4. Duke
FOUR
DUKE
I don’t know if I should think teasing Maggie is as much fun as it is. Sure, old habits die hard with the handkerchief. For a while back in college, I was the nerd carrying around a pocket watch, but with how active I am, that’s not practical. It was cool while it lasted, though.
The fact that she hid from me brings up mixed feelings. On the one hand, it’s hilarious that she’s trying to avoid me. But learning about her ice cream theory has me wanting to be near her more, just so I can understand more of her quirks.
I’ve always been curious about her, maybe because she didn’t grow up and stick around in Willow Cove like most made her seem like some magical being.
Did I mean to run into her after stopping by the bakery? No.
I shouldn’t have said the bit about the nuts to Georgie either. Now Maggie probably thinks I’m teasing her. Which I am, but in a fun way. I just haven’t figured out how to get her to smile or laugh and for real. Yet.
After a quick night of sleep, I’m back at the shop, a little jittery from the anticipation of what’s to come. Corporate is supposed to send someone to check in on how things are going. I haven’t met the goal I’d set for the store once I heard it. Numbers are always important to these higher up guys.
I worked in sales during college, as it helped me pay tuition and support myself, but I’ve never been a manager. Now it’s hard to remember all the things I’d filed away in my head while working under someone before. Things like not micromanaging and supporting my sales people instead of leaving them out to dry just to make a sale.
I pass The Candy Jar and smile as I see Maggie in there getting things ready for the day. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone as dedicated as she is to her work. Obviously I wouldn’t make any list that included that, after having changed careers several times in my adult life.
When I get to my door, I see a small bag hanging from the door handle.
The note attached says, “The ice cube worked. Thanks.”
It’s so short and I don’t know why I’m surprised. Maybe because the woman came up with an entire theory surrounding ice cream that this seems lacking. And why didn’t she just wait and come bring it to me when I got here?
She really is trying to hide from me.
I hesitate for a few seconds, wondering what to do. Do I go about my business and get things ready to open? Or do I walk over and talk to Maggie?
Talking to her wins out. I knock on the glass door and see her head turn toward me. I can’t read her expression clearly from here, but I’m guessing she’s not excited.
She unlocks the door and opens it all of an inch and a half. “What’s up?”
“Good morning,” I say, smiling at her.
She lets her gaze flick to other parts of the shopping center before she looks up at me. “Hi. I’ve got a ton to do before we open. Looks like you got the handkerchief.”
I nod, holding it out to her. “Yeah, you did a good job with this.”
“Thanks,” she says, slowly. “Is there something else you need help with?”
“Not really. I just wanted to say good morning.”
She nods. “Okay, well, good morning. I’ve got to get back to this.”
“Don’t mind her,” a voice says to my left. I turn to see Hope. “She gets very antsy right before we open.”
“Not that much,” Maggie says, frowning.
“How are you, Duke?” Hope says. “It’s been a while.”
“That’s what happens when you move out of your parents’ house. We can’t have our late night chats anymore.”
Hope laughs. “More like prank sessions. I had to move so I didn’t have to listen to you snore in the guest house anymore.”
I glance over at Maggie, wondering what she thinks of this. “That’s why I’ve got to save up money, so I can get surgery for the deviated septum.”
“Really?” Maggie asks, looking sympathetic.
I chuckle and shake my head. “No. A guy needs to work so he can travel.”
“Or buy a house not on his parents’ property,” Hope says with a laugh.
I give her a mock frown and say, “True. But then again, someone has to be the neighborhood watchdog. Everyone else keeps moving or getting engaged. Soon enough there might actually be a crime in this town and we need someone who can warn everyone. Or just Betty Freebush. Word travels like fire when she’s been informed.”
“We need to get going, but I hope things go well with your job.” Hope gives me a small smile and starts to walk inside, but I stop her.
I chuckle and nod. “Congrats on the proposal yesterday.”
“Oh, you saw that?” she says, before waving her ring finger in front of her. “It was one of the best surprises ever.”
I catch a quick glance over at Maggie, and she’s still stuck in that frown. What in her past makes her irritated by a proposal? She never answered my question about it yesterday. Maybe she’s worried about losing her business partner and I was the one who vocalized the question..
