Friends Don't Page 4

CHAPTER 3

  Katryn mused about her two sons while she poured cereal into three bowls. They were eight years old. Twins. But not even a little bit alike. Ryan, fair-haired with a light complexion, looked more like his mother. He was happy-go-lucky and took life easy. Timmy, while also being blue-eyed, had a darker complexion and dark brown hair. He got his coloring from his father. He also appeared to have gotten more of his father’s temperament, Katryn often thought.

  Timmy had taken life entirely too seriously seemingly from birth. Ryan was cute, full of smiles, and all the women seemed to fall for him as soon as he flashed his big blue eyes. Timmy was a good-looking boy, not cute, who smiled much less often and got along better with men - especially men who considered Ryan’s happy-go-lucky ways a bit immature.

  Even the way they played sports showed their differences. Ryan played soccer socially. He did not care if they won or lost. In fact, occasionally he would be too busy talking, even during games, to notice when the ball was coming towards him. Timmy played to win. He took games, and even practices, seriously. Ryan’s easy-going manner sometimes infuriated his brother during soccer games.

  Katryn wondered, again, how two boys, born together and raised together, could be so dissimilar.

  But while they were so different about every other aspect of their lives, her sons shared one wish. They both hoped that their mother would someday remarry so they would have a father. They knew little about their real father. Not much more than the fact that he had been killed in a car accident when they were six months old. But they knew for sure they would like a new one.

  When breakfast was over, Timmy cleared the table while his mother put the dishes in the dishwasher. The three of them ended up in the living room where Katryn read a few pages from The Giving Tree. At a little after eight they headed out to the car. Katryn dropped the boys off at Pasadena Park Primary, and then headed downtown to go to work.

  She would have readily admitted to anyone who asked, though, that she could hardly consider it work. While her social life might be shot right now, her professional life was doing quite well, thank you. She pulled into the familiar parking space at the Flour Mill, and sat in her car an extra minute or two. She admired the beautiful wooden building that housed her store.

  The Flour Mill had originally been just that, an old flour mill. When Spokane prepared for the 1974 World’s Fair, the flour mill went through a miraculous metamorphosis. It was now a beautiful old wooden building comprised of four floors of shops and restaurants. One could spend an entire day and probably not see everything.

  The Treasure Chest held Scottish and Irish treasures hard to find anywhere else in Spokane. There was a shop where Birkenstock shoes and leather goods could be purchased. In other shops, hand blown glass figurines were made while you watched. Dishes, spices, kitchen utensils, and cookbooks could be found. Pipes and tobacco of all kinds were sold. There were clothing stores, toy stores, and stores selling every possible ‘Collectible’ you could want. Katryn believed a little of everything could be found at the Flour Mill.

  And if one grew hungry, why there were choices galore there, too. An ice cream parlor, a chocolate shop, and even a fresh baked cookie store. The flour mill also housed a pizza parlor, a restaurant offering real Thai food, and of course, Clinkerdaggers, Bikkerstaff and Pitts.

  ‘Clinkerdaggers’, as it was usually referred to, was an inviting restaurant with a view of the Spokane River’s falls. The waiters and waitresses wore authentic old English costumes, and the menus were old English, also. It was well known throughout the area for its delicious food.

  Katryn was very proud to be part of the family of Flour Mill stores. Katryn’s Books had been at the Flour Mill for almost seven years now. A small inheritance from her grandfather had given her enough capital to open the store. It had been a pretty big gamble at the time. Katryn had debated for months whether she should chance buying the store or keep the money for a safety net for the boys and her.

  Her husband’s insurance had paid for their home with a little left in savings. She was making just barely livable wages at Crystal Laundry where she was working as a mangle operator, and she worried about what would happen if the store did not make it.

  Deciding finally, that if the store failed, she would none-the-less be no worse off than before the inheritance, she decided to go for the store. After all, even if it did go bust, she would always be able to look back and say she at least tried.

  So, with a little fanfare from her closest friends, Julie among them, Katryn had opened her store on March 17th almost seven years ago. She had picked the 17th on purpose. Being Irish, she had hoped opening on St. Pat’s Day would give her a little extra luck. And it seemed to have done just that.

  Turning the key in the lock, Katryn again could hardly believe how lucky she had been. The store had done better than she had dreamed possible. She had been able to put back the equivalent to her inheritance, and was able to live comfortably from the store.

