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I took them and looked at each one. “No blue. Not brown. I think I’ll just stick with these,” I said, holding up the boxers and shoving the other two packs of briefs at her and shutting the door. Suddenly, something hit me on the head. Shocked, I looked down at the floor to see a package of black briefs lying on the floor, a loud giggle erupting from the other side of the door.
“I take it those are for me?”
“Yes, black all the way, Dad,” I heard Melinda say as she continued to laugh.
PEGGY
I pulled into the driveway of the inn and waved at Bessy. She was sitting out on the front porch. I cut the engine and climbed out of the car and made my way up the front stairs.
“Good morning, Peggy. What brings you out here on your day off?”
I smiled as I saw the baby sweater she was knitting. “Oh, I came to pick up a friend, Ethan Alexander. I promised him I’d take him to Cedar Landing today to look for a car. “I see you’re busy working on a baby sweater.”
She held it up for me to see. “Yep. Thought I’d make it for the giveaway basket that Booke is raffling off for the festival. She brought over some baked goods from the diner for me the other day, for my birthday. I’ve already finished the matching hat and booties,” she said, shuffling around in her knitting basket and producing the two little matching items.
“Oh, Bessy, they are beautiful. Brooke is going to love this addition. Whoever wins this basket is going to enjoy those. I could take them to Brooke if it’s easier than you taking them over there?”
“Yes, Brooke called. I planned on taking them out myself, but not sure if I can get away with Harry being so ill.” She shrugged, placing the booties and hat back in the basket. “I’m surprised that’s these hands can still take all this knitting,” she said, holding up her old hands.
I smiled. “You are doing fine. Have you found anyone to help around here yet?” I questioned. I knew Harry’s health was in fast decline and that Bessy was having a harder time getting around. I also knew they had a lot on their plate with this bed and breakfast.
She shook her head. “Unfortunately not. I hired a lovely young lady to come in and do all the cleaning, but as for the rest of it, not yet. I fear that I may have to close the place if anything happens to Harry. If only Johnny hadn’t passed on so young” she said, looking up at me, sadness in her eyes.
I nodded. “Yes, well, I will keep my eyes and ears open for you.” There’d been a rumor going around in town that they may have to close the inn if they didn’t get help. All their years of hard work building it to what it was today, it would be a shame to see that happen.
“Thanks, Peggy. I’d appreciate it. Trinity let me put an ad up on her community bulletin board, as did Brooke.”
“Well, I am sure something will come of that.” I smiled. “If you have another one, I can always pop it up on mine as well.”
“That would be wonderful. I can get one for you.”
The loud bang of a door shutting caught my attention, and I turned to see Ethan standing behind me, a coat flung over his forearm. “Morning,” he said, leaning in and kissing me on the cheek in greeting.
“Morning. You ready to go?”
“I am. Looking forward to it. Bessy, good morning.”
“Morning, Ethan. Enjoy your day,” she said, going back to her knitting. “I’ll get that ad for you too.”
“Perfect, Bessy. I’ll pick it up from you when I bring over the baskets for the porch.”
“Sounds good.”
* * *
We drove through Cedar Landing and finally pulled into the last used car lot on the street. I was happy that Ethan said nothing to me about the much bigger one on the other side of the road as we drove past it. “Hopefully, you can find something here. They have an excellent selection of pretty much everything.” I pulled into an empty spot where the car sputtered when I put it in park and then cut the engine.
“What about that other lot we passed?” Ethan asked. “They looked much bigger.”
“Oh, no, remember, I used to live here. You don’t want to deal with that guy.”
Ethan looked at me, then smiled. “What’s wrong with that guy?”
“Oh, he’s a tad bit shady.” I winked.
Ethan chuckled, and we both climbed out of the car and looked around.
“Where should we start?” I questioned. “Do you have a preference? What it is you’re looking for?”
