“The annual Blues Festival is comin’ up.”
“I’ve seen a few of the posters around town.”
He nods. “It draws a big crowd. A lot of rich folk from the mainland head down for the long weekend. The town gets real busy.”
“Do you go?”
“Aw, yeah… I s’pose. I watch a few of the bands. Mostly, I help with the markets to bring in some extra money for the community. We upgraded the kids’ playground with what we made last year.”
“Oh, that sounds so great! So everyone gets involved?”
“A good number of farmers set up stalls. The brewery’s there. A few food options. We’re organizin’ a bit of a charity flea market again this year, too. The church and the oldies donated so much gear for us to sell, it’s goin’ to take us weeks to sort through it all. Problem is… Last year… Some jackass from the city bargained down the prices on a lot of the jewelry, and then we heard him crowin’ at the bar that those pieces were worth thousands.”
“That’s horrible!”
“A couple of us talked him into givin’ it all back.”
“Talked, huh?”
Swayer’s smile is coy. “Words were spoken.”
“How many fists joined that conversation?”
“I’m not one for throwin’ punches. Cain cozied up to the guy at the bar and promised they could be friends.Closefriends. The guy had a change of heart after that.”
“Miraculously.”
“Couldn’t wait to give ’em back.”
“I bet.”
“I’d like to avoid that this year. Either we put a fair price on everythin’, or we give them back to their rightful owners. Hetty O’Donnell has been wearin’ the platinum brooch to church ever since she found out how much it’s worth. Gives her a real kick in her step.” He’s back to examining the swirls in his coffee. “So, that’s why I was thinkin’… Would you…”
“I’d love to help.”
“Yeah?”
I can barely suppress the smile that’s breaking over my face. This offer is a dream come true. Vintage stuff. Helping. People. I might even make some friends. My heart is bursting.
“A group of us meets at the community center on Thursdays,” Sawyer says. “We sort through the donations, price everythin’, and box it all up. If you don’t mind meetin’ a few new people, I could take you along.”
“Yes!”
Dear Elsie…
Dear Elsie,
I saw you on the beach today. Not the one closest to town. You’ve staked out a secret spot that the tourists haven’t discovered yet. Is that who you hide from?
I should have walked straight past and never noticed you under your enormous straw hat, but there’s some part of me that’s constantly searching for you now that I know who you are.
I watched you reading your book for too long. That was when I finally decided on a word that describes how I feel about you.
Fascinated.
In town, you look uncomfortable and out of place. On the beach, you look at home. You’re a whole different person in your polka dot one-piece with no straps. Your bare shoulders… Elsie, why have I never noticed how attractive that part of a woman is until I saw you?
I’mfascinatedby you.
