Chapter 12
PENN
I walkedaround town for a while, taking in all the shops and people. The buildings were all old, filled with charm and character, and some of the roads were still cobblestone. I noted that aside from the bakery—the one I had visited the evening I arrived—the town had a pet clinic, bookstore, general store, flower shop, and a café. A couple of blocks away were a hardware store and an ice cream shop, and I had to admit, Max was right.
Aveline was a tourist gold mine.
I could easily see a swarm of people seeking out this town to be transported into a place where the clock seemingly slowed down and the years were turned back. They would come from cities far and wide to experience what life was like before technology had taken over, where you could unwind and unplug. Where you could get a milkshake from the diner while walking along the cobblestone roads.
My job was to explore the town and get a feel for what it had to offer before I approached the owner of the building for sale on the website. Max wanted to make sure I could envision a steady stream of revenue from the town before he made any further plans.
I pulled out my phone and dialed Max.
“What’s up, Murphy?” He answered after the first ring, as he always did. Max had his phone on him twenty-four seven, never going anywhere without it. “Is Aveline everything we thought it would be?”
“It’s something,” I responded. “It’s basically like I’m in a living, breathing Hallmark movie.”
“That good, huh?”
“You tell me. They had a Jelly Bean Festival last night.” I paused. “I won a basket.”
“Wow, congratulations, man,” Max replied sarcastically.
I looked down at my sack. “Well, I won half of a basket. I actually ended up with a sack. You know what, never mind.”
Max chuckled. “Whatever you say. Hey, I was looking at the map, and it looks like there is another area for sale close to the town that Ollie Tremble said he might be interested in. He’s thinking of opening up another winery. Do you think you could check that place out, too?”
He formed it as a question, but Max knew there was no way I was going to tell him no. He was anyone’s best friend when they were doing what he wanted, but the moment they deterred from his plans, he could be their worst enemy. And he paid me entirely too much to make an enemy out of him.
“Sure, I’ll check it out.” I peered around, hoping no one had overheard any of my conversation, and noticed several people staring at me. There was an older couple, a man wearing a bucket hat and a pair of suspenders, and a short woman with Coke bottle glasses walking an English Bulldog. All of them had stopped what they were doing, and their eyes were focused on me and the phone in my hand.
A voice came up from behind me. “Put the phone away slowly, and no one will get hurt.” Darcy gestured to the old folks staring at me.
I whispered into the phone, “Max, I gotta go.” I hung up and put the phone in my pocket. I turned to Darcy. “What is happening? Why are they all staring at me as though I have just committed a heinous crime?”
The audience moved away, shuffling on about their business like they hadn’t just stared me down with daggers in their eyes.
“They are a bit old-fashioned,” she replied.
“A bit? Are you not allowed to have cell phones in Aveline?”
“You can have them, but you’ll be wildly judged by the boomers.” She started to walk away, and I followed her.
“So, you just don’t use them?” I asked incredulously. “Because of the old people?”
She kept her eyes forward, barely acknowledging me. “I didn’t say that.”
I sighed heavily and watched her press a button on her phone before she placed it back into her pocket.
“Hey, did you ever ask Lenora if I could have that cornbread recipe? I was going to see if I could perfect it before the Corn Carnival.”
“Who? What?” I asked, confused.
Darcy simply pointed to her ear where she had a tiny white Airpod. She walked on, leaving me smiling and watching her go.