Farewell to Cedar Key by Terri Dulong Read Free Book Online Page A

you’ll like working with the bamboo to start with.”
    â€œGreat. Then I’m all set?”
    â€œI believe you are. I’ll ring you up.”
    We both glanced toward the door when the chimes rang, and I saw Chloe walk in.
    â€œHey, how’re you doing?” I asked.
    Before she had a chance to reply, Gabe said, “Oh, it sure looks like you had a tumble.”
    Chloe laughed and held out her casted arm. “Yeah, I sure did. Right down my stairs.”
    â€œThis is Gabe Brunell,” I said, introducing them. “My second pupil to sign up for the men’s knitting class.”
    I saw him extend his hand to Chloe. Was it only my imagination, or did he seem to hold on to it a bit longer than necessary?
    â€œHi,” she said, returning his smile. “How nice you’re going to learn to knit. Is your wife also a knitter?”
    Oh, clever, Chloe. Very clever. I smiled as I placed his purchase into the bag and watched the interaction.
    â€œOh, no, I don’t have a wife. I’m afraid I’ve been divorced for many years.”
    â€œSame here,” Chloe said, without hesitating. “Do you live on the island?”
    Gabe nodded. “I do for the winter. I’m renting a place over on Third Street. I retired last year from teaching, and a few of my friends from Philly have visited here. After a little research, I decided it might be a great place to get out of the cold for the winter months.”
    Chloe’s smile increased. “Well, great. Welcome to the island. Actually, I’m part owner of the shop, with Dora Foster. But as you can see, I’m out of commission at the moment, and we’re very fortunate to have Josie to help out.”
    â€œWonderful,” he said, taking his bag of supplies. “Then I certainly know where to go when I have a problem with my knitting. Thanks again, Josie, and I’ll see you on the first.”
    I leaned on the counter, chin in my hands, and stared at Chloe, who was watching Gabe leave and walk down Second Street.
    She turned around to face me. “What?” she said, and I swear that was a blush moving up her neck.
    I smiled. “Hmm, interested?”
    She waved her left hand in the air. “Don’t be silly. But he is good-looking.”
    I nodded. “He is.”
    â€œAnd he looks to be around midsixties.”
    I nodded again. “He does.”
    â€œOh, stop it,” she said, reaching across the counter to jab my arm. “What else is going on here?”
    â€œWell,” I said, figuring I’d teased her enough. “It just so happens I might be on my way to a job. An RN position.”
    â€œReally? Oh, Josie, that’s great. The new doctor called?”
    â€œHe did. Just a few minutes ago. He wants me to meet him for an interview at noon on Friday and lunch at the Pelican.”
    â€œAha,” I heard her say.
    â€œWhat does that mean?”
    Chloe laughed. “Well, hey, a lunch interview? Whatever happened to a formal interview in his office? He could be like that TV character, Doctor McDreamy. You never know.”
    Now I was positive I was the one who had a blush creeping up her neck. “Yeah, right. Well, first of all, the man does not yet have an office where we can meet. And second, he most likely has a wife.”
    Chloe nodded and a smile crossed her face. “Right,” was all she said.
    Â 
    I returned home from work late that afternoon to find a message from Ben on the answering machine informing me that a memorial service would take place on Friday, October tenth, at the Methodist church. That was it. No See you there . No Will we get together? Nothing. As I stood there staring at the machine it also hit me how he’d chosen to contact me—not on my cell phone, which I was likely to answer, but rather by leaving a brief message. Was he trying to avoid me?
    I turned around as Orli came in the back door loaded down with her backpack,