Coal Black Blues Read Online Free Page B

virtual storm. The threatened tears were rain showers, the powerful memories and old hurts equaled thunder, and the attraction toward him that she’d always had and could never deny would be the lighting. It wouldn’t take much to start a flood so she made the effort to check her volatile feelings. “Just—thanks.”
    He grinned and the expression lifted years from his face. He resembled the Neil she’d known long ago although dark shadows remained smudged beneath his eyes and there were lines etched into his skin that hadn’t been there before. “You’re welcome. Let me go through Jim’s papers in the office and get the phone numbers I need. Then I’ll start making calls.”
    She had almost forgotten about the office, the small room behind the cash register island. “I haven’t even been in there yet.”
    “No problem,” Neil replied. “I helped Jim a little before he got too sick to come down to the store. I can sort through the chaos.”
    “Then I’ll finish cleaning as soon as I clear away our trash.”
    He nodded, already walking away from the counter where they had dined standing. When Neil entered the office, he vanished from view but she heard him rustling through the papers on her uncle’s desk. The old rotary phone whirred as he dialed a number. “Phone’s working so I’m gonna get started making the calls.”
    A full-bodied sigh eased between Caroline’s lips. Neil’s help eased her burdens and he’d chosen the tasks she had dreaded the most. As she swept, then mopped the store floors, the sound of his voice provided background noise and filled a void. Although Caroline couldn’t make out the words, the familiar low rumble was comforting. By the time she’d cleaned the restrooms again, wiped down the front counter and organized the cash register area, the store sparkled and Neil had arranged for everything from fuel to bread to be delivered.
    He emerged from the office and leaned on the counter. “Everything should be here by Friday so you can open fully stocked on Saturday. Maybe you’d want to have a grand re-opening.”
    Caroline wasn’t as certain. “I might.”
    Although she’d spent hours in the store, not one would-be customer had come into the store or pulled into the parking lot. People had known Jim’s Place had been closed during his final illness but she had thought they would come when they saw the lights were on and the ‘open’ sign hung in the window. She pondered it and Neil noticed.
    “You’re thinking so hard you’ve got a frown. What’s the deal?”
    “There hasn’t been a single customer today.”
    Neil glanced around the store. “Since you don’t have much to sell, isn’t that a good thing?”
    She shrugged both shoulders. “I remember this as a busy place, so I thought people would stop by to see when we’ll open. Maybe things have changed and they all go to town.”
    “Some do or they stop out at the highway, but most will come back, when you’re up and running. I doubt very many know you came back to stay and run the store. You might not remember, but people don’t always put out a welcome mat for strangers, not until they get to know them.”
    “I’m not a stranger, though.”
    Neil shook his head. “Caroline Reaburn wasn’t a stranger but you’re Caro Carrington, aren’t you?”
    Caro. The name her former husband preferred to use because he believed it was more posh than old-fashioned Caroline. Dylan called her that and so did their circle of friends, most of which proved to be his friends, not hers when everything unraveled. Surprised Neil knew and more than a little stung, she said, “No, I’m not. That’s Dylan’s choice, not mine. I never liked it and I had my name restored when we divorced. It’s Caroline Reaburn.”
    His grin stretched out and made his worry lines recede for a moment. “I like the sound of that, honey. Just make sure people know and they’ll trade here. Are you keeping the name?”
    “Jim’s Place?” she