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“Hi, Bas. I need to buy some things. I’m moving into the apartment above Timms’s Bookstore.”
“Yeah?” His smile was huge. “That’s pretty exciting. Bet your aunts cried when you told them that.”
“Tears of joy, Bas.”
“Well, I’m happy for you. Now you go on and take a look at what you need, and we’ll sort out prices after.”
“Everything has prices on it, Bas,” Mandy said, looking at the stickers.
“I’m doing you a deal.” He winked at her, then wandered back to the garage.
Bas always did deals.
Mandy had never shopped for furniture for herself before. She looked at chairs and a small table and a bed frame. She would leave hers at her aunts’ house in case they had friends stay over. Plus, she wanted a double bed now.
“Why are you staring at that godawful table?”
“Oh, hey, Rory.” Her friend wandered in through the garage door. “I’m going to rent Mr. Timms’s apartment above the bookstore, and I’m looking for furniture.”
Rory shrieked and ran at her. She was then hugged—surprisingly hard for a small person.
“You know how this friend thing works, right? You tell me stuff like that and I get excited for you.”
“To be fair, I only just told my aunts.”
“Okay, so I’ve got great taste. I’ll help you pick stuff.”
Rory wore a pair of ripped cutoffs that showed a lot of leg, and a tank top. On her feet were work boots. Her mop of fair curls was crazy as always.
“No way you just said you have taste,” Jack declared as he arrived.
“Mandy’s moving into the apartment above Mr. Timms’s bookstore, Jack.”
“Nice work, Mandy.” He hugged her too. “Show me what you’re looking at. I actually have taste, unlike my girl.”
“I hate that you’re right,” Rory said, not put out at all.
They helped her select a table and chairs, and not the ones with orange vinyl seats that Rory insisted would be perfect.
“Right, we have to go, but we want an invite to the housewarming party,” Rory said, hugging Mandy again.
“Am I having a housewarming party?” She was strangely excited about the idea.
“Of course. I’ll bring wine, and maybe cheese.”
“If you want to have a party,” Jack added. “Don’t let this pocket rocket pressure you.” He nudged Rory out the door. Mandy heard her arguing that she wasn’t bossy.
She loved her friends; she’d just not realized how much until lately.
“Seriously, man, you need to go look at my dog statues. They’d look awesome in the front entrance to the lodge.”
Bas was talking to another customer. He was always trying to sell those statues to someone.
“We’ve been over this, Bas. I don’t need dog statues.”
Mandy thought seriously about hiding when Ted’s voice drifted in through the door that led to the garage. Last time she’d spoken to him, she’d told him he didn’t manage his staff well. Only when she’d been driving away did she wonder what had come over her. Seriously, she knew nothing about having staff; he did. She should have kept her mouth shut.
“Go and look, man. Seriously, you’ll want them.”
