Gathering Water Read Online Free PDF Page B

but it lasted for only an instant, then he was back to the laid-back old shopkeeper.
    “Well, I’m even sorrier to hear that. Where are you planning on staying, Della? There’s a great bed and breakfast down the street. Actually, there are several great ones.”
    “Well, Luke, that’s why we’re here. Della is insisting on staying at the old house. She’s gonna need some stuff, candles and whatnot. Maybe you can talk her into staying s omewhere else. Maybe call up her uncle. I’m sure he doesn’t know, and you still keep in touch with him, don’t you?” John was clearly hoping I’d change my mind.
    “Mr. McCay, I’d told you I’d really rather stay at the house. It can’t be worse than camping.” I’d never actually been camping before. I’d almost gone once, but the family I was with sent me away again before the trip since I freaked out their other kids or something. I can’t remember too well since I was only about 7 or 8 at the time.
    “It’ll be a s ight better than camping, and you know it John. There’s nothing seriously wrong with that house, other than its needing a good paint job and maybe a few new shingles. There’s no water or electricity or anything like that, but that can be fixed in the next few days, no problem. John, you can go ahead and get out of here if you want. I can fix Della up with what she’ll need and take her on over to the house. I know the way, if that’s okay with you, Della.” Since having one stranger take me to a place I’ve never been before was much the same as having another stranger take me, I had no objections to his plan. At least he seemed on board with it. Besides, my gut instinct told me he was safe.
    John took Luke up on his offer, and the two walked outside together to unload my things and pack them into Luke ’s truck. They were out there for a while, much longer than necessary to transfer my three bags, and I took the time to look around the shop. It had a little bit of everything, from fishing gear to grocery items, beach towels to boogey boards. He even had a red wagon full of potted plants for sale. I grabbed a cart and started grabbing up things I’d need for the night. Instead of candles, I opted for a yellow battery operated lantern then grabbed a couple of gallons of distilled water, bananas, some bread and sandwich things.
    When Luke finally came back in, he looked at my selection on the countertop then went around his store adding a few more things, including bug spray, then rang me up. I’m pretty sure he gave me a pretty significant discount, but before I could argue at the cost he grabbed my brand new bank card out of my hands, ran it, and hopped back away from the counter with his keys in his hand.
    “Have you had any lunch yet?” he asked while turning off the lights and ushering me and my purchases through the front door.
    “No, but I got some sandwiches and stuff.”
    “Well, why don’t I show you a great little spot, and it’s walking distance from Anise’s, which is to say, your place. Best she-crab soup around, but today’s special is usually a bucket full of oysters. What do you think? My treat.”
    “I don’t know, it’s really not necessary…“
    “Ok, well I guess I shouldn’t have asked. How’s this: we’re going to lunch, my treat.” Then he chuckled to himself like he was so clever or something. It wasn’t the idea of his buying me lunch that made me hesitant, it was the food. I mean, I didn’t have any idea what the heck she-crab soup was! And oysters? Seriously? I’d never had them before, but I’d seen pictures and they looked like snot balls to me. But he seemed way too excited by the idea of lunch, so I let him take me.
    Luke was obviously a regular there, because he chatted up nearly everyone once we walked in the door of the place. We sat at the bar and I let Luke order for me, since most of the stuff on the menu sounded completely foreign to me. Yeah, I grew up in California, but my foster