Chapter 2

Work seemed to drag on for at least ten more hours when in fact it was only about four. We had a couple more fittings with brides from the city. Not only were they decisive and wearing rocks the size of my eyeball, but they were far from interesting. I know, I know, I complain about the kooks that live in this town, but in the end of the day, they are kind and well, hilarious. They make life interesting in League Creek. After all the people make the town, not the other way around.

Around three o' clock we were winding down so I decided to leave closing duties to Janet. As much as she complains about them, she loves blasting her music and dancing around the store. Who wouldn't?

"Janet?" I asked from the front of the store.

"Yeah boss lady, what's up?" She asked in her smart ass way, carrying a new package of garters.

"Would you be able to finish putting together all the online orders? I have to go to the city and talk to Kelsey about this Liam character before my mother calls again. Plus it's been forever since I saw my niece."

"Just admit you're a slacker. It's fine."

Pause for sarcastic stare.

"Are ya done?" I asked.

"Yes."

"Okay, then. Thank you for being so gracious. Almost like a delicate flower blowing delicately in the breeze." I smiled only slightly evily.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm ordering food and charging it to the store."

"That's fine. I'll see you tomorrow sunshine."

I left, leaving Janet laughing against her will in the back. Hopefully she won't spill anything greasy this time.

Anyway, I really did want to see my niece Samantha. Though her mother and I didn't always get along, my niece was a cool chick. Well, as cool as a five year old can get. I could tell she was going to be artsy and independent like me when she grew up, no doubt to her mother's future distain.

It only takes about twenty minutes to drive into the city, even less when you miss traffic. My sister lived about a mile from my mother's house, the house where I grew up. Even after twenty years of growing up in the city, I still felt more at home in League Creek. It was always a constant effort to go and visit because of that, but having a niece made it worlds easier.

When I pulled up in the drive way I could already hear Samantha yelling in the house.

"Aunty Lu is here! Aunty Lu is here!"

By the time I got out of the car she was already running to give me a hug.

"Hey there baby girl! How are you? Oh man," I said, picking her up, "you gotta stop growing or I'm not going to be able to swing you around any more. Such a big girl!"

"Hehe," she giggled, "I know! Mommy is always telling me that I'm going to be taller than her soon!"

"That sounds about right! Where is your mommy?"

"Inside making dinner. Will you eat with us!"

"Maybe bubba, I'm not sure. I'm supposed to eat in town with some friends. Maybe this weekend?"

"Oh kay…" she said, drawing out each sillable with disappointment.

"I know it's sooo sad," I said, tickling her to make her feel better.

"He he he," she giggled, running back towards the house.

It was about another five seconds before we were in the house. My sister Kelsey was icing cupcakes and making lasagna like a mad woman. She turned around when she heard us approach, smiling like you do when you see someone a lot. Not super enthusiastically, but not unenthusiastically.

"Hey Lu. How's the shop going?" she asked.

The shop was all we ever really talked about. She was five years older than me and in a different place in her life. We didn't have a lot in common these days, if we ever did.

"It's good thanks. Janet is closing up for me so I could come visit for a bit."

"Oh, well that's nice of her. Are you going to stay for dinner?" She asked calmly, out of habit and comfort.

"Um, I might come by for dinner this weekend if that's alright. The town barbeque is tonight and I told Scott I'd be there."

"Oh, I see. You guys a couple yet?" She said, in that mothering way she had adopted when she had Samantha.

"No, Mom, thanks for asking. I don't like him like that." I said it overly dramatic so she got that I didn't need another woman in my life asking me about man issues."

"Okay, okay, just asking. So why the visit? It's not like you to come in during the week." She kept icing cupcakes while she talked.

"Do you need help or something?" I asked, feeling guilty that she was doing so much at one time.

"You can if you want, grab a knife. But don't change the subject, what's up?"

"Okay," I said, grabbing a knife from a kitchen drawer. "Well Mom called about yet another boy, but this time she said you knew him. Someone named Liam O'" she cut me off before I could finish.

"O'Hara!"

"Yes…" I said, giving her a confused look.

"Oh wow! I didn't know he was back. Suuuch a cutie."

"Okay…so you actually did know him. Mom was right for once. Well, whatever, Mom said he's moving to League Creek and that you knew him or something. Basically she wants me to be his tour guide. No doubt a non-platonic one…"

"Oh Louise you should! He was such a stud in high school!"

"Okay, so he was a stud in high school. He could be hairless, or too hairy, with a beer gut by now. I mean really. Studs from high school usually don't age well. It just… a fact."

Kelsey couldn't roll her eyes quite enough to get her point across.

"Louise! Get real! He played football in college and then when into the Airforce after that. I'm sure he's in excellent shape."

"Why didn't he do football after college, hmm? A drop out? A failure?" I asked, only lightly accusatorily.

"No dumb ass, he hurt his knee too bad to keep playing football. It was okay enough for the air force, but they said if he kept getting hit by three hundred pound guys he was going to loose his knee for good."

Okay. So Liam isn't a slacker. He's probably a jerk or something. I mean football player to soldier? Can you say ego? Because I can.

"Alright. Well I just wanted to see what was up because he's coming to town sometime soon and I just wanted to know if I needed to get a restraining order now or if I should wait."

"Louise. You are ridiculous, and apparently a terrible icer." She said, grabbing the knife from my hand before I iced my entire hand.

"OH! Sorry! I guess I was off in la la land."

"Uh huh…"

"Okay, well I guess I'll go, don't wanna be late for the barbeque. Thanks for the info."

"No problem. We'll see you this weekend? Maybe we'll go shopping? Sam would love that."

"Okay, yeah, sounds good. We can meet for lunch on Saturday at like 12?"

"Sounds good. I'll see you then. Be safe on the road."

"Will do. Samantha? I'm leaving bubba!" I asked as I walked to where she was playing in the other room.

"Already?" She said, looking sad.

"Yes, already. But good news, we are all going to lunch and shopping on Saturday. Sound good?"

"Yes! She said, excitement filling her face. "Bye Aunty Lu!"

"Bye baby. I love you!"

"Love you too!"

"Bye Kels, love ya."

"Love you, too Lu, be safe."

I left, not sure what to think of this Liam character or why I really care. Oh well, I guess I'm just bored with the usual gossip of League Creek. I guess I'll find out the truth soon enough.