  It seemed the store was at a perfect location. Not only was it visited frequently by many other of the Flour Mill’s inhabitants, but it also attracted a fairly large clientele from the outside.

  Katryn could never quite believe she was making a living doing something she loved so much. Books had always been a major part of her life, starting way back in her childhood when her mother read to her. Her mother had tried to make Katryn feel a part of every book she read.

  She asked her daughter to imagine soaring like the birds, feeling the wind beneath her wings. Katryn had been encouraged to swim with the fish, run with the wolves, and fly with the eagles in her mind. Katryn now encouraged her sons to likewise experience each book she read them. And she read to them often from her modest library.

  ‘Surely you could ask no more from life than a job you truly love’, Katryn thought. And she knew she owed a lot to her mother. She reminded herself to thank her mother again, next time she called, for teaching her how to love books.

  “Mornin’ Katryn. You’re early.” Joe smiled at her while he half-teasingly admonished her. The rest of the Flour Mill opened at 9:30, but Katryn, as usual, had her doors open well before nine.

  “I wanted you to have plenty of time to browse,” she answered lightly. Joe nodded and made his way into the store. As she knew he would, he headed straight towards the used book section in the northwest corner of the store.

  Joe started through the swinging doors, and paused for just a moment to look up at the beautifully hand-carved wooden sign that hung above him. Joe and The Missus it proclaimed proudly. Katryn swallowed around a small lump in her throat, and she thought back to how the used book area had come to be.

  Katryn had first met Joe shortly after her store had opened. He was the building’s main custodian at the time, and he loved to read. On his days off, he and his wife would both come into Katryn’s store to pick out books. Joe loved westerns, and his wife, whom he always called ‘The Missus’ read romance.

  Joe would tease his wife about reading ‘those silly love stories’, so Katryn and The Missus would counter that westerns were just men’s romance stories. Joe always pretended to be horrified at the thought, and the good natured teasing would continue until they each had a few books to take home.

  After a year or so, Joe and his wife approached Katryn about a used book section. They had hundreds of used books, they explained, and they wanted them to be of some use. If Katryn could use them, they would give all the books to her.

  At first Katryn was not all that sure she wanted to get into used books, but they talked her into it. Joe even remodeled the corner of the store into a room with a western look. Then he built the swinging doors for it.

  The used book section became quite popular, and didn’t seem to take away from her regular sales. Katryn remembered the only ‘difficulty’ the used book store had caused.

  Katryn knew she owed Joe and The Missus for the idea, along with the first books she had for the USED section.
When other customers brought books in, Katryn had offered her friends unlimited use of the books. Joe had been offended when she said she would not charge them. After all, he had told her, that had not been their idea when they had given her their books.

  It had taken Katryn weeks to finally convince them she owed it to them - weeks, and the threat she would never order another western if he argued further. Eventually, she was even able to convince him she would never have had that part of her store without him. He may not have agreed, but he finally accepted the used books for free.

  Joe and The Missus had been childless, and over the years, they became the only family Katryn and her boys had in Spokane. On holidays, the two families exchanged gifts, and shared family dinners.

  All Katryn’s relatives lived back East. She had neither the money, nor the time, to take the boys back to visit but one time since her husband had died. So Ryan and Timmy grew up with Joe and The Missus being the only grandparents they really knew. Katryn was sure her boys could not have gotten more love and attention from their real grandparents.

  About three years ago, Joe retired, and he and The Missus spent a year and a half traveling. Every trip they brought back things for the boys, and Katryn tried to always have plenty of new westerns and romance stories for them to stock up on for their next trip.

  Then, a little over a year ago, The Missus had died in her sleep. It had been totally unexpected as she had seemed very healthy. Suddenly, all the free time that Joe had enjoyed became too much for him. He needed something to do.

  The Flour Mill was happy to hire him back even though he only wanted a part-time job, and Katryn was especially glad he had found a way to fill a few of the lonely hours. He seemed so lost without The Missus.

  It had also been hard on Ryan and Timmy. They lost the only grandmother they ever really knew. Luckily, Joe took up some of the slack. He became a bigger part of their family, and he spent a greater amount of time with the boys. He even started going to their soccer games on Saturdays when they played, and was waiting for their games to start again this spring. Still, they all missed The Missus.

  Katryn decided to have the sign made for the used book section, and hung it there just a few months ago. She was anxious that first morning, wondering what Joe would think of it. She had opened earlier than usual, hoping he would be in before anyone else.

