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When her food arrived, it looked positively scrumptious, a full-on comfort feast. Eli eyed her fluffy biscuits with a hint of envy, and she offered him a bite. It surprised her when he opened his mouth instead of taking the fork, but she mentally shrugged and fed him. He seemed to enjoy itsomuch that she almost fed him another forkful just to see that sparkle in his eyes.
“That’s amazing,” he said.
She grinned. “I know, right? Have you had this before?” she asked Henry Dale.
“Sure have. Never had anything here I thought was bad. It’s all a good bet. Just depends on what you’re craving.”
As they were finishing their meals, Iris’s phone rang, an unfamiliar number.If this is Lily or Rose trying to trick me—no, I doubt they’d bother.She answered on the second ring with a tentative “Hello?” Because honestly, when her phone rang these days, it just generally gave her a bad feeling.
“Is this Iris Collins?”
“It is. Who’s this?”
“Oh, thank goodness!” The bright and cheerful voice definitely didn’t belong to any of Iris’s relatives. But itwasa bit familiar.
Where have I heard this woman before?
“This is Sally Carruthers. My son, Bruce, gave me your information. He said you’re looking for a roommate?”
Right, the hardware store. Iris put the face with the voice and name straightaway. Bubbly, white-haired woman with the rainbow sweater and a smile sweet enough to put cherubs to shame. “I am! We repainted the room recently, you can stop by to see if you think it would be a good fit.”
Normally, Iris would insist on meeting elsewhere for the first time, but this wasn’t a stranger exactly. She was talking to Bruce’smom. Not that people’s moms couldn’t be criminals, but still.
“I could be there later this afternoon if that’s convenient,” Sally said at once.
“We’ll be home in about an hour.” She figured it was best to give some leeway.
“Fantastic. I’ll see you around three then. Bye for now!” Sally sang.
“Sounds like we have an interview,” Eli said.
“I hope that’s okay. You and Henry Dale need to agree as well. If you don’t like Sally, I won’t move forward.”
“As long as she leaves me alone, I don’tneedto like her,” Henry Dale said.
Just from the brief impression, Iris suspected Sally wouldn’t be quiet or reserved, but maybe it would all work out. Quickly, she signaled for the bill and paid for it before Eli could grab it. Luckily, she’d read that inclination beforehand. She really couldn’t accept anything else from him without feeling awful.
It didn’t take long to drive home, and she even had time to get the couch and love seat neatly covered and tied off. The pre-owned couch covers smelled like detergent, and the woman had promised that they had been laundered before being packed away. Amazing what a difference hiding those random patterns made. Now the pops of color from the knit throws and the flowered pillows looked cozy and charming. The neutral walls and the elegant wallpaper improved matters as well, as did the white wainscoting.
“I love this room now,” she said to Eli.
“It’s so much better,” he agreed.
Henry Dale offered no commentary; he just tried to retreat to the shed, but Iris grabbed his arm. “Oh no, you don’t. We’re talking to Sally together.”
The old man mumbled something unintelligible and likely uncomplimentary, but he still took a seat on the sofa, wearing a resigned look. They didn’t have long to wait, as soon Sally arrived in a flurry of exuberant knocks. Iris answered the door and waved her in, confirming her initial impression. Again today, Sally was dressed in a bright floral dress adorned in scarves, the same lime-green Crocs, and her hair was a silvery cloud.
Smiling, Iris performed the introductions. “I’m Iris. This is Eli. And Henry Dale. There’s one room available on the second floor and two rooms on the third. They’re not large, but—”
“Let’s take a look, shall we?” Sally cut in. “First I need to see what’s available to know if I can envision myself here. Everything else follows.”
Eli stayed with Henry Dale while Iris gave the older woman a quick tour.
Neither one of them showed any sign of breaking the silence. For his part, he was a bit nervous about bringing in someone else. A new person could upset the balance, and Eli didn’t love change at the best of times. Change usually meant his life being turned upside down and ensuring that it got worse.
“What do you think?” he asked eventually.
The older man shrugged. “Hard to say from a look, though sheseems chipper.” After a pause. “I don’t much care for unfounded optimism.”
