Unexpected Experience by Charlotte Ross

Author:Charlotte Ross [Ross, Charlotte]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-10-26T18:30:00+00:00

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Two hours passed in an instant as Susannah just tried to put like bits of paper with like bits of paper. Brochures in one pile, invoices in another, order forms in another, bills and so on. She could see why Declan was so frustrated because it was a shambles.

Still, she felt like she was in her comfort zone. One of the things she had always liked about her job was creating order and systems. They gave her security. Today, although, there was a very long way to go before she felt a sense of accomplishment. She didn’t know how long Mr. Doherty had been ill, but he’d given up filing, beyond the absolute essentials, around three years ago.

She was lucky that Maisy was content to build a fort and play near the couch with her toys. So immersed were they both that they were startled when Declan flung the door open at lunchtime.

“Hey, girls, ready for some lunch?”

“Is it that time already?”

“Wow, Susannah, look how much you’ve done already. Is that a flat surface I see on top of the shelves, without paper on it?” he teased.

“I believe it is. Amazing, right?

“Absolutely,” he said, but he wasn’t staring at the shelves, he was staring at her, and it made her feel warm to the tips of her toes.

“So where should we have lunch?” she asked.

“Park! Park! Park!” Maisy chanted.

“Well, we could grab a picnic,” Declan replied.

“Have you got time?”

“For you two, I’ll make time.” He bent down, and Maisy ran into his arms. He picked her up and smiled at Susannah. “Shall we?”

She headed out the door ahead of him, and he told her to wait. He and Maisy returned with a picnic blanket. They did a quick stroll across to a nearby deli on their way to the park.

“What do you like the look of?” he asked. She wanted to say she liked the look of him, but she somehow didn’t think the lady behind the deli counter needed to know that.

They ended up with a selection of cold meats, salads, and breads and a few little cakes to follow. He grabbed some mineral waters from the fridge.

“Are you off to the park, Declan?” the lady behind the counter asked.

“We sure are, Mrs. Watson.” Susannah forgot he probably knew everyone he encountered in this town or they knew his family.

“Hang on, then.” The older woman came around the counter with a picnic basket. “Just drop it back tomorrow. “

“Wow, that’s so nice, Mrs. Watson.”

“No problem. You two kids have fun.”

“Wow, that was sweet,” Susannah said as they headed toward the park. “That wouldn’t happen in the city.”

“She was my fifth grade teacher. She’s retired now and works there part-time. Her daughter Felicity owns it.”

“Do you know everyone in Henley’s Bluff?”

“Pretty much. Also at Henley Beach and across the mountain in Wool. If I don’t know them, I know of them.”

“That must be nice,” she said. She’d never really belonged to a community, and it might be nice to have people look out for you.

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