just saw was a man admiring you from afar. You don’t have to pay attention to me if you don’t want to, but last I heard, you are single and on the market. I wouldn’t be so dismissive if I were you,” Violet said, bluntly, no different than a grandmother without a filter.