It wasn't even a week later, and Sharon found herself back in the hardware store. The little town was growing on her, even with as hard as it was to downsize from a larger city. She'd been working on that, though, slowing down to small town life. It would be good for her; it would be good for Evie, for their relationship. She looked up when she heard someone clear their throat, and she put her hand to her chest, caught by surprise.
"You're back," he said nodding with a small smile to her. "Hi Evie," Andy said as he bent down to her level. "Whatcha getting today?"
"Shelves for my dollies," she grinned, and with that, Andy looked up at Sharon who had crossed her arms and was watching the interaction. He stood and gave Sharon a smile.
"Yes, well, as Evie pointed out, we are buying some shelving for her dolls, hence why I'm standing here staring at shelving," she said with a slight eye roll.
He chuckled and gestured with his hands toward the shelving, "Yeah, I mean, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that you need shelving. Need any help or suggestions?"
"No, but thank you," she said with a quick nod. I was just measuring and think this one," she said grabbing the board near her, "is the right size. Evie has a large doll display, and we agreed three on her bed and the rest on her shelves."
"Wow, tough bargain," he said with a nod. "Okay, I can take that to the front if you still need to look around. It sounds like you are settling in well, yes?"
"Fine," she said quickly and curtly. "I'm trying to get her room all situated." Andy turned to Evie and bent down again.
"And, how old are you, Evie?" Andy asked. Evie looked up to Sharon, almost asking permission, and after a nod from her, Evie put up seven fingers.
"I'm seven, almost eight," she said with a toothy grin. She had lost her two bottom teeth recently.
"Oh wow, so grown up," he chuckled. "Almost eight, so when is your birthday?"
Sharon chuckled now, and he looked up to her, "Her birthday is in September, so she's not 'almost eight' as she has said."
"Ahh," Andy grinned and winked at Sharon before he turned back to Evie. "So, almost eight, huh? Well, seeing as how it's not quite Thanksgiving, it sounds like you have to wait it out to be eight. I guess Christmas presents will be before birthday presents?"
"I can't wait for Christmas!" Evie squealed. "Mama said Santa would find me at our new house."
"Most definitely," Andy grinned. "Where was your old house?"
"Lost Angeles," Evie grinned. "I miss the warm sun."
"Los, not Lost," Sharon chuckled, and Andy eyed her with wide eyes.
"Oh wow, you're really far from home here in Vermont."
Sharon shrugged, "I spent time up this way when I was her age, skiing with my family. Things worked out. A job opened here."
Andy stood and crossed his arms, looking between the two of them, "Yeah, so, you lived in a major metropolitan area and moved here, to our tiny town for a job." He chuckled and nodded, like it was a joke, "Okay."
"Yes, well, it's true," she shrugged as she gathered the boards and pulled to Evie's hand. "Come on, Evie. Let's get home to put up your doll shelf."
"Here," he reached for the boards to help her, "I work here. I'll walk those to the register," he said. As he took them from her, he eyed her again, "Really? A job? What do you do?"
She pursed her lips and thought a moment, "Well, for starters, today, I'm a handyman and a mom. Now, before I forget, I need to get a snow shovel and an ice scrapper for my car. Can you help me with that?"
"Umm, sure," he said, following her, intrigued more and more about this new resident. He still didn't know what she did for a living and found the meager job opportunities in the area hardly a reason to move here, not that he was complaining she had moved her. She definitely intrigued him.