  He had not disappointed her. He was there earlier than ever, almost as if he knew. When he saw the sign, though, Katryn was sure he was surprised. With tears in his eyes, he had come back to the front of the store to hug Katryn. They cried, some, and talked a little more about The Missus. Joe thanked Katryn for helping to keep her memory alive. The customers who had known Joe and The Missus, some of whom had become Katryn’s customers because of Joe and The Missus, thanked her, too.

  Every Tuesday and Thursday Katryn knew Joe would be by to visit her before work, and he would pause, just for a moment, to look up at the sign before he went into the used book section.

  Katryn’s reverie was interrupted when some other people who worked at the Flour Mill came by, glad to see her open early. Janet needed ideas for a game for her seven year old nephew, and Katryn pointed out a couple different ones Timmy and Ryan especially liked.

  She mentally gave herself one more pat on the back for adding games this last year, and then went over to help another customer. The woman wanted books her 14 year old daughter would like. Katryn directed her to that section of books, mentioned L. M. Montgomery, the author of Anne of Green Gables, who had numerous other books that seemed to be pretty popular with young ladies, and then left her alone to choose what she wanted.

  The morning sped by with more customers than was usual for a Tuesday. Katryn spent all her free time working on last week’s paperwork. She saved the numbers work for Tuesday’s since they were usually her slowest day. Luckily her desk was right up front, part of the corner by the counter, so she could work and still be available to answer questions or ring up sales.

  Dottie, who came in to cover for Katryn’s lunch hour, would probably be happy to work extra, Katryn knew, so she did not mind that she had not gotten very far on the paperwork. She was turned away from the door, straightening a stack of books, when she heard a vaguely familiar voice.

  “Do you have any books that would be good for a ten year old boy?”

  “Do you know what ...” she started to ask, turning. Paul was not three feet from her, smiling that same warm smile. Her heart, in spite of her resolve, flipped a time or two then sped up noticeably before she could even speak.

  “Hello, Katryn. How are you doing this morning? Stiff and sore after last night?” he asked, smiling. Blushing brightly, worried about how her customer’s might interpret that remark, Katryn quickly stammered out her answer.

  “I’m fine ... I told you I was ok ... Tom didn’t hurt me when he hit me ... I mean ...” Realizing she had made it sound even worse, she stopped. Seeing Paul’s smile widen, Katryn forced herself to take a quick breath and calm down before she tried again.

  “Getting knocked down at practice isn’t a big deal. I don’t think there’s any sport you play where you don’t get hurt once in a while. I’m fine, though. Thanks for asking. What brings you here? Surely you weren’t that worried I was hurt,” she asked, hoping to change the subject.

  “As a matter of fact, a few reasons. First, I did want to make sure you’re ok. I have a feeling that you’re not the type that tends to let others know when you are really hurt. I do have to admit, though, that you look just fine to me,” she was sure she saw just a flicker of amusement in his eyes before he continued. “Next, I really do need to purchase something for my soon-to-be 10yr old nephew. Any suggestions?”

  “Well, do you have any idea where his interests lie? Is he into Star Trek or Star Wars? Does he have any hobbies?” Paul thought for a moment, and then admitted he was not sure. His nephew, he explained, lived in Wyoming and Paul saw little of him.

  “Does he play any sports?” Katryn asked next.

  “Yes. He plays basketball and soccer,” Paul appeared relieved he had known that much, at least, about his nephew.

  “Great, I’ve just the book,” Katryn turned to show him where the book was, and then noticed a customer waiting at the register.

  “It’s halfway down the middle aisle on the left. Give me a minute and I’ll come help you.” Katryn pointed Paul towards a section of books, and then went back to the cash register to help other customers.

  It seemed everyone found what they wanted at once, and Katryn spent the next 15 minutes ringing up sales. When she was finally free, she looked up to see Paul standing a few feet away, watching her. She was amazed that she could have forgotten about him for even a moment!

  “You couldn’t find the book?” Katryn asked, seeing his hands were empty.

  “I wasn’t sure just where it was,” he told her, smiling that heart-stopping smile of his.

  “I’m sure it’s just to the left, where I pointed.” Katryn headed back to the sports section, looked at the left side of the aisle and spotted the book. “There it is,” she told him a little triumphantly, because she had been right. On tiptoes and stretching, she was still a bit short of reaching the book which was, of course, perched on the top shelf.

  Paul placed his hand on her shoulder and she lowered herself back to the floor.

  “If you’ll just tell me which one you want, I’ll get it down,” he told her.

