Sintown Chronicles II: Through Bedroom Windows (41 page)

He laughed. “Exhausted is more accurate. I may have to pass on tonight, June. I need a nap or something, bad."

She smiled and dug into her pocket. “I had a key made for you at the hardware store this afternoon,” she said, placing the brass object on the table. “Why don't you go to my apartment and nap on the sofa. I'll get off in a couple of hours and wake you with a kiss."

“Sounds great,” he said as he slipped the key into his pocket.

“The place is probably a mess, Frank. I didn't take time to straighten up."

“No problem, Lovely Lady. As tired as I am, I'll probably be asleep before I have time to notice."

The new key worked effortlessly. Frank stepped inside, snapped on the light switch and surveyed the living room. He smiled when the only clutter he saw was June's robe, slung over the back of the sofa. He picked it up and took it to the bathroom, where he knew she usually kept it, hanging on a hook behind the door. As he shook out the robe before hanging it up, a business card fluttered to the floor.

He picked up the card and read it. Why would June have one of Tim Dollar's business cards in her robe? he wondered.

He hung up the robe after replacing the card in its pocket and returned to the living room. He sat heavily on the sofa and noticed a small manila envelope on the coffee table. He picked it up and removed a dozen Polaroid photographs.

He jammed the photographs back into the envelope and stomped to the kitchen. He found the notepad and wrote, “I'm more tired than I thought. I'll see you around sometime."

“Virgin, hell,” he muttered as he slammed the apartment door behind him, leaving his key on the kitchen table. “I don't know what you and Tim Dollar have going, but, Lovely Lady, you can have the bastard."

Maggie entered Dot's Diner at mid-afternoon to the sound of wolf-whistles from Vic Kimel and Tim Dollar, two of the only three customers present. June gushed, “Maggie, your outfit is adorable."

She grinned and assumed several poses. “Get used to it, gang,” she joked. “As the manager of both the Korner Kafe and Dot's Diner, Dottie insists on a new image, and what you see is what you get."

Gone were the red baseball cap, flannel shirt, baggy jeans and sneakers. She was wearing a white, wide-collared, broadcloth shirt with a red and white silk scarf tied loosely at her throat. Her tailored, light tan chinos, cinched at the waist with a thin, brown leather belt, sported tapered legs that ended in a cuffless embroidered hem. The hose she wore were visible only at the ankle and her feet were encased in comfortable looking, sunburst garden clogs. Her navy blue jacket used matching buttons instead of the gaudy brass buttons usually found on blazers.

“Very classy,” Vic added. “Businesslike and at the same time feminine."

“Your outfit looks so comfortable,” Kim observed.

“It is,” Maggie agreed. “Get used to the new look,” she joked. “I bought six compete outfits and they are mix-and-match."

“I'm not as eloquent as these other guys,” Buzz Adams said, “but I think you look sexy."

“Sexy?” Maggie asked, surprised.

“Yeah. Sexy. Clothes don't have to be skin tight to be attractive,” he said defensively. “Just look at June, there. Her uniform fits nicely but leaves much to the imagination. I'll wager she's one of the most alluring women in Dot."

June's mouth fell open as her face turned red.

“I'm not sure I like my outfit being called sexy,” Maggie laughed. “Don't you start hitting on me, Buzz Adams."

He smiled and returned to the paperback novel he was reading.

“How's it going,” Vic asked, “managing both places?"

“Three businesses to be exact,” Maggie replied. “Dot's Diner, the Korner Kafe and the motel. It's going great. Dottie and George are so cute, holding hands and flirting with each other."

“You think they're going to get married?” Tim asked.

“Inevitable,” Maggie replied. “It's just a matter of time.” She turned to June. “You have the inventory ready, June?"

“Yeah. Just finished,” she said as she reached beneath the counter for a clipboard. “We had big crowds for breakfast and lunch, Maggie. We almost ran out of eggs this morning."

Maggie's eyes ran down the list and she nodded. “I agree with the increases you have suggested, June. I'll call the order in when I get back to my office."

“Maggie?” June said softly.

Maggie leaned over the counter in order to hear the nearly whispered question.

“What did I do wrong?"

