Lilly opened boxes while she and Jeannie chatted and sorted out her kitchen. An hour later the kitchen was set up and a second pot of coffee was brewing. By the time Jeannie said goodbye Lilly had discovered Jeannie and Wes had been high school sweethearts who married right after graduation twenty years ago, that Wes was the part time harbormaster, and they had two daughters Heather 19 and Julie 16. She learned about the local handyman/construction team of brothers Boomer and Billy Clancy, and the grocer Gary Roberts who was married to Eileen who ran the coffee house/diner. As Jeannie told her about life in Anchor Bay Lilly began to feel an easing of anxiety; a sign to her that this was going to be a good place to be. And now she had a new friend. With the promise to get together Jeannie headed home – wonderfully right next door.
It took most of the afternoon to get the upstairs items organized and sort of put together. The master bedroom was roomy and bright. Windows faced south and east and were draped in white shirred curtains and wood blinds. Her bedding fit the feeling of the room, swirls of light blues and greens matched the wingback chair and ottoman covered in a complimenting stripe. A matching night table and dresser were antique white. The in-suite bathroom had a tub/shower combo that had a dated look but was clean. She would need a shower curtain and rug for the tile floor.
Her excitement rose as she made up the second bedroom. This one was where Nicole would stay when she arrived. The theme was a more modern bold reds and gold with curtains that matched the bedding. Lilly was glad to see the drapes would be a perfect fit. There was another bath next door, and the last upstairs room would be a mixture of office and library with a futon as an extra sleeping spot. It was going to take a lot more time to get that room ready, and since there was no internet yet, the computer could wait.
She plunked down in the cushy office chair and listened. The house was quiet. It seemed to be welcoming her with a sigh of happiness, absorbing the new items that Lilly brought in. Lilly smiled and then laughed when her stomach growled. She glanced at her watch and was shocked it was after four pm. She dashed to grab her purse, and hurried out, her stomach loudly complaining.
Lilly pulled her green Escape onto the road and followed Jeannie’s directions to the grocery store. She parked in one of the spaces and grabbed her shopping bags from the back seat. She hated plastic bags, so she always brought her own. The store was neat and clean but felt like something out of the 60’s with low ceilings, neon lighting and tile floors. There was even an old cast iron stove in the front with a big red cat lying on a rug in front of it. The shelves were well stocked and to her pleasure there was a real butcher counter in the back. As far as she could tell anything she needed was here, especially chocolate hazelnut spread, her snack of choice. She was reaching for a toilet paper four-pack from a top shelf when she was bumped from behind.
“Oh, sorry ma’am,” a male voice sounded from behind a hand cart being pushed down the narrow aisle.
“No problem,” Lilly replied and smiled at the handsome teenage boy looking around the heavily loaded dolly. She eased out of his way, moving closer to the shelves.
“Can I get that for you?” He asked with bright blue eyes that shined with the same friendliness as his smile.
“Nope, I’ve got it,” she replied. “You may need to take a box off the top so you can see where you’re headed.”
“Don’t have far to go and I shoulda been look’n. You’re ok, right? I didn’t hurt ya when I hit ya?”
“No, it was just a bump. Don’t worry.”
“Ok, good. See ya,” he called out and drove the dolly around her and through plastic doors at the back of the store.
Lilly pushed her cart to the cashier, leaning on it as she watched the activity. There were lots of people in the store and she was third in line at the only open cash register. She moved up one more space and spotted the teenage boy again, she waved back at his friendly wave. She noticed that cat had moved, and an older gentleman was talking to the teenager. She thought if the ceiling was higher the store would feel much bigger with floor space the size of newer grocery store.
Her next stop was the hardware store around the corner and down a couple of blocks. She picked up two clear shower curtains, rods and rings, a picture hanging kit, and extra light bulbs.
Cindy Price, the cashier at the store pumped her with questions about where she was from and where she was living and pretty much anything else that Lilly would offer. Cindy told her about growing up in Anchor Bay, and that the hardware store was the Price’s family business. Cindy also made sure Lilly knew about her sister Denise’s hair and nail salon called ‘Dee’s’ on Main just down from the diner and across from the beach walk. By the time Lilly got back in her car she had agreed to lunch with Cindy tomorrow at the diner.