  Through the soft silk of her blouse, Katryn could feel the heat from Paul’s hand. She now wished she had never taken her blazer off, no matter how warm she had been earlier. It might have sounded odd to anyone else, but with the blazer off, Katryn was now many degrees warmer than when the blazer was on, earlier!

  “Why that one ... the foot one,” she barely got out, a little flustered by his touch.

  “The foot one,” Paul repeated, obviously not seeing it.

  “I mean BEST FOOT FORWARD,” she finally got
out. While Paul reached for the book, Katryn lectured herself again about acting like a school girl. It took only a moment before she had herself under control. It did not hurt, of course, that Paul had released his hold on her shoulder when he reached for the book. When Paul handed the book to Katryn, he noticed her face turning red.

  “I forgot to tell you the name of the book when I sent you back here. That’s why you couldn’t find it,” she explained more to herself than to him.

  “True,” he told her. “I thought maybe you were trying to get rid of me.”

  If it hadn’t been for the twinkle in his eyes, she might have felt guilty and would have quickly assured him that was not the case. She realized he was teasing, though.

  “Sorry I left you for so long. I got busy.”

  “Are you the only one in the store?” Paul wanted to know.

  “As a matter of fact, I’m usually alone every morning. Dottie comes in to spell me for lunch, and if it’s really busy, she’s happy to stay. Most mornings are slow, though, and Tuesdays especially so. I hadn’t expected this many people today. Not that I mind the business!” she added.

  “You seem to know a lot of the customers by name,” he told her.

  “There’s a lot of repeat business in any book store,” she admitted, surprised that Paul had noticed. “I decided from the start I’d try to get to know all of the regulars that I could. It seemed the least I could do if they were going to spend their hard-earned money in my store. Besides, once I get to know them, I have a better idea what books they might like to read. I know what to look for when I put in my next order.” Afraid that she might be boring him, she changed the subject.

  “By the way, let me tell you a little about this book. Since your nephew plays soccer, he really should enjoy this book. The main character is a football star. I believe he’s in high school, but he might be in junior high. I have to admit I haven’t read it in awhile. Anyway, through a freak accident he loses one arm, and his football career is ended. Eventually the soccer coaches, and players, convince him to try soccer where, of course, being one-armed is not a hindrance, and he does fairly well. It’s a really good book that boys like. It even has a moral hidden inside,” she told him quite enthusiastically.

  “Do you read a lot?” he asked, impressed. “Have you read all of these?” he asked, sweeping his arm to encompass the store.

  “I do read a lot,” she admitted, smiling. “However, I doubt I’ve read even as much as 1 percent of what’s here. Not that I wouldn’t like to,” she added.

  “How did you happen to come upon this book?”

  “I have boys who play soccer. I read it to them last year.” She saw his eyebrows rise almost imperceptibly. ‘No’, she thought, ‘you don’t know much about me at all. And I know next to nothing about you. Hopefully it’ll stay that way.’

  Katryn glanced around the store and saw two more customers at the register. She excused herself again and went to wait on them. One purchased a book, the other wanted suggestions on games for her grandchildren. Katryn took some time helping Mrs. Shoemaker. They decided on Candy Land for the six year old and Sorry for the eight year old.

  “What about that game for my 16 yr. old granddaughter? She’s pretty mature for her age, and quite smart,” Mrs. Shoemaker asked, pointing to a game almost hidden at the bottom of the stack.

  “Mrs. Shoemaker, I honestly don’t think that would be too good. I played that once, and it’s pretty suggestive. It was even embarrassing to some of the adults who played.”

  “Oh, thank you for warning me. I wouldn’t want her mother upset with me, you know. So, you must have at least one suggestion, then, don’t you Katryn?” Katryn chuckled.

  “I do. Especially if she likes thinking games. Balderdash is a lot of fun, even though it takes a little brain power. I think she and her friends will really enjoy it.” Mrs. Shoemaker took the three games Katryn had suggested, thanking her again for her help when she left the store. Paul had watched Katryn.

  “I gather you like games, too,” he asked, when they were alone, again.

  “I do. I played a lot of them growing up. I have five brothers and sisters, and we all love games. I also play a lot when I get together with friends. And, of course, my boys and I play.”

  “How old are all these boys you have?” Paul asked light heartedly.

  “Eight,” she answered simply, smiling.

  Expecting more than one age, after all she had said BOYS, he was surprised when she stopped there. He wondered if she had misunderstood his question. A thought occurred to him. Incredulous, he had to ask.

