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don’t mind me asking, are you new
to town?” She told her that they’d moved in about a month ago. They were using
the upstairs as their home for now. “You’re doing well then?”
    Doris just looked dejected before she spoke. “Not
so much. I mean, I know that it’s only been a couple of weeks and we get a lot
of traffic, but not many of them are buying. I was hoping we could do this
instead of working in a factory or something. Tessa here is working now for the
lady at the diner to help out. And I’m making stuff to sell that’s not moving.”
    “You make all this?” Doris told her that she
made about seventy-five percent, the rest she had to buy. “It’s beautiful. I
think I might be in here a lot.”
    Doris showed her around the shop and pointed
out the things that she’d made, and a few that she’d repurposed from auctions
or such. An old trunk was filled with finger towels that had been decorated
with hand stitching. A lamp with a handmade lampshade was covered in buttons of
all kinds. Doris was talented, that was for sure, and she had a good eye for
art.
    “Have you a webpage?” Holly had only asked
her casually and turned when the woman didn’t answer her. “Doris?”
    “I can’t read.” Her face deepened to a dark
red as the woman realized what she’d just confessed. “I didn’t get much in the
way of education when the babies came along. By then it was too late. My
husband was gone and I had me five children to care for. He took it all from us
that might have helped us out. But we made it, and I’m very proud of my kids.”
    “As well you should be. Not many could start
a new business like you have and try to make a success of it. Good for you.” Doris
told her she was proud of them and that the boys, all four of them, had moved
to other states when they got good jobs. “I’m assuming that Tessa is your
youngest? And I can tell that if your sons are anything like their mother, they’re
doing well now too.”
    “They’re good boys, all of them. They send me
money when they can, but three of them have families of their own, and I won’t
take what they can use. The other one, my youngest boy, he’s in college. He’s
doing really well and someday he’s going to be a fine doctor. I don’t want you
to think I’m asking you to feel sorry for me. I’ve done right by them.”
    “Well, of course you have. And I’d punch
anyone who said anything different.” Doris nodded and left her there when her
daughter said she needed help with the phone. Holly contacted Jace and told him
what she wanted to do.
    I’m all for it. But will you let me have her
investigated first? She told him she was going to do it regardless. I already figured that out,
honey. I just want to make sure, okay?
    You should see the things she’s made. I’m
telling you, Jace, if she had an online store, she’d be rich in a month. And
this place would just be a place for the leftovers if she had any. He told her to go
for it. Thank you. I knew you’d see it my way.
    Now if you can get someone to open a play
shop, I’ll be a happy man. Her body warmed at the thought of going to a place where
they could play. Holly, I can feel how aroused you are. If you keep that up,
I’m going to leave the men here and come find you.
    No, but as soon as you come home tonight, I’m
going to be in the woods behind the house waiting for you. His low growl had her
wet in seconds. Telling him to behave didn’t help either. When Doris returned,
Holly had to think how to speak, then what to say to her. Jace’s laughter didn’t
help at all.
    “I’m going to help you.” Doris was shaking her
head, and Holly nodded. “I am. Now, sometime today if he can swing it, a man by
the name of…no, that won’t work. He’s with Dad on that trip. Let me see…okay. Irwin
Henderson is going to contact you. He’ll come with someone, but I’m not sure
who yet, but—”
    “Slow down. Who are you sending and why? I’m
telling you right now,