"Your mysterious stranger is back," Joey's mother said. When he asked where, with feigned indifference, she pointed across the street to the hardware store.
He leaned on the counter as he watched the man and one of the clerks load cans of paint into the trunk of his car. It had been three weeks, give or take, since he'd first seen the mysterious stranger and, truth be told, he really hadn't expected to again.
"Must be doing some redecorating," his mother commented. "God only knows that house needs it from what I remember."
Joey shrugged one shoulder. "Should keep him busy."
As his mother finished wiping down the last table she frowned to herself. She knew her son well. When he pretended not to care about something it usually meant he was more interested than not. In this case it could be a problem. The man they'd been watching was apparently very reclusive which in her book meant he probably had something to hide. A man of his age, which she guesstimated was mid-thirties, didn't bury himself in the backwoods of nowhere without a good reason, or a bad one. If Joey started to pry… She sighed. 'Leave it be and maybe he'll find something else to pique his interest.' Aloud she asked, "When is your next exam?"
"Tomorrow."
"Then you'd best get on home and study."
"Yes, Mom." Joey smiled at her. "Planning on it as soon as we close."
"Go now. It's not like we're going to have any more business in the next twenty minutes."
Joey didn't need telling twice. He whipped off his apron, grabbed his jacket from behind the kitchen door, and beat it out the back door before she changed her mind.
Almost to the second, as the back door closed the front door opened and the man they'd been talking about walked in.
"Can I get a large black coffee to go?" Glenn asked.
"Absolutely." While she poured it, Joey's mother said, "I'm Miriam Fairburn. Would I be considered nosy if I asked your name?"
Glenn smiled slightly. "Yes, but I'll tell you anyway, it's Glenn. And before you ask, I moved here a few weeks ago."
"Now that I knew," she admitted as she handed him his coffee. "My brother mentioned it. The old Williams place just outside of town."
Glenn cocked an eyebrow. "Meaning the man who runs the garage I'd say, as he's the only one I mentioned it to. I'm surprised he didn't tell you my name too."
"I didn't ask, he didn't tell." She took his money and gave him his change. "My son's the inquisitive one. Takes after his…" her mouth tightened momentarily, "father in that respect. Well it's nice to meet you and I hope you come back again."
"If and when I come to town, I might." That said Glenn nodded his thanks and left.
"Definitely has something to hide," she said under her breath.
If Glenn had been able to read minds he would have agreed with Mrs. Fairburn, he did have much to hide.
No comments:
Post a Comment