Hope makes Maggie open the door and they both walk deeper into the store.
“He did a great job. I’ll have to write that down for the future. And I’ll be back to get a cone,” I say, keeping my feet on the outside of the threshold.
“Come have one now. I’ll open up the register while Maggie gets it for you,” Hope says, holding the door open.
“I’ll get the register,” Maggie calls out, a little too loudly. Is she still embarrassed about our chat yesterday?
I walk over to the ice cream counter, trying to decide which ice cream to try today.
“So, Duke. Who are you dating lately?” Hope asks.
“You make it sound like I’m a serial dater, which I’m not.”
“That doesn’t answer my question, though. Weren’t you and Annabelle Danton a thing a while back?”
I groan, shaking my head. “I took her on one date. Actually, her mom tricked me into the date and then kept bugging me to go out with her again. When I tried to push her off saying I was busy, she started spreading the rumor around town that we were going to get married.”
Longest month of my life.
“Oh, yeah, I guess I never got the real story.”
“I would suggest not getting on the Danton’s bad side.” It was a fact I’d learned the hard way. Mrs. Danton had told everyone to boycott the Italian restaurant, Francesca’s, because I worked there. The owner was apologetic but ended up letting me go because of it. I’d actually liked working there, which was a change from my other jobs.
Shaking my head, I say, “So, no dating right now. But a guy can dream.”
And there I go, making myself look like a dork. I get it, I’m used to it. I just wish I could have some more chill when meeting people. Maybe fool them for a bit. Then again, I’ve known these two for a long time. Maggie not as much as Hope.
“That’s so sweet.” Hope says. “What are you getting today?”
I glance to the side to see Maggie is standing still, as if waiting to hear my answer.
“Let’s do cookies and cream,” I say. I pause, wondering if Maggie is going to chime in the level for this flavor.
She says nothing, only going back to work to open boxes and refill bins.
“When’s the wedding?” I ask, trying to get the conversation back on track.
“Jason and I talked last night. We’re going to get married in a month.”
I may not know a lot about weddings, but that seems really fast.
“A month?” Maggie says from behind me. I turn to look at her. She could be one of those wax figurines at a museum, holding the candy bag in front of her as she’s frozen in a hunched position over the bins.
“Jason is getting deployed and we want to get married before he leaves.”
That’s fast. “Congrats. I’m sure that will be awesome. I can hook you up with a travel package, if you’re interested.”
“She’s not,” Maggie says, walking over and standing next to Hope.
“Are you kidding? That would be amazing.” Hope is grinning from ear to ear.
Maggie scowls. “Not if it’s a lifelong commitment.”
I chuckle. “Isn’t that what marriage is, though?”
Maggie looks confused and says, “I’m not talking about marriage. I’m talking about the contracts you have people sign and then suck the life out of them when they can’t pay it.”
Hope looks at me again and says, “Maggie, I think I hear the truck out back. Will you go get the order?”
Their dynamic is strange, but I’m a little worried about being here with only one of them.
Once Maggie disappears through the back door, Hope turns to me. “Her grandmother bought a timeshare. They charged her so much, she went through her savings pretty quickly.”
Realization dawns. Maggie has some bad history with my kind of business. “That makes sense why she hid last night. Thank you, Hope.”
“She hid?” Hope asks, looking horrified.
“Yeah, behind the planter. That’s why she’s got a minor cut on her forehead.”
Shaking her head, Hope says, “I don’t know what to do with her.”
“I can hear you, you know,” Maggie says, glowering at the two of us as she walks in with a large box.
“We’re having an intervention on your behalf,” Hope says with a half-smile.
Maggie drops the box she was holding and stomps over to us. “With Duke? Please tell me you’re joking.”
“We’ve got to try,” Hope says, looking more defiant.
And that’s my cue to leave.
“Thanks for the chat, ladies. I’ll see you around. Maybe try another flavor of ice cream later. Let me know if you want me to organize that travel package, Hope.”
She nods and smiles at me before I dart out of The Candy Jar. Nothing like anger to kill off the sweetness.