Chapter 7 Evangeline #3
A few minutes later, Evangeline was dressed in one of her beautiful new outfits, and carrying the rest to the counter along with her old stuff.
“Ana tells me that you’ll be taking care of little Leo?” Mari asked as she began folding Evangeline’s purchases in tissue paper and placing them in bags.
“Yes,” Evangeline said, unable to believe the lady was wrapping her purchases with so much care.
“His daddy is an angel,” Mari said, a big smile on her face. “Isn’t it wonderful that you’ll be working for him?”
“You know him?” Evangeline asked.
“Everyone knows him,” Ana put in. “He’s a total sweetheart. He’s been volunteering all over town ever since he got home from the service.”
“Though we don’t see him as often, now that he has the baby,” Mari put in.
“Maybe that’s why he wants help,” Ana said. “He and that adorable baby are normally joined at the hip.”
“He doesn’t have a job?” Evangeline heard herself ask.
Instantly she could feel her cheeks heat. Shouldn’t she know a little more about her own employer?
“From what I understand he doesn’t need to work,” Ana said quietly. “I think he was lucky with his investments while he was serving.”
“Oh,” Evangeline said, completely stunned.
“He’s very sweet with the baby,” Mari agreed, nodding with serious eyes. “A lot of people might not take too well to what happened, but he’s a good man. You’re very lucky to work for him.”
What happened?
“Cute too,” Ana put in.
Evangeline turned to her, and Ana’s eyes were twinkling.
“Don’t start with that,” her mother laughed.
Evangeline got out her debit card, but Mari pushed it away. She turned to Ana for help.
“He’d never forgive us if we let you pay,” Ana said firmly.
“You’re all set, Evangeline,” Mari said. “Stop in and say hi sometime.”
“I-I…” Evangeline began. But somehow she was crying without even realizing it was going to happen.
“Oh, sweetheart,” Mari said, coming out from behind the counter.
Ana wrapped an arm around Evangeline’s shoulder and Mari joined her to wrap an arm around the other.
“S-sorry,” Evangeline managed. “I’m j-just so grateful.”
“We’re so happy that you’re happy,” Ana said softly.
“I’ll make it up to you later,” Evangeline promised.
“No, no,” Mari said. “Your things are paid for, and you can focus on your new job now.”
“It’s too much,” Evangeline said, pulling herself together. “You could have gotten so much more for all of this.”
“We got exactly the outcome we hoped for,” Mari replied with a smile. “Pura vida.”
“That’s the name of the store,” Evangeline said uncertainly.
“Do you know what it means?” Ana asked Evangeline with a smile.
Evangeline shook her head.
“Technically it translates to pure life,” Mari explained. “But back home, we use it for a lot of things. It can be a way to say hello, or oh well. But mostly it means life is good.”
“And that’s how it feels to match you up with the right clothing,” Ana told Evangeline. “And it’s the way you’ll feel to bring good things to Grayson and Leo, right? And Grayson brings goodness to our whole town.”
“Pura vida?” Evangeline ventured.
“That’s it,” Mari said proudly. “Pura vida.”
When she had embraced both women again and promised to return to say hello, Evangeline headed back out with her purchases in hand.
She really hadn’t expected to be leaving with so many items, but it was a happy burden to carry.
Catching her own reflection in a shop window, she was blown away at how different she looked—relaxed and sort of prosperous with the pretty coat, like she belonged here.
“Good morning,” a lady said as she passed, pushing a stroller.
“Good morning,” Evangeline replied, more prepared now for the friendly warmth of the people who lived here.
She was just heading to the drugstore when something in the toy shop caught her eye.
Biting her lip, she decided to just pop inside quickly.
“Hey there,” the young woman inside said, smiling at her. “How can I help you?”
She was dressed all in pink, and her smile seemed absolutely genuine.
“Oh, um, I was interested in that car seat mirror,” Evangeline said, indicating the one behind the counter.
“Sure,” the girl said. “Hang on.”
She hurried off to the back, leaving Evangeline to look around the place.
It was beautifully decorated with so many wonderful toys, and dozens of paper snowflakes hanging from the ceiling.
A moment later, the lady reappeared.
“Here you go,” she said, handing over a new mirror in the box.
Thankfully, the price on the tag was more than reasonable.
“I’ll take it,” Evangeline said. “Thank you so much.”
“Well, that was easy,” the lady replied, carrying the mirror over to the cash register. “Are you new in town?”
“Yes, I’ll be working for Grayson Ward,” Evangeline said. “Taking care of his baby.”
“Aren’t you a lucky girl?” the lady replied, winking. “I’m Lily. If you and Leo ever want to stop in and say hi I’ll be glad to see you.”
“I’m Evangeline,” Evangeline replied. “Hey, do you know if they sell prepaid cell phones anywhere in town?”
“I don’t think so,” Lily said, frowning thoughtfully. “Maybe up at one of the big box stores on Route One?”
“Okay,” Evangeline said, trying to hide her worry as she headed back outside.
Surely she should have asked Grayson for help with this. He wasn’t going to want to have to go back out for another errand for her.
A family came in as Evangeline was leaving and Lily greeted them warmly.
“Don’t be a stranger,” she called after Evangeline.
Evangeline waved to her as the door closed behind her, somehow feeling more excited about her small present for Leo than she was about her whole new wardrobe.
If she could just get in two more stops before she had to get back to meet Grayson and Leo, she would be in great shape to start work this afternoon. And hopefully he would understand if she explained to him about the phone.
I can do this, she told herself. I can do anything I set my mind to.
Somehow the assurance rang more true today, when she was in this sweet little town, surrounded by people who seemed to want to help.
She knew it was wrong to feel it, but something about this place just made her happy.