A Flicker of Doubt - Tim Myers [47]
“You want advice from me?” I asked. “If we’re down to that, I’m afraid it’s pretty hopeless.”
He shook his head. “Don’t be so certain of that, Harrison. It appears that the main source of contention between them is you.”
“Me? You can’t be serious” I said. “How could I be the problem?”
“Oh, I’m not even certain they’re aware of it. They both claim it’s a territorial issue, but I feel you’re at the heart of their conflict.”
“I’ve never dated either one of them,” I said. “Are you telling me they both have crushes on me?”
Pearly let a slight smile slip out before he reined it in. “Nothing that dramatic, I’m afraid,” he said. “They aren’t fighting over your affection, but rather your friendship. In my conversations with both women, the recurring underlying theme was how much time you spend with the other woman. The currents of discord are rather strong.”
“So what do I do about it? I barely have time enough to handle everything as it is, let alone add extra visits to each of them.”
“We make time for the things that are important to us, Harrison. If you want both women to stay, I’m afraid it’s up to you.”
“Of course I want them to stay,” I said. “But I can’t do anything as overt as coming right out and telling them.”
“I’m afraid that’s exactly what you’re going to have to do, or both women will leave.”
“How sure are you?” I asked. It was hard to believe that the dispute between Sanora and Heather was as simple as Pearly was making it out to be.
“I’m as certain as I can be, given the circumstances. Talk to them, Harrison. Make them fell needed and wanted here.”
“And if it doesn’t work?” I asked.
“Then I’m afraid you’re going to have to find two new tenants.”
I stood and stretched. “I’ll do my best,” I said. “Thanks for looking into this, Pearly.”
“It was more rewarding than I expected,” he said. “Perhaps I was premature in my decision to retire.”
Oh, no. Was I going to lose Pearly, too? “I don’t know how I can run this place without you, but I want you to do whatever makes you happy.”
“Thank you, my friend. Good night.”
I said good night as well and headed upstairs. I was on the third step when I remembered the cash till and report I’d shoved under the counter to go canoeing with Erin. Letting out a loud sigh, I turned and headed back to At Wick’s End. If I was lucky, the report would balance and I could get the deposit to the bank before I nodded off and crashed my truck. The balance was off by five dollars, not a horrible deficit, but one that would bother me the rest of the I night I’d just about resigned myself to losing the money when I started to put the till back into the cash register and found that an errant bill had slipped under the I drawer somehow. Relieved with the corrected balance, I made out the deposit but found I was too tired from the day’s events to risk driving to the bank. I tucked the deposit bag under my arm, promised myself I’d take care of it early the next morning, then went upstairs and straight to bed. The emotional time I’d been going through lately was finally catching up with me, and all I really wanted was to go to my place and forget the outside world even existed.
Chapter 13
When I woke up the next morning, it was spitting rain outside my window and thunder boomed in the distance. From the look of the sky, we were in for more before the storm system was through with us. At least I wouldn’t have to go back on the river anytime soon. I’d enjoyed my time with Erin on the water, but I wasn’t in any real hurry to repeat it. Maybe some day. I’d take the kayak out again on my own, but I wasn’t I ready, despite the success of yesterday’s excursion. I didn’t doubt Erin would have knocked on my door first thing if it hadn’t been storming out I’d take the reprieve where I could get it
I opened my door and found my copy of the Gunpowder Gazette on my stoop. It cost me a little extra to have it delivered upstairs, but I was willing to pay for it, since it meant that if the young man delivering didn