Once Inn A Lifetime by Bennett Virginia K

Author:Bennett, Virginia K.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-08-13T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

The Clerk

Rebecca assumed she was able to leave. Chief Towne hadn’t told her to stay, and Kenny texted about dinner tonight. If she was expected to remain in the bar, he should have said so. She had people covering the library yesterday so she could attend the wedding and reception, but the library was closed on Sundays. She had the rest of the day off to get ready for dinner. Well, she could have the rest of the day off.

The only person Rebecca hadn’t spoken with directly was Sean, the flower… person? He danced his way down the aisle as if there was a hip hop medley blasting even though it was peaceful music played by a string quartet on the beach. Everyone knew Sean by the end of the night due to his antics on the dance floor. If memory served her correctly, Rebecca recalled that Sean worked at Shanty’s. She didn’t know his schedule, but if he took off Friday and Saturday for the wedding, she was willing to bet he was working the rest of a Sunday shift to make up for it.

Shanty’s was a grocery store that also offered every imaginable souvenir with Newfound Lake printed on it. They offered fresh lobsters, made their own donuts and had a line of alcoholic beverages, but who was counting? Shanty’s had been a staple of lake life since the forties, and nothing seemed to be slowing them down. With Frosty’s Corner, which had operated under several different names over the years, no longer open for competition, Shanty’s had the market locked down for groceries, a quick lunch or an ice cream on this side of the lake.

When Rebecca drove along West Shore Road, she admired just how beautiful the lake was and how quaint some of the old cottages were that still hosted summer vacations year after year. The narrow road twisted and turned along as the lake did. When she reached Shanty’s, she tried to find a parking spot, but had to settle for one across the street at The Shanty Shack. While she didn’t need ice cream in that moment, she might need to partake on the way out.

Stepping into Shanty’s was like stepping back in time to a moment in her childhood. She remembered where she would get sandwiches before heading to Wellington and where the candy rack was. Grape Bonkers were the preferred snack, but Pop Rocks and Zots were near the top of the list. As she stared at a memory that no one else could see, someone tapped her on the shoulder.

Jumping into the air and grasping her chest, she exclaimed, “Don’t do that.”

Sean smiled. “Figured you needed help. Your head was in the clouds.” He swiped a hand through his surfer haircut.

“I was looking for you, actually, and got distracted. You left before we could talk this morning.”

“Chief Towne knew I had to work this afternoon. I appreciated that he got me out of there quickly.”

“Must be nice. I was last.

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