A Change in Altitude by Cindy Myers Read Free Book Online Page A

I’ll keep my eyes open for you.”
    â€œThanks.” She stepped away. “Well, I guess I’d better let you get back to work.”
    She was aware of his eyes on her as she continued down the sidewalk. Talking to him had lifted her spirits; he was just a pleasant, positive guy. Funny that he was a friend of Jameso’s, though maybe not that strange; they were about the same age and obviously shared many of the same interests. She’d have to ask Jameso about him. Maybe it would give them something to talk about. So far all of their relatively brief conversations had been painfully awkward. So much for the sibling closeness she’d hoped for.
    She stopped in front of the next store in line. Lacy’s was written in fancy script on the glass display window. An arrangement of silk sunflowers bloomed in a dented milk can by the door and another sign beckoned— Come in!
    The jangle of sleigh bells announced her entrance and a tall, angular woman in a white blouse looked up from behind the counter. “Hello,” she said, smiling.
    â€œHello.” Sharon took a few steps into the shop, past a child’s pedal car and a second milk can. The shop was jammed with the oddest assortment of items, from a seven-foot-tall display case of fine glassware and china, to what looked like a stack of old highway signs, leaning against one wall.
    â€œSome of it’s junk and some of it’s valuable treasure,” the woman behind the counter said. “Which is which sort of depends on the person who’s buying. But whatever you’re looking for, I’ve probably got it in here somewhere, or I know someone who does.”
    â€œAre you Lacy?” Sharon asked.
    â€œLucille Theriot.” The woman moved out from behind the counter. “I’m also Mayor of Eureka, so welcome to town. Are you visiting or just passing through?”
    â€œI’m staying. Or at least I hope to.” She took the hand Lucille offered. “I’m Sharon Franklin. I’m Jameso Clark’s sister.” She was getting a little more used to referring to her brother by the name he’d chosen. Jameso wasn’t so far from Jay.
    Lucille’s eyebrows shot up and she studied Sharon with the intensity of a crow scrutinizing bread crumbs. “I do see the resemblance now,” she said. “You have the same chin, and the same hair.” Her smile broadened. “Welcome to Eureka, Sharon. What can I do for you?”
    â€œI’m looking for a job,” she said. “You wouldn’t by any chance be hiring, would you?”
    â€œI’m sorry to say this is pretty much a one-woman operation. And the city doesn’t have any openings either.”
    â€œOh.” Sharon didn’t even try to hide her disappointment. “Thank you anyway. If you hear of any openings, please keep me in mind.” She turned to leave, but Lucille stopped her.
    â€œWait just a minute. Come sit down over here and let’s see what I can come up with.” She indicated a tall stool in front of the counter, then returned to her place on the other side. The counter itself turned out to be another glass display case. Sharon looked down and saw a row of sepia print postcards laid out on the shelf. One showed a doe-eyed young woman with a parasol, while another pictured a baby in an old-fashioned pram.
    â€œWhat kind of work did you do where you’re from?” Lucille asked. “And where are you from, if you don’t mind my asking?”
    â€œVermont. And I didn’t work outside the home. I was a housewife.” It sounded so quaint and old-fashioned. So innocent and simple, when really it had been so complex and difficult at times.
    Lucille nodded. “We all know that’s hard enough work. I was in the same boat after my divorce. I had a young daughter and a blank résumé.”
    â€œI have a daughter, too.” Sharon felt a surge of kinship with this