After All These Years Read Online Free PDF Page B

in last night.” She walked back into the store, smiling to herself at the look on his face. The gauntlet had been tossed the night before when he terrified her by walking unannounced into her apartment. Teasing him about not patronizing the shop was her payback. The teddy bear remark put her ahead. It had rendered him speechless.
    She stepped behind the counter where Dot handed her a bottle of capsules.
    â€œThis needs your okay. And this one here.”
    â€œThanks, Dot.”
    Her only full-time employee was a bit of a puzzle. In her mid-50s, the platinum blonde was well-preserved, petite, always fashionably dressed, and pretty. But one minute she resembled an airhead embellishing the latest rumor, and the next she was efficiently advising a customer about his prescription. Like a fixture at the pharmacy, she had worked there almost for as long as the Bentleys had owned the place. Lia happily kept her on because she knew the business. Legally she could do everything regarding a prescriptionexcept give it to a customer without Lia’s approval first. Rightly, the customers trusted Dot’s knowledge.
    At the moment Lia sensed an icy draft floating in her direction despite Dot’s normal tone of voice and smile. What in the world could have happened between the time Lia left to chat a moment with Cal and now?
    Cal. Yes. What was it Isabel said? He was dating Dot’s daughter, Tammy.
Oh, Lord, these small-town relationships…
    When there was a lull in the activity, Lia said, “Dot, your Tammy certainly has herself a catch. Cal is so thoughtful and professional.”
    Dot was never at a loss for words, but her tongue seemed to be in a stranglehold. “Uh, what’s he doing here?”
    â€œInstalling a deadbolt. I met him last night. He was patrolling the alley and saw me unloading Chloe in the rain. He stopped to help and noticed the flimsy lock on the back door. Now here he comes today offering to take care of it.”
    â€œThat’s our Cal.” She glanced over her shoulder and lowered her voice. “Between you and me, I think they’ll be engaged soon.”
    â€œCongratulations,” Lia whispered.
    Dot gave her a conspiratorial smile as three customers walked up.
    Lia sighed inaudibly. If Dot knew her better, she’d understand there was nothing to worry about. Lia had no intentions of stealing Cal away from his intended. Chloe’s father had cured her of even the thought of sharing her life with a man.

    Lia bounded up the stairs behind Chloe, both of them giggling. It was evening, after dinner, and they had just raided the store’s candy shelf. Homemade fudge and a generous array of licorice, candy bars, and chewy drops filled a basket.
    They raced to the couch and plopped down cross-legged. A cartoon video awaited in the VCR and a fluffy newcomer named Soot lay curled up on the rug, purring.
    â€œChloe, it wasn’t too bad of a first day, was it?”
    The girl concentrated on unwrapping a candy bar, her chubby cheeks hidden behind her chin-length black hair falling forward. She resembled Lia only slightly. The Asian hint about her eyes was less pronounced, evidence of another generation removed from her grandmother’s ancestry. Chloe’s royal blue eye color was a beautiful blending of her mother’s almost black and her father’s light blue.
    â€œThe vet was nice, wasn’t she?” Lia prompted. Gina had delivered the kitten that afternoon.
    Chloe nodded. “I like Soot. And Isabel was funny.”
    â€œShe’s my new best friend here. What did you think about the school?” They had registered Chloe that afternoon while the store was closed for a 45-minute noon break. She would begin fifth grade next week when school opened.
    The girl shrugged. “It’s old. Not like home.”
    â€œI know. Little towns have a lot of old things, like this building. But at least we have a video store right next