  “You don’t mean to say you have eight boys, do you?”

  “No,” she smiled. “I have two boys. Twins. They’re eight years old.”

  “Phew. For a minute there, I was worried. I thought you had eight boys. That would be a lot for any man to win over in order to date you!” Changing gears as quickly as she could, her face perceptibly redder, Katryn changed the subject.

  “Was there anything else I can help you with? For your nephew, I mean,” she pointed at the book he carried.

  “Not for my nephew, but for me. How about lunch?”

  “I’m afraid I can’t right now.”

  “What time does Dottie come in?” he asked, remembering what she had said earlier. Katryn wished now that she had not told him.

  “She’s usually here by 12:30. But surely your lunch hour will be up by then,” she offered lamely.

  “As a matter of fact, I usually dine here at noon. At least on Tuesday’s.” Seeing the disbelief in her eyes, he added, “I have a standing 12:00 lunch time on Tuesdays. Clinkerdagger’s holds my table for me.

  “It’s almost 12, now,” she pointed out, a large part of her hoping he would leave, while a small part of her hoped he might stay.

  “True. I’ll just have them hold it ‘till 12:30. May I use your phone?”

  “I can’t leave here until at least 12:30, Paul. Your lunch hour will be pretty much shot.”

  “I’ll stay at work a little later this evening, then, Katryn,” he said with a wry smile. “I don’t punch a clock, and my time’s my own. There’s been a time or two I’ve gotten no lunch at all, so I assure you no-one will care. That is, of course, unless YOU care. Are you trying to get out of having lunch with me?” he asked lightly. He watched her closely while she answered, and noticed she did not look at him.

  “Well, no... not exactly. It’s just ... just that I didn’t want to ... I was afraid you’d run out of time ...”

  “I just want to find out a little more about the team,” he offered, hoping to distract her. “Do you practice other days than Monday, for instance?” Relaxing just a little, and sounding too relieved to suit him, she answered.

  “Oh, I guess I didn’t explain much about the team after all. Well, if you still want me to have lunch with you...”

  “I do.”

  “I’ll come over to Clinkerdagger’s when Dottie arrives.” ‘Please make him go!’ she begged the fates.

  “All right, it’s a deal. But first I’d better pay for this, don’t you think?” He laid the book on the counter. Katryn rang up the book and bagged it for him. Paul took the change she handed him, reminded her he would be waiting at the restaurant, and then finally left.

  Katryn was glad that, at the moment, there were no other customers in the store. Dealing with Paul had been harder than she would have ever imagined it could be. While part of her was relieved to know he was not interested in her, was only interested in the team, that other traitorous part of her was very disappointed. She wondered how she would manage to keep that part of herself locked up during lunch, let alone the entire 8 week volley ball season!

  Reminding herself one last time that he merely wanted to discuss volleyball, she forced herself to turn back to her last week’s sales totals. She never again had a moment to herself. It seemed everyone wanted a book, and rushed in during their lunch hour to get it. There had be
en only one she did not have in stock, luckily, since it took a bit of time to look up and then write down all the information necessary to order a book. Katryn had three customers in line when Dottie rushed in.

  “I’m so sorry I’m late, Katryn. I missed the bus and had to wait for the next one. Wouldn’t you know it’d be busy today,” she said rushing past the checkout counter on her way to the storeroom.

  Locking up her coat and purse, and looking slightly askance, Dottie hurried back to the front of the store. She helped someone find the book he wanted and came back to the register while Katryn handed change to the last of her three customers. The gentleman Dottie helped was the last in the store, and in just a few minutes his purchase was taken care of, too.

  “Are you famished? Were you afraid I’d forgotten to come?” Dottie asked nervously.

  “No, not at all. In fact, I hadn’t even noticed the time.” Glancing at her watch, Katryn groaned. “It’s after 1:00.” Then, catching herself, she told Dottie, “I guess I am hungry. Can you hold the fort for a little while?”

  “Of course. You go take an extra-long lunch and I’ll be fine.”

  “I’ll be at Clinkerdagger’s.” Katryn said over her shoulder. She looked up and saw Paul standing just outside the door. Realizing she had kept him too long already, she decided against going to the back room to freshen up.

  She grabbed her blazer, and just hoped she didn’t look too wrinkled. Slipping her blazer on, she said goodbye to Dottie, who was staring at the tall, good-looking gentleman waiting for Katryn.