A Soldier's Song by Irene Onorato

Author:Irene Onorato [Onorato, Irene]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2017-08-23T16:47:16+00:00

Chapter 17

Aria unlocked the door to the music store, entered, and relocked it. It would be another half hour before they’d open for the day. On the street side of the parking lot, her car’s brake lights illuminated while Dex waited with the right blinker flashing. She watched through the plate glass window until he pulled onto the street and drove away.

“Good morning, everyone.” Aria laughed at herself. Everyone included Uncle Angelo, who stood filling the till for the day, and Christine, who’d agreed to come in early to help with the holiday rush. Barry, a seasonal employee, wouldn’t clock in until noon.

Uncle Angelo counted a stack of money, his lips moving slightly with each passing bill. When finished, he beamed his typical, cheery smile. “Hello, Ari. You’re looking mighty chipper this morning.”

It came as no surprise that her internal happiness was showing on the outside. “It’s going to be a glorious day. I can feel it in my bones. Christine, thanks for pinch-hitting for me with that last sale yesterday. It was already ten past five, and I didn’t want to keep Dex waiting.”

“You’re welcome. You’ve done the same for me more times than I can count.”

Christine’s crazy college schedule often made for abrupt goodbyes at the end of her shifts. Uncle Angelo didn’t seem to mind and accommodated her as best he could. Christine’s excellent people skills made her a favorite with the customers.

“Let me go put my coat away, and I’ll help you fill those empty pegs.”

Aria put her coat and scarf on the coat tree in Uncle Angelo’s office and secured her purse in the locker. She went to the ladies’ room and took a turn in front of the mirror. Not bad for a girl who didn’t go to bed until almost two in the morning. She should be tired, but thoughts of Dex and the time they’d shared yesterday evening energized her.

* * * *

A steady flow of customers made the morning pass quickly. Aria glimpsed the clock on the wall behind the register. “Christine, I have to make a call for my uncle. If you get swamped in the next few minutes, come get me. I won’t be long though.”

“No problem. Looks like we’ve hit a pre-lunch lull. Angelo and I will be fine. Go.”

“Thanks.”

Aria went into the office and made the call. She hung up the phone and rose from the desk chair just as her uncle walked into the room. “I put in the order for pizza delivery like you asked. Should be here in thirty minutes.” A kind man, Uncle Angelo often treated his employees to pizza pie, as he called it.

“Good.” He nodded approvingly. “A friend of yours is waiting by the register. Says she has something to give you. Want me to send her back here?”

“Who is it?” She wasn’t expecting anyone, and any local friend would have called to let Aria know she was coming.

“I dunno. Never saw her before. All I know is she’s a real looker.

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