Page 82 of At The Coffee Shop of Curiosities
I recognized that this was apossibilityI didn’t want to miss. “Give me five minutes.”
“I’ll give you six. Don’t go wearing yourself out.”
Normanquabarked as I fast-walked toward the stairs, ran up them and into the house. “Dez,” I called out, “I’m going for a walk with Sam. Do you need anything before I go?”
“Not a thing, Sprite. Just beware of moving sticks out on that trail.”
Snakes. I didn’t tell him that I wouldn’t mind seeing one—from a distance.
“Norman will be on guard, I’m sure.”
I ran upstairs, dropped off my shells, grabbed a hat and pair of sneakers, and ran back down the steps. Outside, Norman and Sam were waiting near the trail marker.
Sam looked at his watch. “Impressive.”
“Didn’t you hear I’m the newest Snail Slipper?” I had officially joined the group.
“Of course I heard. Everyone’s impressed you went back after your near-death experience.”
I rolled my eyes. When it came to town gossip, somehow I’d gone from almost fainting to almost dying. “I wonder how long it’ll take for me to get used to how this town talks.”
“I’ve been here two years and I’m still waiting.”
“Good to know.”
We headed into the woods, welcomed by an army of evergreens. The trail split, offering the choice of going left, toward the beach, or right, into the woods. We went right. Tall grasses and spiky plants edged the wide, dirt pathway, but Norman didn’t investigate them. He walked ahead of us a few steps, dead center, almost prancing.
“I have a favor to ask of you,” Sam said after we’d walked in companionable silence for a few minutes. I’d been eyeing a lizard, some sort of gecko, and tore my gaze away to look at Sam.
“I’ll do it.”
“I didn’t even say anything yet. Don’t tell me you can somehow hear my thoughts, too?”
I smirked. “I’m not Estrelle. It’s just that you’ve helped me so much I’ll do just about anything to repay that favor.”
“Just about? Are you alreadyqualifying?”
“I just got to thinking about all the favors I don’t really want to do. Like help you clean your sewer line or dig a trench.”
He laughed. “Lucky for you, that’s not what I was going to ask. The forecast has storms predicted for this afternoon, and I have another appointment in Orange Beach. If I’m not home when the storm hits, can you check on Norman? Maybe watch him till I get back? He’s terrified of thunder.”
“You’re asking me to look after Norman?”
He nodded.
“That’s not a favor! That’s something I’ve wanted to do since I first met him. I’ll definitely get him if the storm hits.”
“Thanks,” he said. “I’ll leave the front door unlocked.”
“So, another appointment in Orange Beach?” I glanced at him with the hope that he’d share what he was doing over there.
“Yep.”
“For work?”
I scanned the brush as we walked. I hadn’t seen any wildlife yet except for that gecko and a few birds.
“Nope.”
