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The voice was familiar, but I couldn’t place it. “Yes?”
“It’s Opal.”
“Oh. Hi, Opal.”
“Hope you don’t mind, but I schmoozed Sam at the home-improvement store into giving me your number.”
Yet again, it was apparent how different small-town life was from city life. I couldn’t imagine the guy at the Home Depot on Twenty-Third Street even knowing my name, much less giving my telephone number to someone. If that happened back home, I’d probably get a restraining order. Yet here, it seemed perfectly normal.
“No problem. What’s going on, Opal?”
“I was hoping you’d be up for lunch today. I have a little present for you.”
“A present? For me?”
“Don’t worry, it’s not expensive or anything. But I’m guessing you’re the type of person who doesn’t judge value by a price tag. If I’m right, my gift is priceless.”
“You have me intrigued now…”
“That’s what I was hoping. One o’clock work okay?”
“Sure. Why not.”
“Woodwards on Main Street. It’s the little café on the same side as the Beanery.”
“I know it. That’s perfect. See you later, Opal.”
My ankle was still pretty sore, so I left a little early for my lunch date and stopped at the small pharmacy in town to pick up an ACE bandage. The woman behind the counter smiled at me. “You must be Josie.”
I should’ve been used to it by now, but it still caught me off guard when a stranger knew my name. “Yes. How did you know that?”
“My aunt Frannie mentioned you were in town. Plus, I recognize you from the picture you sent years back. I’m Lily Dunn. We exchange cards a few times a year.”
I didn’t remember all the names on my card list these days, but Lily’s I did. Mostly because she had sent me one first. She and I were about the same age. Her aunt had told her about the card I sent, and Lily thought it was fun. She didn’t receive a lot of cards herself, so she’d mailed me one, and I’d added her to my list.
“Lily, it’s really great to meet you. You and your aunt were the first people I exchanged cards with. It’s meant a lot to me over the years.”
“Me too. I was looking forward to telling you a story in my next card. You’re part of the reason my boyfriend and I got together.”
“I am? How?”
“Mark was a friend of my older brother’s in high school. I always had a secret crush on him, but he was three years older and my brother saw me as a little girl, so it was never going to happen. He went away to college and got engaged, and so did I. Over the years, he and my brother fell out of touch, but I always kept tabs on him on Facebook. Last year, my fiancé and I split, and then around Thanksgiving, I noticed Mark had changed his status from in a relationship to single. A few days later, your annual Christmas card showed up. I don’t know why, but it got me thinking. Cards made you happy, so you took the bull by the horns and sent them out, hoping you’d get what you give. That afternoon, I decided to mail Mark a card. I wrote him a note and mentioned that I was single and wondered if he might be interested in meeting up sometime. He sent me back a card, and one thing led to another—we’ve been together since a little after New Year’s when we met for dinner.”
“I love that! Good for you, Lily. I’ve never thought of my cards as inspiring in any way, but I’m happy to have been a little part of you taking the chance.”
Lily and I stood talking for another fifteen minutes, and by the time I left, it felt like I’d caught up with an old friend. I almost forgot to buy the ACE bandage I’d come for. Her story was exactly what I needed today, especially after I’d gone out back to look at the deck in daylight and realized not only was it rotted, but so was the dock at the edge of the water.
Opal was already seated at the café when I walked in. She waved animatedly, as if it were possible to miss a woman wearing a neon green top. It was the second time we’d met and the second bright outfit I’d seen her dressed in. Somehow the bold colors went with her personality.
She stood as I approached and wrapped me in a warm hug with a matching smile. “There she is…”
“Hi. Sorry if I’m a minute or two late. I stopped in at the pharmacy and met someone I’ve exchanged cards with. We started talking, and I lost track of time.”
“Lily Dunn?”
“Yes, she was so nice.”
Opal nodded. “Sweet girl. She’s Frannie’s niece. Glad she finally hooked that Mark Butler. Girl had been crazy about him since she was a kid.”
