The door chimed and another frequent customer entered.
Mara grinned. “Here’s at least one. Over here, Joe.”
Magic players, none of them old enough to drink, were already deep into their game at the tables in the corner. More teenagers lined the monitors, comatose at the Xbox while trying various video games. Another piece of advice from my clientele. I sold many games because they were able to try them out first at my store. Or it drew them into my store, where they spent money on other items.
Joe grinned as he approached, his features always what I’d thought of as fatherly. Probably because he had five grown kids. “Where’s this hours-long strategy game you mentioned?”
She introduced the two men. “I think Stella said she’d be a little late, but you two go ahead and set it up since it takes forever.”
Ephraim paused over his setup. “Have you heard from the big guy’s kid yet?”
My shoulders stiffened. I hadn’t told my customers about the store closing. Five weeks remained before I had to shut my doors. Monday I’d put up the notice. I’d give myself today to pretend it was business as usual.
Another day where Sam wouldn’t be strolling in with his booming laugh and Star-Trek-versus-Star-Wars mentality. He would’ve hated a game like Axis & Allies, but he’d wander the store and chat up the young players, coax their future dreams out of them and encourage their ability. More than once, I’d caught the wistful, and often remorseful, look on his face when he thought no one was looking.
Poor guy. Money hadn’t saved him from heartbreak. Probably caused it.
I rested back on a table. Usually, on Saturdays, I made rounds to everyone playing, manned the register, and did menial cleaning. It was early yet, so not many paying customers roamed the place.
“Do you know anything about him?” I asked.
If anyone knew, it’d be Ephraim. On weekdays, he’d come in for the monthly pile of comics I reserved for him and he’d be dressed in a sharp suit and tie. I’d discovered he was a lawyer and we often discussed the business goings-on in the city. He was a wealth of information. Today he was slightly dressed down in pressed slacks and a polo.
He drummed his fingers on the back of a chair. “I heard that Wesley Robson thinks himself the next real estate tycoon. He put a bid on a stretch across the river, thinks St. Paul needs a premium outlet mall.”
One never needed an outlet mall, but I enjoyed the one in Albertville. No one would guess by my daily choice in clothing: jeans or leggings, simple tops, and shoes that dated back to my college days. Going into fall, I might throw on a flannel to set off whatever color I had in my hair.
But my shopping days were limited, at least until I found another job or reopened my store somewhere else. Did I dare use any of my stored funds to do that?
“Sam talked about him and what he did for a living, but they weren’t close when he died.” We’d gotten into long, in-depth discussions about their various family issues, but Sam’s family drama made mine minuscule in comparison.
Joe quietly read through directions for the game, but his furtive glances hinted he was eavesdropping.
Ephraim took a seat and frowned at the board. “I’ve heard bits here and there. He’s been buying up property in more than Minnesota. There was a kerfuffle in New York because he purchased a place that locals wanted to restore.” His brows pinched. I guessed the young Robson hadn’t restored the place.
“Mr. Robson isn’t a people person.” Joe abandoned the instructions and picked up figures from the game to inspect them one by one.
“You know him?” A surge of excitement falsely lifted my spirits. Even if Joe was besties with Wesley Robson, I didn’t have a leg to stand on. He owned the strip mall and he wanted to demolish it.
Joe pushed up his wire-rimmed glasses and pointed across the street where an office building loomed over her store. Also Wes’s property, his main offices I’d learned when I’d gone hunting him for answers. “I work for him. Maintenance.”
He’d mentioned what he did for a living before, but he didn’t often discuss work. But perhaps he’d be willing to fill me in. Although his somber tone didn’t encourage me that I’d get anywhere when I was finally able to track Wesley Robson down. “That bad?”
Joe fiddled with the figures. “He’s in it for the money.”
I realized we were talking about the man’s ultimate boss. No reason to threaten Joe’s employment, too. I changed the subject. “I didn’t know you worked so close by.”
He bobbed his head and we fell into easy chatting that transitioned into gaming. I forgot my troubles as the store grew busier. If I’d been able to stay, I would’ve had to think about hiring someone for the weekends and even being open for a few hours on Sunday.
But no more. My excitement and optimism that my store would grow and be successful for decades, sustaining me and my employees, were dashed.
I had to find that man and talk to him.
Chapter 4
Mara
My stomach rumbled as I sat bedside with Mom. I should’ve grabbed supper, but work had been busy and I hadn’t wanted to put off the hospital visit. By working all day, I’d missed all the doctors’ rounds and updates.
Mom glanced away from the latest superhero movie I had brought. “Even I heard that. Go eat.”
“I can stay a little longer.” I palmed my phone and lied to myself that I wasn’t waiting for Sam to call. But who was I kidding? He was sweet enough to drive me to the hospital, but I doubted I’d made enough of an impression to warrant him hunting me down.
Unless he had other plans with someone else. No, I wouldn’t go down that road, being
