Page 13 of The Lake House

“Little Giuliana? Oh my goodness, it’s been forever! How are you, dear? My wife told me you were back in town.”

I smile. “I’m good, thanks. How about yourself?”

“Never better, dear. You just caught me… I was about to run out to the back to grab today’s delivery.”

“Oh, that’s fine. I won’t keep you long. Mrs. Abner had said that when I’m ready to head back to work, you guys would have some availability for me?”

“Yes! She mentioned to me that you’d want to work here… although I don’t see why you’d want to spend your time around a grouchy old hag and her minion.” He chuckles, and I can’t help but do the same.

“You two are the sweetest, and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be working.”

He chuckles some more. “That’s very kind of you, dear. Are you ready to start today?”

“Today? Absolutely.”

“Great. Come down whenever you’re ready and we’ll get you all situated. I’ll let the Mrs. know.”

I smile. “Thanks, Mr. Abner. I appreciate it.”

“You got it. I’ll see you soon, kiddo.”

We hang up, and I decide to head inside and change out of my house clothes. I make my way up the stairs to the bedroom and put on a pair of gray slacks and a white shirt. I throw on a pair of sandals, put my hair up in a ponytail, and apply the lightest coat of makeup just to make me look alive.

Once I’m satisfied with my look, I head back downstairs, lock up, and make my way out the door.

I decide to take my car down to the store this time. Although it’s not far, I want to get there sooner than walking will allow me. Plus, if I start working today, I may be tired on the way home. Who knows.

Five minutes later, I park my car two doors down from the deli. I lock up and when I reach the store, I pull the door open toward me. The bell above it dings, and instantly, I lock eyes with Mrs. Abner.

“Oh, you’re here! Hi, sweetheart,” she says, taking swift steps toward me.

“Hi, Mrs. Abner. It’s good to see you again.”

She brings me in for a tight embrace. Once we pull away, she asks, “How are things going? Enjoying yourself back in Silver Mist?”

I smile. “I am, actually. Liv and I went to the fair last week. It was nice. We saw some familiar faces.”

Declan’s smiling face pops into my mind. It’s been a week since I’d last seen him. And no, I haven’t stopped thinking about him once since then.

“Oh, how nice. You and Olivia got to hang out?”

I nod. “Yeah, we’ve kept in touch the whole time I was gone… she’s my best friend.”

Now she nods. “I remember you girls were always so close. I’m so happy to hear you still are. She has the sweetest daughter.”

“Yeah, I love Josie. She’s a doll,” I answer.

After a few moments, she pats her hands down on the apron in front of her. “So, you’re ready to get started?”

“I am. Ready to work whenever you’ll have me.”

She offers me a genuine smile. “Great, let’s get you situated then.”

I follow Mrs. Abner in the back, where she has me quickly filling out some paperwork. She says I already have the job, of course, but I need to fill out an application for formalities. She tells me to skip the references and job history section, so I do.

Once all that is taken care of, she sets me up at the register and shows me how to ring up orders. I had a job as a cashier back before my teaching career began, but since then, the registers have changed some. Still, I catch on fairly quickly, and Mrs. Abner is instantly impressed.

I train and work until six in the evening, even though Mr. and Mrs. Abner had said I could have left after the first hour if I wanted to. I wanted to stay and help as much as I could. The first day went by quickly and it was just the thing I needed to start feeling like myself again. As much as I loved sitting out on my back porch just relaxing in front of the lake, working and being around people makes me happy.

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