Treasured Past by Linda Hill Read Free Book Online Page B

statement before she turned and left me alone behind the counter. I was on my own.
    The first two hours were rather uneventful. I managed to muster up a smile whenever a new customer opened the door. I had the checkout procedure mastered after only a couple of people brought their purchases to the counter. After a while, I found myself eagerly fielding questions, which of course I had no idea how to answer. But it gave me legitimate reasons to approach Annie to relay the question of the moment. After several hours, I found that I’d actually been enjoying myself, and was surprised and just a bit disappointed when it was almost time to close the shop.
    At about a quarter of five, a gentleman came through the door carrying a large paper sack and approached the counter. He looked to be just a bit older than myself, with premature gray streaks beginning to emerge at his temples. His smile was friendly but hesitant.
    “Hi. I don’t think I’ve seen you here before. Did Annie break down and hire someone to help her out?” He placed the paper bag on the counter.
    I smiled a bit warily. “I’m actually just helping her out today.”
    “Is she here?” he asked brightly.
    “She’s back there somewhere.” I pointed to the opposite end of the store. “Would you like me to find her for you?”
    He considered the question momentarily. “I think that would be best.” He patted the bag that he’d placed on the counter. “I made a purchase awhile back that I need to talk to her about.”
    I glanced at the paper bag curiously and nodded my head. “Okay. I’ll go track her down.”
    I glanced back at the man only once to make sure he was behaving himself before I found Annie in the farthest aisle, rearranging a display of crockery. She smiled as I approached.
    “There’s a guy up front that wants to talk to you. He says he bought something awhile back that he needs to discuss with you.”
    She frowned. “I hope he doesn’t want a refund.” She sighed and wasted no time in walking to the front of the store. I was close behind.
    “Jim. How are you?” She recognized him from behind, and he turned and smiled. I thought he looked nervous.
    “I’m fine, Annie. And you?”
    “Fine. Just fine.” She stepped behind the counter and faced him, the smile warming her face. “What can I do for you?”
    “Well, I’m a bit embarrassed about this.” He dropped his eyes and began to fidget with the paper bag. “I bought this Eoff and Shepard set a couple of months ago.” He opened the bag and pulled out what looked like a tea and coffee set. He placed all four pieces on the counter. “At least I thought it was an Eoff and Shepard .”
    Annie’s brow wrinkled as she shook her head. “Jim, I don’t think I’ve ever seen this before. I don’t remember ever having it in the shop.”
    “I know.” He almost interrupted her. “I didn’t actually see it here in the store,” he stammered. He began to fidget, and my curiosity was piqued.
    “Your husband sold it to me.”
    “My –”
    “It’s a long story.”
    For a moment I couldn’t hear anything above the rushing sound in my ears. Annie was married. I thought my heart would fall right into my stomach.
    “So when I saw him I mentioned that I was interesting in finding a particular tea and coffee set by Eoff and Shepard ,” he was saying. “About two weeks later he called and said he’d managed to run across a set. He even delivered it to my office.” He paused long enough to see the frown on Annie’s face. “But the problem is, it’s not an original. It’s a replica. I went to have it appraised for my insurance policy, and I was told that I’d been conned.”
    Annie looked dumbfounded. I could almost see the wheels turning as she considered his words.
    “But, Jim, that transaction has nothing to do with this store. That’s between you and —”
    “No, unfortunately that’s not true.” He fumbled as he reached into his back pocket and pulled out a brown