“I don't think there is enough revenue for Elijah to have an employee."He forced a smile.“I'll think of something, Rosie.Don't worry about me."
He took her money and gave her a stiff smile as she headed out the door.Before he turned to the next customer, he leaned closer to Elijah.“Can you walk around and grab one or two of everything with seeds in them."
Elijah frowned.“Seeds?"
“Yes, grab two of everything."He'd give one set to Elijah as a thank-you for his help.Shit, there wasn't much with seeds in.It was too early in the season for there to be tomatoes and peppers.He had some seeds at home, but...“Grab a bag of beans, peas, and lentils too."Fuck the board and their controls.How would they ever be able to prove if he'd paid for the things or not?
A light came on in Elijah's eyes.“Right.Seeds.I don't know if you have much with seeds in them or if there still is time to plant things for the summer."
“True, but if we're to survive we need to take everything we can now."
With a short nod, Elijah made his way through the crowd, and Eli turned to...Mabel Mallon.She had some nerve to come here.
“Are you sure you want to buy things from a shop that fraternizes with the enemy?"
“Right now, it's my only option."Her tone was clipped, but he could see determination in her eyes.She wanted this.She didn't look scared like everyone else, which meant there had to be a plan.
Eli didn't reach for any of the things she placed on the counter.“And come Tuesday, what's your option then?"
“We want what's best for Last Hope, which means there will be a grocery store."
Eli nodded and rang up her items.They would move someone in after him.He guessed it was a good thing.He didn't want anyone to starve.
Mabel paid and then something evil crept into her eyes.“It'll be a member solution.Like a club.People pay a small fee for a membership, and then they'll be allowed to shop."
He stared at her.A fee.They were going to make the people pay to be allowed to buy food.Anger ignited inside of him, but he did his best to hold onto a blank face.“I'm sure you've considered the consequences."
“We have.There will be certain criteria people will have to fulfill, but I don't think it will be a problem for most.You on the other hand..."
Eli nodded.He wouldn't be allowed to shop.Message received.
Mabel moved toward the door, and Lisa-Mae took her place by the counter.The stunned expression on her face told Eli she'd heard what Mabel had said.“Can you...eh...get out of here?Maybe someone in Fisherman's Lake can take you in?You're strong, I'm sure you'd make a good farmhand."
He forced himself to smile.He'd had a place to go, but he'd turned it down.Fuck.“I'll be fine."
She held his gaze.“I don't think it's safe for you to stay, Eli."
No, he didn't either.“I'll think of something."
A couple of hours later, the stream of customers died down some.He assumed word had reached everyone by now, and those who had any money had been by.There was an elderly couple walking arm in arm, but they were the only ones in the shop.
He leaned closer to Elijah.He'd been by Eli's side the entire day apart from about half an hour when he'd gone back to the hotel to serve lunch.“I have some more beans and peas in the back.I'll stack the shelves."As he walked into the storage room, he looked around.There wasn't much, but he should bring everything out.
He pushed at the door and jammed in the doorstopper to keep it open.Grabbing the crate with beans he'd sewn into fabric bags from discarded clothes, he passed the couple.The woman was running her fingers over a bag of peas.
“I have beans here.White in the gray bags and borlotti in the blue."
She looked at him, her hands shaking and her eyes glassy.“We only have..."She held up her hand with some smaller bills and a few coins.Fuck, it wouldn't last them long.They looked too old and frail to be able to work.Would they be able to afford any kind of membership club thing?
Eli glanced into the basket the man was holding in a death grip.They'd grabbed eggs, some butter, a small container of flour, one onion, a few potatoes, and now she was looking longingly at the peas.He wasn't sure the money would be enough to cover what they already had.
He bent and put the crate with the beans on the floor.“Tell you what."He gently pried the basket from the man's hold.“I'll take those."He gestured at the money in the woman's hand, and she held them out without question.“And you..."He reached past her and grabbed the bag of peas she'd been touching, then he grabbed a bag of white and one of borlotti beans.He didn't envy the meals they'd have.Beans with nothing else weren't great, but they were nutritious and hopefully they had a kitchen garden so they could get some variation.
“...take this."He handed the basket back to the man and gently guided them toward the door.
“Eli."The woman's voice broke on his short name.
“Market on Wednesday.I hope you'll be okay until then."He forced a smile.
