Blue Shoes and Tattoos by Nell S. Abbott

Author:Nell S. Abbott
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
Published: 2019-09-29T16:00:00+00:00

The next day was glorious, how could anything go wrong? Elizabeth caught her hair back in a tortoiseshell barrette and tucked a few stray curls behind her ears. Then why so apprehensive about Aunt Gen’s meeting him? He had been warned what not to mention. Her hand quivered slightly as she put down the hairbrush and turned for her sweater. These late April days still held a chill…the caramel sweater? It really didn’t go with this outfit. And smiling apologetically at it, she slipped into the blue one. It did things for her eyes… And she gazed into their reflection wistfully. If only she could take Boyfriend…

But the morning was passing and she had not heard from her aunt. She would call rather than wait any longer. After all, Garret was to test her today, on evaluating a few dolls. No answer at Aunt Gen’s. Strange. Maybe they were in the bath. She would give them a few minutes.

But twenty minutes later, still no answer. Okay. She would drive over… No answer to the old doorbell and the door was locked. Then she thought to check under the carport. The car was gone! An emergency? Heart pounding, she dialed Carolina’s cell phone. Please God…

“Hello?” The familiar voice didn’t sound upset but very soft. A hospital room? “Oh, Miss Elizabeth…she wouldn’t let me call you. We’re at the shop and Mr. Gleason is showing her around. They’ve hit it off fine so far, but all he knows is that she’s Miss Hopelane Eaton with some old furniture she’s interested in having him evaluate. She hasn’t mentioned you.”

Elizabeth had reached her car and managed to collapse onto the front seat.

Did he know this was her aunt? Suppose he mentioned that he was training her to be part-time help so that Ruth could go home! She had to get there. With quivering hands she started the car and actually screeched off, thinking even then how horrified Aunt Gen would be by someone screeching off from her front walk!

They all turned as she opened the door. From her aunt’s falsely innocent smile she looked to Garret Gleason’s truly innocent one.

“Elizabeth! Perfect timing!” he said. “This knowledgeable lady wants to look at the dolls. You…can…show…” His smile faded, as the two women stared at each other. “Miss Eaton? You know Mrs. Henderson?”

Carolina stepped between them, catching the hand of each. Then, even as both started to answer the man, she swallowed and dared…it could cost her her job… “They know each other well, Mr. Gleason…aunt and niece…more like mother and daughter really. Miss Eaton had heard so much about this shop, she just couldn’t wait to see it.”

For just an instant Garret’s face went blank. He was stunned. This pleasant, antique-knowledgeable old lady was the formidable aunt? Elizabeth tore her hand free and held it toward him.

“I just wanted to be the one to introduce you two.” Her voice was almost steady. Concern for him, the whole situation, possibly her whole future, overcame her outrage.

But Garret laughed.

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