Shoe Strings

the dentist’s office last week.   There was a time, many years ago, when
Kerri Ann thought she’d spend her days wearing fashionable outfits like
hers.   Those days, those dreams,
were long gone.
    “Hello,” Kerri Ann heard the woman say to Min as she propped
her white-framed sunglasses on top of her head.   “I’m looking for a gift.   For a man.”
    Kerri Ann stopped mid-stride and stifled a gasp.   The woman was buying Bryce a gift.   When her lunch threatened to make an
encore appearance, Kerri Ann leaned her hand against the wall and watched it
disappear into a bin of fishing rods.   The clattering noise made everyone turn in her direction.
    “Hello again.”   The woman stepped closer, a smarmy smile on her full ginger lips.   “You’re the woman from the Pizza Den.”
    Kerri Ann straightened the rods and tossed her head casually.   She’d hoped to slip out before the woman
saw her and went running to tell Bryce what an idiot she’d been.   “Yes, yes, I am.   You’re still here, I see?”
    “Um huh.”   Her
eyes lingered, probably laughing at Kerri Ann’s outfit and scuffed tennis shoes.   “Maybe you can help me.   I’m looking for a little something for
the man I’m renting my cabin from.   Perhaps you know him?   Cal
Bloodworth?”
    The surge of relief she felt at the mention of Cal’s name
had her practically skipping with joy.   “I know Cal very well.   He’s
my father-in-law.”
    She smiled brightly and didn’t seem surprised at the
revelation.   “You must be Ty’s mom
and Jesse’s ex-wife.”   She extended
her hand.   “I’m Angelita
Barros.   It’s a pleasure to meet
you.   Your son is wonderful and such
a help to Cal.”
    “Thanks.”   Kerri
Ann felt like the ball in a ping-pong match.   Her emotions swung from jealousy to
pride in a finger snap.    “I’m
Kerri Ann.   So, you want to get Cal
a gift?”
    Angelita moved like a model through the haphazard array of
items in the store.   “Yes.   He’s been so delightful, bringing me
muffins and wine.   I simply have to
reciprocate.   Nothing too big, just
a token of my appreciation.”   She
turned to face Kerri Ann.   “Any
suggestions?”
    “Well,” Kerri Ann’s eyes wandered the collection of items
she’d just perused with new interest.   “Maybe a nice picture frame or possibly a candle.   I was just admiring the smell of these
over here.”   She led her to the
tiered display.  
    The woman’s own scent could have been captured in a candle,
a deep red candle and given a name like fire or sex.   She didn’t want to like Angelita, but
when she lifted the candle to her nose and gave her a dazzling smile, Kerri Ann
couldn’t help but be swayed.  
    “I like this one.”   She flipped the container over and red the tag.   “Enchanted Forest?   Do you think he’d enjoy this?”
    “Cal likes things that smell good, so I’m sure he’d love
it.”   She thought of Cal and his
need to take care of others and his insistence that no one pamper him.   “You’ll embarrass him though.”
    “Oh, I know.   But
he’s made my stay so pleasant.”   Angelita studied her for a moment and Kerri Ann wondered if she’d gone
off with sauce splashed on her face.   “You have great symmetry in your bone structure,” Angelita said.   “And great hair.   I love the color.”
    “You do?”
    “Um huh.”   She
nodded.   “Do you get highlights or
are these natural?”
    “Um, natural, I guess.”   Although she’d meant to highlight for the winter when her straight blond
hair tended to turn mousy.   It was
just another thing she’d let slip.   Wasn’t much reason to fix herself up.   “I used to highlight.   In high school,” she said with an
embarrassed jerk of her shoulder.   Where the hell was this conversation heading?
    “My hair’s an unruly mess.”   She gestured to her perfect loose
corkscrews that floated like a veil around her shoulders.   “The humidity is a killer. I’ll bet your
hair stays straight, no matter the weather.”
    “Straight as a pin.”   Kerri Ann unconsciously ran her hand over the ponytail.   “Unfortunately.”
    “I’d love it.”   Angelita lifted an orange candle, sniffed, and, after crinkling her
nose, placed it back on the glass shelf.   “I need a good cut.   Can you
recommend someone in the area?”
    “Well, most folks around here go to Shelly Stanton over at
the Hair Barn just off Main Street.