Page 26 of Horn of Plenty
“You did good, Cal,” he offered.
“Thank you, sir. But the credit goes to Mabel,” he answered, then glanced around the square, looking for her. He checked his watch. It had been a good thirty minutes since he’d last seen her chatting with a group of customers.
“And you’ll never believe this,” Margaret chimed. “Betty and I were talking to a couple who used to work at the factory next to the quarry. When we told them how interested people were in purchasing Eat Elverna shirts and hats, they suggested looking into manufacturing the items at the factory. Can you imagine if we got that going again?”
Cal shook his head. He and Jamie had never dreamed that people would want clothing supporting their sustainable farming initiative.
“And how are you, Gladys? You look quite lovely in that scarf. Is that the one Mabel gave you?” Sally asked.
His grandmother didn’t respond. She continued watching the dancers and softly tapping her feet to the music.
“She’s not saying a whole lot, but she’s more alert today,” he offered.
Margaret patted his grandmother’s hand. “Oh, Gladys! I must tell you Cal and Mabel did a wonderful job planning the Saturday farmers’ market and the square dance. I’m sure you’re so proud.”
The ghost of a grin bloomed on his grandmother’s lips, but the woman looked tired.
“I better get her back to the skilled nursing center,” he answered, starting to stand, but Elias shook his head.
“I can take your grandmother home,” the man offered.
“Are you sure you don’t mind?”
Elias held his gaze. “Not at all. I think you earned a little downtime. When you see Mabel, let her know that she deserves to have some fun tonight, too.”
Cal did his best to hold back a look of total shock. Mr. Muldowney was a good man and a fair man, but he was never one to heap on praise or let his hair down, so to speak.
“Will do. Thank you!” he answered.
“I’ll join you, Elias. It’s a lovely night for a walk,” Claudine added warmly.
Cal kissed his grandmother’s cheek. “I’ll see you real soon, Gran.”
“And Mabel?” the woman whispered.
He nodded as emotion thickened in his throat. “I’ll bring her along.”
Mr. Muldowney gave him another pat on the shoulder before releasing the wheelchair’s brakes. He and Claudine said their goodbyes to the old Young sisters, then headed toward the sidewalk that led to the skilled nursing facility.
He glanced around, searching for Mabel. But she was still nowhere in sight.
“Are you looking for Mabel?” Margaret asked.
“I wanted to pass along her father’s message. Do you know where she is? I haven’t seen her in a while,” he replied.
Sally shared a look with Margaret. “Last I saw her, she was talking to that nice young man.”
Heat that had nothing to do with the summer humidity welled in his chest.
“Nice young man?” he repeated, reminding himself that Mabel had talked to many people today about Eat Elverna. But the caveman inside of him still didn’t like the idea of her with another guy—be it nice, young, old, tall, or short.
“A handsome man, for sure. I think he said that he’d come from Chicago,” Sally added.
Chicago. At the mention of the city, the heat in his chest rose to his cheeks.
“That’s right! It was Chicago,” Margaret replied. “He had three helpings of our summer vegetable casserole and purchased two pies. He also asked about ordering more. I can’t remember what he said he did, but he was a lovely man.”
He clenched his jaw. Some lovely, handsome man from the city was not part of what he had planned for Mabel this evening. Not even close.
