Page 52 of Hidden Nature

“Drea. Beautiful.”

“Thanks. What can I do for you?”

“Right. Right. I want to say it’s really nice in here. Welcoming. And reminded me we need to get a tree. And the lights and the rest.”

“If you want to shop in town, Happy Trails has a nice selection of ornaments and decor, and a few artificial trees. Otherwise—”

“In town’s good. In town’s best. But that’s a real tree, right? It smells great.”

So did she. Boy, so did she.

“It is. Your best bet there is Wilford’s Tree Farm. I can show you on the map.”

“That’d be great. So All the Rest means it. Full-service.”

“We do our best.” Taking a map and a pen, she drew a route. “Where are you coming from, Mr. Littlefield?”

“Theo, just Theo. New York, but I live here. We live here now.”

“Oh?” She glanced up with those beautiful blue eyes.

“My brother bought a house a couple months ago. Ah, it’s off North Lake Drive.”

“The old Parker place? That’s you?”

“Well, Nash, but I talked him into letting me move in. We’re—forgot what I came in for. Distracted.”

He opened the box, took out one of the flyers he and Nash had designed.

Angling her head, Drea studied it.

“The Fix-It Brothers. That’s clever. Licensed contractors.”

“Nash is already. I will be in a few weeks.”

“Mm-hmm. Home repair, remodeling, new builds. No job too small. Friendly, reliable service, seven days a week.”

“That’s the plan. We’re just getting started.”

“New businesses are always welcome. Why don’t you give me about a dozen flyers? Any business cards?”

“Yeah, thanks. Really.” He fumbled out the flyers, a small stack of cards. “We appreciate it. Ah, Nash would’ve come in, too, but he’s picking up our building permits. The house needs a lot of work.”

The phone rang. Drea held up a finger, picked it up. “Good morning, All the Rest. This is Drea. Could I ask you to hold just one minute?”

“So, I’ll get out of your way. Thanks again. And… just one thing? I have to say you’re really beautiful. Really seriously beautiful. That would’ve been stuck in here if I didn’t get it out.”

“We wouldn’t want that. Thank you.”

“Yeah, sure. So… thanks again.”

As he walked out, he heard her say:

“Thanks for holding. How can I help you?”

His heart just sang.

While Theo worked a candle and rock shop—purchasing some of each for community relations—then the bookstore—a buy of a history of Heron’s Rest by a local author—Nash dealt with the business at town hall.

---