“Any issues?” she asked as she rang up a customer.
“All good,” he said. “What should I do with the unpacked boxes?”
“Break them down and put them in the recycling bin behind the store.”
“Okay, got it.”
The busy day continued apace as shoppers flocked to the store, eager to find the perfect gifts for their loved ones.Penny’s other staffers, Ben and Sara, arrived for their shifts and showed Daniel the book-ordering computer. More books arrived that needed unpacking and labeling and shelving, which Daniel jumped at doing.
Sometime around lunchtime, as she finished helping a customer find a cookbook, Penny heard her name and turned to find Hettie Mae and Donald approaching.
“Hey,” Penny said. “Good to see you two.”
Hettie Mae got right to the point. “We heard he’s here.”
“Daniel Bedford,” Donald added unnecessarily.
“He volunteered to help today,” Penny said, not even bothering to ask how they knew. As usual, the Heartsprings Valley communications network was operating at lightspeed.
At that moment, Daniel approached with the book cart, ready to add more books to the shelves.
“Daniel,” Penny said, calling him over, “I’d like to introduce you to Hettie Mae and Donald, two members of the store’s monthly book club.”
“Good to meet you both,” Daniel replied, shaking their hands.
“Mr. Bedford, it’s a pleasure meeting you as well,” Hettie Mae replied, giving him a thorough once-over. “Our book club readGathering Pointand I’m pleased to report that we were very impressed.”
“Quite impressed,” Donald added, nodding vigorously. “Especially by the accuracy of your historical details.”
Daniel smiled. “Thank you. I’m glad to hear that.”
Hettie Mae cleared her throat. “But I would be remiss, Mr. Bedford, if I didn’t also mention your Christmas essay, which impressed us much less.”
Daniel went still, steeling himself what was to come.
“The essay’s well-written, of course —no surprise there, given your talent as a writer. And the facts you chose to includefor your core argument appear to be accurate, or at least accurate enough to be used in the way you used them.”
“Thank you.”
Hettie Mae’s gaze was frank. “Unfortunately, that’s as much praise as I’m prepared to offer.”
“Well,” Daniel said, “you’re being kinder than many of my critics.”
She sniffed with distaste. “I would certainly hope so. The online mob, those angry people on TV —they’re not me.”
“They’re a virus,” Donald added.
Hettie Mae turned to him, startled. “An excellent modern application of the term, Donald.”
Donald flushed with pleasure. “I know you consider me an old fuddy-duddy, Hettie Mae, but I assure you, I remain fully capable of meeting the present moment.”
“Gratifying to hear.” She returned her attention to Daniel. “I understand you’re participating in a ‘Christmas tour’ of our little town.”
“I am, yes.”
“With Penny as your guide.”
“She’s done a great job.”
