Matt liked how Minnie smiled at that.
“Kimber’s helping Mom make cookies today.”
“I was just telling Matt here about what an angel that little pea pod is.”
“I don’t know if angel is the best descriptor, but she is a good girl.” Her voice softening, Minnie added, “I never knew how much I needed hugs at the end of the day until I had her. Now I can’t imagine life without Kimber sleeping down the hall.”
Looking for something to say, Matt stated the obvious. “I’m glad she’s getting settled in.”
A shadow formed behind her eyes. “Well, we’re working on the settling in. Sometimes I think Kimber’s adjusting. Other times, I don’t know if she ever will.”
“Give it a while more. Time heals. It always does,” Mrs. Wy said.
Matt knew those words were true. Too bad Minnie didn’t look as if she agreed. She kept flitting her eyes to him, then to Mrs. Wy, then back to him like a firefly that couldn’t stay away.
Minnie pointed to the boxes. “Wanda, I was thinking…I don’t need any of your dishes.”
“You better take a set, I’ve been planning on it.” Mrs. Wy clucked. “You said you could use them.”
“Y’all are busy. And you don’t need to bother.”
Matt flexed his arms and pretended he felt no pain. Pretended he didn’t feel a pull toward her. Something about Minnie made him want to go all he-man. Maybe because she looked so surprised that someone would go out of his way to help her? “It’s no bother. Believe me, you don’t want to carry them around. Those boxes are heavy.”
“Oh. Well, then, thank you.”
Matt was just thinking that her show of appreciation was definitely lacking when Mrs. Wy got right to the point. “Minnie? You look a little peaked. Is something wrong?”
“Maybe.”
“Well, what is it? Honestly, I haven’t see you so sad since that Peter took off.”
Minnie visibly winced as she turned Matt’s way. “Please don’t tell me Wanda’s been telling you about Peter.”
“Not too much,” he said. But he couldn’t help looking at Minnie meaningfully. “Not too much” meant Mrs. Wy hadn’t yet told him Peter’s social security number.
“I bet.” Minnie rolled her eyes.
“What is wrong, then?”
As if they were at a coffee shop, Minnie plopped down on yet another box of books. “SavNGo Discounters is coming. They just put up a big sign in the front field of the old Crocker Ranch.”
It took about half a moment for Matt to realize two things. One, Minnie didn’t like SavNGo, and two, she didn’t know he had anything to do with it.
Mrs. Wyzecki sighed in relief. “I know that, dear. Now we won’t have to drive to Wichita Falls for toilet paper.”
“One of my customers, Zenia, mentioned that when SavNGo comes, she won’t have to come to Carried Away anymore. She’ll be able to get her cards and gifts cheaper there.” Flipping that thick brown ponytail off her left shoulder, Minnie exhaled softly. “And the thing of it is…I’m afraid Zenia’s right.”
Matt suddenly felt as if Mrs. Wy’s hot-as-blazes garage had just sucked all the life out of him. Usually he surrounded himself with folks who couldn’t say enough good things about the coming of his store. SavNGo brought jobs and good prices. Healthy competition.
Now, looking at Minnie, he was terribly afraid SavNGo might cut into her business. It was always a possibility.
While Matt fumbled for a comment that wasn’t full of false hope, Mrs. Wyzecki jumped to the rescue. “People will still come to your store, honey. And I wouldn’t pay any mind to that silly Zenia Hardt. Everyone likes you. And they like all your cute gifts and fancy stationery. Business is going to be just fine.”
“What am I going to do if they don’t?” Pursing her lips, Minnie added, “I’ve been talking to other people in my shopping plaza. Brenda Martin, who owns Mystery Books is worried, too. So is Abel Pierce at the hardware. We’ve been doing the math, and it doesn’t look good. If I lose even a fourth of my customer base, I’m going to be in a heap of trouble. And I’ve got Kimber.”
Matt was surprised. Hadn’t Paige left Minnie money for the girl? And…why wasn’t Mrs. Wy saying a word about how Matt practically was SavNGo? At least to the town he was. Things were getting awkward. He’d just opened his mouth to set Minnie straight when Mrs. Wy spoke.
“Don’t fret, honey. We’ll come up with something. We always do.”
“Oh, I know. I’ll figure it out.” With a look of apology his way, Minnie hopped off the box she’d been perching on. “I’m sorry I even brought it up. I guess I haven’t put the office behind me yet today.”
“Don’t you worry. Matt here can’t seem to stop talking on his phone and that silly blueberry.”
“BlackBerry,” he corrected. “And I’ve got work colleagues expecting me to take their calls.”
Mrs. Wy harrumphed. “Morning, noon and night?”
“Especially then.”
“One day you’re going to find out that work won’t stop for the day unless you do the stopping.” Heading to the door leading into the kitchen, Mrs. Wyzecki fanned herself. “I think I’m going to take a little break for a bit. It is warm out here.”
As the door shut behind the elderly woman, Matt stood up, too. And, he was just about to tell Minnie the God’s honest truth—that he worked for SavNGo—when he took a real good look at her.
She turned his way and then stepped a little closer. When she smiled, a dimple appeared. So did a set of pretty white teeth.
His senses came alive. Suddenly, talking about work seemed like a real bad idea.
Minnie smelled like lemons and something like cherries or spring. Her pink T-shirt clung to her breasts in the midday heat, making it near impossible to keep from sneaking a peek at her chest every time he tried to do the right thing and keep his eyes focused above her neck.
Minnie leaned forward an inch. “So…were you about to say something?”
“No.” Actually, no words were coming to mind. Not a one.
“You sure?”
“I mean, it can wait.”
“Oh. Well, then I think I’d like these dishes,” Minnie said, pointing to a box filled with delicate china covered in hand-painted roses. “Wanda used to serve me tea on this set when I was little.”
“All right. I’ll carry it over for you.” Matt wiped his suddenly sweaty hands against his thighs.
“You sure it’s no trouble?”
Matt bent down and stifled a grunt as he lifted the china-filled box. “No trouble at all,” he muttered as Minnie Clark, once very young and very forgettable, started leading the way to her house.
And he, Matt Madigan—former high school quarter-back and current director of store planning for SavNGo Discounters, aka Minnie Clark’s nemesis—was following Minnie like she was the next big thing.
Chapter Four
“Just set that box right here, Matt,” Minnie said, pointing to the one clear spot on her back kitchen counter.
As he did that, she asked, “Would you like a glass of tea?”
“Thank you.”
Quickly