Though I’d spent an hour imagining myself in that house, I was surprised to hear myself think, if I stay.
Should I stay or should I go? Yes. I heard The Clash’s answering ten chords in my head.
It was not a decision that would be made in a day. First, I’d ‘try on’ the new life. See if there might be a fit. But I had to admit it was a hundred times more promising than the temporary residence inn and no idea what I would do next.
The key to the garage was a remote. The door responded immediately with a rolling noise and I was relieved to see Romeo. He’d done an excellent job of parking himself and the deep polished shine made me wonder if he was somehow able to bathe himself as well.
Without being asked he popped the latch so that I could drag my luggage out. It wasn’t going to be easy to get those babies upstairs, but hey. I wasn’t really over the hill. I was just well over forty.
“Thank you, Romeo,” I said, just because I was kind of getting into the joke of talking to an auto.
“You’re welcome, Rita.”
“If only you could carry luggage upstairs.”
“Shall I call someone for that?”
“Who?” Silence. “No. If I can’t handle it, I’ll ask Maggie if there’s a strapping young man about who’d like a tiny tip.” Realizing how that sounded, I was just as happy that Romeo persisted in his newfound silence.
The street between my house and my garage was the width of an alley and one way. I got the impression it didn’t get much traffic, which would be more than okay with me. It didn’t escape my notice that I thought, my house and garage.
I’d just reached the door when I heard a gravelly but friendly voice.
“Mrs. Hayworth! Here. Let me help you with those.”
I turned to see a small wizened man. He wasn’t physically attractive, but had a contagious grin.
“Uh, hi. It’s, uh, Ms. Hayworth. Or no. I mean Rita. It’s Rita. And you are?”
“Bradesferd Skeech. At your service.” He pointed to my keychain. “I’m the silversmith.”
I looked down at the ring in my hand. “Oh, Mr. Skeech. Your work is phenomenal.”
“Go on. I’m too old to blush. But since you’ve offered your given name, locals call me Brad.”
I grinned. “So I’m a local? For that matter, how did you know my name?”
“Oh. Everyone knows your name. We don’t get new residents often. You could say you’re a celebrity.”
He treated me to a good-natured laugh then looked pointedly at the bags. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings or his masculine pride by suggesting he was too small and too old, but I didn’t want to be responsible for injury either. “Are you sure, um, Brad? They’re very heavy.”
He smiled up at me. “I’m stronger than I look.”
“Okay,” I said, opening the door and stepping back to give him room.
He lifted the two bags like they weighed nothing and set them down just inside the front door. “Upstairs?” he asked.
Since I’d become a believer in the idea that you can’t judge strength by looks, I said, “That would be wonderful. If it’s not too much trouble.”
“None at all, but the staircase is narrow. So I’ll take one at a time.”
I waited in the living room while he carried one then the other upstairs. He returned showing no sign of exertion whatever.
“Is there anything else I can do for you?” he asked.
“I already owe you a favor for this. If it was a hotel, I’d think you were entitled to an extra tip.”
“I’d be insulted to have you think of such a thing. We look out for each other around here. We’re glad to have you take over the Hallows. It’s very special.”
“Do you have a shop on the circle?”
He nodded. “Shop and workshop. Just across on the other side of the green. The Silver Braid. You can see it from your front window. Drop by any day around two. I usually stop for tea.”
“I certainly will. If I stay.”
He gave me a quizzical look. “If you stay?”
I dodged the question and said, “I wouldn’t think you’d get a lot of customers. Hallow Hill seems kind of out of the way.”
He smiled. “We get just the right number. Not too many. Not too few.”
“Well, who could object to an economy like that?”
He turned to go. “I’ll be off then.”
“Thanks again, um, Brad. This really was very much