New release sample: BRIGHTEN YOUR CORNER
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“Okay.” Cilla took a deep breath and put downthe last page of the leasing agreement. “I think we’re ready.”
“I’m glad to welcome you to the Creekside Family.”Tracy picked up the pen with deep green ink that matched the letterhead for CreeksideShops, and the paint on the trim around the shop windows.
Fifteen minutes later, after leaving a generoustip, because after all, they had taken up a table at the café far longer than anormal breakfast hour, the three of them stepped out the door and walked two doorsdown, to the shop that was now officially the future home of Brighten Your Corner.
Tracy held her breath as she unlocked the frontdoor, pushed it open, and leaned in. She sniffed cautiously. Winced. Turned backand handed Melba the keys. Three sets of five keys. For the front door, the backdoor, the utility box that served all the shops on that side of Creekview, and twofor the gates on the concrete deck that ran behind the stores and extended out overthe rocky drop down to Cadburn Creek. One set of keys for Melba, one for Cilla,and one set of spares, to be safely hidden somewhere at home, and hopefully notforgotten.
“These look new,” Melba said, turning the ringof keys over in her hands. They made a nice, solid jangle.
“They are.” Tracy stepped into the shop and spreadher arms, welcoming them in. “Sorry about the smell. It’s actually better than itwas. I don’t know what that man was doing in the back room …”
“We never did understand what he did here.” Cillapulled out the tape measure from her tote bag and headed for the left-hand displaywindow.
“I’m pretty sure he didn’t understand, either.”Tracy shook her head. “He definitely wasn’t dealing in collectibles, which is whathe stated as his business when he signed the lease. I could have evicted him juston that detail alone. There were more deliveries to this place, at all hours, inall weather, than the entire street combined. A couple people complained about yellingscreaming arguments, and the smells that seeped into the shops on either side weren’t…” She shrugged. “They just weren’t natural.”
“He wasn’t cooking meth or anything like that,was he?” Melba asked. Cilla muttered, “Meth” and sighed. Melba wrinkled up her noseat her, and they both chuckled.
“I almost wish he was.” Tracy shook her head.“He still owes me five months’ rent, and replacing the glass on the front door,twice, and the lock on the back door three times. I could legally charge him forreplacing the locks on this shop and the back deck gates and copying keys for everyone.”
“It’s a crying shame,” Cilla said. “Ernie usedto be such a nice guy, back in high school. What happened to him?”
“Besides going anti-establishment and runningoff to some commune and then advocating burning down the White House every timea new president got into office, no matter which party?” Melba shook her head. “Haven’tthe foggiest.”