“I don't know what you mean."

“With Frank. He dropped me with no explanation. He doesn't eat here anymore. He won't return my phone calls. I even wrote him a letter, but got no response. Except in passing, I haven't seen him in three weeks."

“Well, June. He ... he's very busy, you know. He's trying to get the old warehouse cleaned up, building display units, ordering equipment and merchandise, installing a pump in the creek and lines to the greenhouse he is building. When he gets home at night he is exhausted and goes straight to bed."

“That was supposed to be our project,” June said, moisture building in her eyes.

Maggie reached out and took June's hand in her own. “June, I'm so sorry. I tried to warn you. Once Frank gets what he wants, he goes in search of a new conquest. That's just Frank."

“If you're talking about sex,” June said, “he didn't get it."

“June, you're young and become prettier every day. Forget Frank. Play the field. Enjoy your youth."

“Yeah, sure,” she said. “I shouldn't have said anything. Look, Maggie, I have to fill the salt and pepper shakers. The supper crowd will start coming in any minute."

Maggie squeezed June's hand sympathetically and smiled. She pulled the inventory sheet from the clipboard, folded it and stuffed in into the inside jacket pocket. On her way out, she waved at the three male customers and admonished, “Don't forget to leave big tips for June and Kim."

Buzz pretended to read the paperback, but his eyes followed June as she set up tables for the dinner rush. When Tim and Vic paid their tabs, he approached June as she stood at the register.

“June,” he said, handing her a one-dollar bill to pay for his coffee, “I need to confess something. I did a little eavesdropping while you and Maggie were talking."

June blushed.

“It's just that ... well ... I'm not seeing anyone right now and since you and Frank are no longer dating, I was wondering if, maybe, uh..."

“Are you asking me for a date, Buzz?"

“Yeah, I am—a movie or something."

“I would have given anything if you asked me for a date while we were in high school,” she said.

“Yeah, well, I didn't know you in high school."

She smiled faintly. “Nobody did,” she agreed. “At least, not any of the guys."

She gave him change and he said, “Look, you don't have to answer me right now. I'll drop by tomorrow if that's okay."

He walked towards the door but she stopped him.

“Buzz, I get off at seven, now that everybody's healthy and back at work. If you pick me up at seven thirty we can make an eight o'clock movie in Charlotte."

He smiled. “It's a date,” he said.

“I enjoyed the movie, Buzz,” June said as they sat in his Toyota in the Dollar Building parking lot.

“Yeah. Me too.”

“Would you like a cup of coffee or something?"

“You mean it?"

“I didn't invite you in for sex, Buzz."

“I know, but ... well ... I thought you were in a hurry to get rid of me."

“Why do you think that?"

“All you talked about all evening was Frank Skinner. I know you're sweet on him and all that, but..."

“Oh, my God, Buzz. I'm so sorry. Listen. I did enjoy the evening and I would like to do it again sometime. I promise that next time, if there is a next time, I won't mention Frank."

“There will be a next time, June. You're a great gal. In a way, I feel honored that you shared such personal emotions with me. Frankly, I think the guy's a nut for dumping you."

“Come on up for a little while, Buzz."

“You have to get up early in the morning and it's getting late."

“We have time for a cup of coffee."

“You wouldn't have a beer, would you?"

When they were inside her cozy apartment, June brought him a Budweiser and sat next to him on the sofa. Their thighs touched. Why not? she thought.

“Could I have a taste? she asked.

“Sure,” he said and he handed her the frosty brown bottle.

She sipped it and said, “Ooh, that's not as bad as I expected."

“Your first beer?” he asked.

She grinned and nodded. “It doesn't taste nearly as bad as it smells."

He laughed and turned the bottle up.

“Buzz, you've been so quiet all evening. I know I've rattled on about ... you know ... but is there something on your mind?"

“No,” he said as he emptied the bottle. “You have another one of these?"

“I think so.” She took the empty to the kitchen and returned with two full bottles.

As she sat down, he stood up and tasted the fresh brew. “June, I fibbed. There is something on my mind and I need to talk with someone about it. If I tell you something that's really bothering me, will you keep it confidential?"

“Of course, she said as she sipped her beer. Tastes pretty damn good, she thought.

