At Wick's End - Tim Myers [55]
“I’m sorry, you’re right, but I thought you weren’t coming in at all today.” I added softly, “You promised me you’d work full-time this week.”
“I didn’t assume that meant I had to be here whenever you were. On the evenings I teach classes here, I never come in until one. I’m going to have quite a bit of overtime as it is.” Eve shook her head. “Harrison, given my action Sunday I can’t hold it against you, but you should know that I would never miss a shift, at least not without calling you first.”
“I should have figured it out on my own. So what’s the class about this evening?”
“Actually, you might consider sitting in. I’m teaching four students how to pour candles. It should help you get a feel for what we do in our general classes.”
“It sounds great. Do you mind covering for me while I go get something to eat? I’m starving.”
“That’s why I’m here. Take your time at lunch. I’ve got the store under control.”
I walked outside and thought about getting a slice of pizza and a Coke at A Slice of Heaven, but I decided to make a sandwich upstairs and eat it on the steps of River’s Edge. I loved the convenience of having Millie right there and the pizza parlor not much farther away, but if I bought my breakfast and lunch from other people every day, I’d end up losing money every week, certainly spending more than I could afford.
I slapped a sandwich together, walked downstairs and back out into the lovely weather. A breeze had kicked up in the short time I’d been upstairs, and I found myself wishing for a light jacket.
My friends the ducks were back when I returned to the spot where Heather and I had picnicked, and I was ready for them. I’d packed an extra piece of bread just for them, and they gobbled it down with great delight. The simple meal was enhanced by the day, as I found myself sliding happily into the new life Belle had chosen for me. I felt guilty not pursuing my suspicions surrounding her death more vigorously, but if anyone in the world would understand how much work it was to run At Wick’s End, it would have been Belle. Still, I promised myself as soon as I got a little breathing room, I’d do a little more digging and find out what had really happened to her.
The rest of the afternoon raced past, and after another quick bite upstairs during the half hour we were closed between regular hours and the scheduled evening class, it was time to get started. I helped Eve lay out the supplies we’d need, adding an extra of each at another bench so I could follow along myself. We had hot plate burners at each station, double-boilers, chunks of wax, wicks, and an array of dye blocks and bottled concentrated scents.
Eve surveyed my work, then said, “We need some ice from the freezer, but wait a while before you get that.” She also grabbed some odd chunks of colored wax, along with baskets filled with seashells and pretty rocks.
“What are these for,” I asked as I ran my hand through the basket at my table.
“You’ll see.”
There was a knock on the front door, and Eve glanced at the clock. “Right on time. Would you let them in, Harrison?”
I nodded and headed to the front of the store. A group of four women spanning the generations were waiting for me, from eight years old to eighty. They appeared to run the gamut from great-granddaughter to the grand matriarch herself.
The grandmother asked, “Are we early? We couldn’t wait to get started.”
I bent just short of a royal bow. “Come in, ladies. I’m Harrison Black.”
The eldest in the group said, “I was under the impression a woman named Eve would be our instructor this evening.”
“I’m observing tonight, if you don’t mind,” I said as I locked up behind them. The last thing we wanted were customers wandering in during the class. Besides, I’d been on my feet all day. The idea of sitting at one of the benches instead of waiting on other folks was pretty appealing.
“We’d be delighted to have you,” another of the women said, no doubt the youngest girl’s mother. “Isn