The following week found Megan busier than she’d
expected. Fortunately, Chris planned to work full days so end-of-the-year
bookwork could begin.
Tuesday morning began with cold
temperatures, but a clear cobalt blue sky.
Without precipitation the roads were clear and the laughter of two
teenage girls made the trip to Eugene fun.
Megan planned to use the youthful ideas of
companions to help her find some new clothes. Since Rachael would begin the local high
school in a few days, Megan also wanted her to have some new things for school.
The day in Eugene with two teenagers turned out to be
great fun for all three. Perhaps because
Megan wasn’t their mother, Kaitlin and Rachael opened up about many things in
their lives. While the girls looked at
clothes, Megan asked Rachael if she’d like to “earn” some clothes by helping
out in the shop during inventory. They
determined how many hours and the salary per hour, and Rachael excitedly
started looking for clothes.
The girls collected an enormous
pile of possibilities—jeans, knit tops, and jackets. They went into the dressing room and Rachael tried
on the selections and modeled them for Megan.
She looked adorable so it was easy to give approval. Megan hoped that trips with Emily in a couple
of years would be this much fun.
Sales helped their money go lots farther, and
Rachael was excited at what she found.
Now it was time for Megan—who was determined
to spiff up her wardrobe. As she tried
on clothes, the door opened slightly and a beautiful sexy, black organza, spaghetti
strapped dress appeared on an arm with a silver charm bracelet surprisingly
like the one Kaitlin wore. A small,
whispering voice began, “Megan, you’d look sensational in this!”
She laughed, “One appearance in that getup would
change the image of my innocent little book shop forever!”
“We have plans for your social life,” the
voice continued. She could hear the
girls giggling. “Get this! And it’s even on sale! We’re just looking out for you!” Megan laughed and told the girls that they’d
be the first to take her shopping when Mr. Right came into her life.
A late afternoon lunch at a cute bistro in
the university district, and they headed home.
Megan wasn’t unhappy when school started
after the New Year. She needed to regain
some order. She had taken time off to
spend with Emily and enjoyed every minute, but could feel stress building as
projects piled up in the shop. Inventory
now must take priority.
One Monday morning, on a gray day in the
middle of January, a woman walked into the shop. Megan had not seen her before. She looked to be in her early 60’s with the
most beautiful long, white hair Megan had ever seen. Tall and elegant in a bright colored peasant
skirt, white long-sleeved, ruffled blouse and red flat-heeled boots. A red, woolen shawl served as a jacket. In
fact, thought Megan, I can’t remember
when I’ve seen a more striking woman.
Megan knew immediately that she wanted to become friends with this
woman.
“Good morning,” said Megan, “are you
passing through or a resident of Maple
Village I’ve not met?”
“Well, actually,” the woman said as she
walked up and put her hand out, “a couple of months ago, I bought a house on
the edge of town. I just moved in a
couple of weeks ago. So I guess you’d
call me a new resident.”
“Welcome to Maple Village!" The women shook hands.
“I’m Chloe Moretti. I took early retirement from teaching so I
could work on my art. Actually, you are
the person I want to see. I’m wondering
if you might be interested in displaying some of my sketches and paintings in
your shop. We could work out a
commission.”
Megan almost laughed. “This is uncanny. I’ve been in a dilemma about how to brighten
up the walls in the shop, and redo a bit of the coffee area to bring more life
into the space. During these gray days,
we need all the life and inspiration we can get. So, yes, I’d love to see some of your work.
“Come, sit down, and I’ll get some coffee
and a pastry that my friend makes.”
Megan thought she detected an accent.
“Your inflection doesn’t sound familiar.
Are you from somewhere other than the U.S.?”
Chloe smiled. “Some parts of our identity always remain. Yes, I’m originally from Italy. I married a German many years ago and we
immigrated to the U.S. But he died over 30 years ago and I remained
here in the States.”
“Well, what is left of your accent is beautiful—a
soft brogue comes across.” Megan always
loved meeting people from other countries.
Someday she would actually travel to those places instead of depending
upon hearing secondhand stories. As they
sat down in the Brew, Megan continued, “When can I see your art work?”
“If you’re able to come to my place, it
might be easier to see all I have.
Eventually, I want to set up a small studio and teach, but right now
nothing is in its permanent place.”
The women made an appointment to meet at
Chloe’s on Thursday afternoon after Chris came to work.
After Chloe left the shop, she continued to
think about this tall, beautiful, white-haired woman. There was something about her—had she met her
in a previous lifetime. Megan smiled at
the thought. She didn’t really believe
in reincarnation—or more correctly, she didn’t know anything about it, but
Megan found something so familiar, so comfortable about Chloe—and, an immediate
connection.
To be continued...
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