Chapter 6 #2
“Romeo likes Drew’s couch too much. All he wants to do is watch movies and take walks with me. Drew walks too fast for him. I swear, I adopted a couch potato, not a dog. He doesn’t even play fetch.”
Rarity walked around the store, checking the back door, rechecking the security system, and even walking through the bathrooms. When she came out, Sam and Shirley were waiting at the door.
“Everything okay?” Sam asked as she held Killer’s leash.
“I hate the fact that someone was in the store and knew enough about it to find the security system and know how to turn it off,” Rarity admitted. “It makes me feel vulnerable. Even though I wasn’t the one working the store the last three days. I worry.”
“Worry seems to be the word of the day. Kathy’s worried about her dad and me.
Drew’s worried about Darby. Jonathon’s worried about everyone.
” Shirley stepped outside and waited for Rarity to lock the door.
And then smiled when Rarity double-checked the lock before dropping her keys in her pocket.
“And you’re worried about your staff and the bookstore.
Matthew 6:34 says, ‘Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.’”
“Thank you, Pastor Shirley,” Sam teased.
“But it’s true. It’s been one of my favorite verses since I was a young mother.
I worried so much about the kids and George.
Now, years later, I could still be worrying, but what good would it do?
All I can do is trust that everything will work out the way it’s supposed to.
” Shirley stepped between Sam and Rarity, linking arms. “Now, let’s talk about when those men of yours are going to pop the question. Have you been leaving hints?”
There was only one thing that Rarity wanted to talk about less than the current upheaval in Sedona, and that was if or when she and Archer were getting married. Shirley must have brought it up at least once a month. “You have to have a note on your planner reminding you to ask that every so often.”
“Not really. It’s just on my mind a lot. Especially when I see you all together. You’re both such cute couples. I need replacement grandchildren nearby so I can get my fix without flying out to Kathy’s.”
Sam changed the subject without even mentioning Drew and her relationship, and the three were laughing by the time they reached Terrance’s house.
They said good night to Shirley and headed to Rarity’s house next door.
Inside the house, Sam fell on the couch.
She started to giggle. “I’ve met Romeo, and Jonathon’s exactly right on his description. The dog is lazy.”
“We use the term ‘energy challenged’ in this house.” Rarity rubbed Killer’s head. “I bet you’re going to go right to sleep. You won’t miss me at all.”
The look Killer gave her told her she was way off the mark. But he walked over and lay down on his bed anyway.
“Do you need to change?” Sam asked, looking at her watch. “The first movie starts at six.”
“I’m going to change my shirt and shoes and grab a jacket. It might be cold walking home or in the theater. They turn the air up too high. Do you want to borrow one?” Rarity headed to the bedroom. “I hate that Darby’s having issues here in Sedona. I don’t want her to sell the house and move.”
“You just don’t want to lose a bookseller,” Sam called back from the living room.
Rarity grabbed a nicer shirt from her closet and changed, slipping into some boots that she wore out a lot. They were comfortable and looked nice. “Not totally true. Did you hear her talking about opening a bed-and-breakfast with Malia and Holly?”
“I give it three years, maybe five before one of them gets serious and moves in with some guy. Or Darby moves a guy in.” Sam stood as Rarity came out of the bedroom. “They’re all at that age where they’re probably going to be getting married soon.”
Rarity shook her head. “You’ve been hanging around Shirley too much. We’re ten years older than those three and we’re not married.”
“Life happens.” Sam caught the jacket Rarity threw her way. “Hey, I’ve been looking for this.”
“You left it here last month.” Rarity grabbed her keys and tote. “Ready to go see a movie?”
“I think we’re all going to be tired of movies by the time this festival is over,” Sam said as she put on the jacket. “And going back to the marriage thing, you and I are both in relationships. Maybe we should just be thankful for that and not label it.”
“I’m sure Jonathon and Edith would love to hear you say that.” Rarity checked Killer’s dry food and water dishes. “I’ll be home soon.”
“After three hours of bad movies. You’re lucky you get to stay home, Killer.” Sam glanced over at the sleeping dog. “Should we turn on the television?”
“Probably.” Rarity found a channel that had light movies and turned down the volume. “Let’s go have some fun.”
After two really bad movies including the one the woman, Miranda, had talked about at the booth, Rarity and Sam were at the bar in the lobby, getting a drink. “Do we want to try number three or give up?”
“In for a penny,” Sam said. “Besides, they gave me a voting ticket for tonight. I just hope I can give this one a higher rating than the other two. There’s Darby. I thought she was heading home?”
“I did too.” Rarity paid for the drinks, then looked around the crowded lobby. “Where did she go? I want to make sure she has someone to walk her home.”
“You’re hovering and she’s not even your kid,” Sam pointed out. “Just text her and ask if she wants to walk home with us.”
“Good idea.” Rarity sent Darby a text.
Instead of a returned text, Darby called her. “What are you talking about?”
“I just saw you at the movie theater. I thought you were staying home, but since you’re out, do you want Sam and me to walk you home after this last movie? Just because of all that’s going on.”
“Rarity, I still don’t know what you’re talking about. I am home. Malia and Holly are here too. Maybe you saw Katie?”
Rarity told her she must have been mistaken, then hung up. She looked at Sam. “That was Darby, right?”
“I thought so, why?”
“She’s at her house with Malia and Holly. Did we just see a look-alike?”