He began to pace on the red flecked blue carpet. “I'm a loudmouthed braggart, a clown, a teller of tall tales. I don't have a friend in the world. The truth is, I've failed at just about everything I ever tried. I have a lousy reputation. Folks call me the town's bad boy."

“You were a good quarterback in high school,” she said. “I often wondered why you dropped off the team in your senior year."

“It wasn't by choice,” he said, bitterness showing in his facial expression. “I repeatedly got failing grades in senior English. That damn Miss Gentry kept flunking me. I had to go to summer school to graduate. By not playing, I did not receive any college football scholarship offers. My parents sent me to college, but without football, I wasn't interested. I dropped out after the first semester. There was nothing else for me to do but come home and work as a clerk in the family business."

“Miss Gentry. Isn't she Mrs. Deborah Andrews, the new principal at the Dot School?"

He nodded as he continued to pace. “She married a rich sucker named Andrews who dropped dead a couple of years later. When she comes in the store she doesn't even recognize me."

“You blame her for destroying your football career?"

He nodded. “Yes, but that's not what I want to talk about.” He sat beside her and smiled. “You'd better go easy on that beer. It being you first, it may go straight to your head."

She laughed. “Would you like for me to get drunk? You could have your way with me then."

He smiled. “It wouldn't be the first time I got a lady drunk and into bed, but I won't do that to you—not tonight, at least."

“Thank you, kind sir."

“Here's the thing, June. I finally resigned myself to working at the grocery store and inheriting it one day. I was even on the verge of liking it. Then my folks blindsided me."

She looked at him expectantly.

“They sold the damn place out from under me."

“They sold the Dot Grocery?"

He nodded and took another swig of his beer. “They sold out to that Bi-Lo chain. I'm to run Dot's Grocery while a huge building is constructed behind it. When Bi-Lo is ready to open, they'll push down our little building and it will become part of the parking lot."

“Your parents did all this without consulting you?"

He nodded and watched as she finished her beer.

“This stuff grows on you,” she said as she stood up. “Want another?"

He nodded and followed her to the kitchen. As he twisted the cap off another bottle and handed it to her, he said, “They told me about it last night. A big announcement will be in this week's
Courier
. They are moving to a retirement home in Florida."

“I just can't believe they left you high and dry like this."

“Oh, they think they have looked after me. They're giving me the house and Bi-Lo has promised to put me in their manager trainee program."

“Well, that's something."

“Working for someone else is not the same as owning your own business."

“What are you going to do, Buzz?"

“I don't know yet, but I do know I have to get out of here. It's nearly midnight.” He started for the door.

“Buzz,” she said as she stumbled after him. “Don't you want to kiss me goodnight?"

He placed his hands on her cheeks, kissed her on the forehead, the nose and her closed lips. “Would you like to go dancing tomorrow night?” he asked. “I promise I won't bore you with my problems if you will promise not to mention Frank Skinner more than once every fifteen minutes."

His breath smelled like hers—like Budweiser. She liked it. “I don't know how to dance,” she said.

“Want to learn?"

“Can you teach me?"

“I don't know,” he said as he let his hands trail down her back. “I've never tried, but I'm game if you are.” He kissed her hair and slipped out the door.

She staggered to the bathroom. I'm drunk as a skunk, she told herself as she giggled, and I like it. To hell with Frank Skinner. As she emptied her bladder she thought, There may be more to Buzz Adams than meets the eye. He could have done me right there on the living room floor and he knew it. Screw you, Frank Skinner. You're not the only gentleman in Dot.

Frank set a case of beer on the counter and dug for his wallet. “I see in the
Courier
you've sold the place to Bi-Lo. What are you going to do with all that money?"

Buzz smiled. “The folks own the place. They get the dough, but give me a year and I may be the president of Bi-Lo."

“No shit. Are you going to work for them?"

“I'm not sure, yet. They offered me a good job, but I'm considering my options."

“What do I owe you, Buzz?"

“Having a party are you Frank?” Buzz asked as he rang up the sale.

Frank laughed. “I have a couple of teenagers coming over tonight. The party will start after I've poured a six-pack into each of them."