Ruddy Creek emptying into Reedy River lived up to its name a thousand fold. Brown, brackish water meandered up to a reed-lined waterway. Its name bled into the town and took over: Reedy Groceries, Reedy Pharmacy, Reedy Bank, and down the line of the usual small town stores and offices.
The place was tinier than larger, flashier cities, but maybe it was, in turn, more reliable, more comfortable, more potentially home.
I’d walked down one side of the main street and up the other. No for hire signs. So it was going to be a day of cold calls and chatting with the locals. All I had to do was decide where to begin.
To my left was Reedy Pharmacy, across the street Reedy town center which the sign in front said held all the municipal offices. My immediate choices: stock clerk or gofer/receptionist/office worker?
I sighed. Did it matter? I’d try the pharmacy first and then the city HR department.
A bell rang over my head. It was a nice small town touch. Walking purposefully, I headed to the pickup counter and the guy in his late fifties or early sixties wearing the white jacket.
“Hi. May I help you?”
He had a kind voice, so I took the plunge.
“Hi, I’m Max Dearborn. I just rented a cottage at the Buck Tail Resort and am looking for a job. Are you hiring?” I took a breath. “Or do you know of anyone else in town who is?”
He gave me a long assessing look, then stuck out his hand.
“Dr. Phil Rogers, pharmacist. Hope you don’t mind my asking. How old are you, son?”
Here we go. I either looked older than he imagined oryounger than he thought. Either way, I was probably screwed.
“Twenty-six,” I answered truthfully. Not having a driver’s license, though, I couldn’t prove it.
Buying a copy of my birth certificate was on the top of my to-do list. Along with getting a driver’s license. Then a Harley. I had plans for the money I would work to earn.
“Okay, go down to the lumber yard in back of the hardware store. Ask for Lem. Tell ‘em Doc sent you. He’ll fill you in from there.” He held out his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
His handshake sent a ripple through me. It wasn’t sexual attraction, but it still shocked and left a lingering jolt of surprise. It wasn’t all bad. In fact, I felt better, younger, more at peace as I looked into his eyes. His face registered my reaction to the spark and he grinned. He gave my hand an extra squeeze.
“You go now. Lem’s waiting for you.”
Yeah, right. But I didn’t say anything but, “Thanks,” as I turned and walked out of the pharmacy.
The hardware store at the end of the street seemed to glow in the noonday sunshine. I tried to walk slowly, but my feet wanted to run. Skip. Jump. And, God help me, cavort down the street.
Maybe I should have lunch before I went to the lumber yard?
I stopped walking, bent down, put my hands on my thighs, and took a deep breath. I couldn’t get sick now. I had to find a job first.
“Hey, there. You okay? You need help?” a concerned voice asked.
Looking up and over my shoulder, I watched two guys who were holding hands walking toward me.
“Naw.” I stood and shook out my hands and arms. “Just a little winded. Probably altitude or something.”
With puzzled brows, they exchanged a glance that lookedlike a quick debate.
“Where you headed?” the taller guy asked.
“Uh, over to the lumberyard. To see Lem. Doc sent me.”
They grinned, the taller putting his arm around the shorter man and giving him a squeeze. The shorter glanced over at him, bent toward him, and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
You could have blown me over with a feather.
Where the hell was I? Two guys walking down the street in a small town holding hands? One putting his arm around the other and essentially hugging him? And to cap it off, the other one kissing him in public, in the middle of town?
