Wanda E. Brunstetter Read Online Free Page B

to smile like that
, Dan noted.
    “Amy, this is Mr. Fisher, and he owns this store where I’ll be working.”
    The child smiled shyly and glanced around the shop. “I like it here.”
    “Me, too.” Dan’s throat constricted. He and Darcy had wanted children, but that wasn’t to be. Did Bev Winters know how fortunate she was?
    “Why don’t you find a book to read?” Bev said to her daughter. “Mommy needs to begin working now.”
    Dan pointed across the room. “There’s a table in the corner where you can sit if you want to read or work on a puzzle. Feel free to play with any of the toys that are in baskets sitting on the floor.”
    Amy didn’t have to be asked twice. She slipped out of her coat and handed it to her mother. Then she sprinted across the room, grabbed a fat teddy bear from a wicker basket, and helped herself to a book from the bookcase. A few seconds later, she sat at the table wearing a contented grin.
    Dan turned his attention back to Bev. “Should we take a look at some of the toys that need to be fixed?”
    Her eyes widened. “Uh…about the toys…”
    “What about them?”
    “Yesterday you mentioned a broken train, and I thought I should let you know that I’m not the least bit mechanical.”
    He chuckled and led her over to the desk. “I was only kidding. The train will have to be sold as is. ”
    A look of relief flooded her face. “There’s an elderly man at my church who collects old trains. I could speak to him and see if he might be able to look at the broken train.”
    “That would be great.”
    Bev set her pocketbook and lunch pail on the desk, removed her jacket, and draped it and Amy’s coat over the back of the wooden chair. “Which toys did you want me to see about fixing?”
    “First, I’d like to tell you something.”
    “What’s that?”
    You’re beautiful
. Dan shook his head, hoping to clear his ridiculous thoughts. “Uh—the dress You’re wearing might not be practical here at the store.”
    She crossed her arms. “Too dressy?”
    “It’s not that.” Dan paused. How could he put this tactfully? “Sometimes you’ll have to get down on the floor, in order to sort through the boxes of toys that come in. You’ll also be working with glue and other repair items. It might be better if you wear slacks to work from now on.”
    She blinked. “You wouldn’t mind?”
    He shook his head.
    “I was expected to wear a dress at Bethlehem Steel, so I figured—”
    “Wear whatever you’re comfortable in here, Bev. I trust you to use good judgment.”
    “Thank you, Mr. Fisher.”
    “Dan. Please call me Dan.”
    Bev’s cheeks turned pink as something indefinable passed between them, and she looked quickly away. “Guess you’d better show me what to do, so I can get to work.”
    He glanced toward the room where his studio was located. “That makes two of us.”

    Bev’s stomach growled as her gaze went to the clock on the wall across from her. It was almost noon, and she couldn’t believe how quickly the morning had passed. She’d mended two doll dresses, stitched a stuffed kitten’s eyes in place, and waited on several customers. In all that time, Amy had hardly made a peep. She’d kept herself occupied with various toys, books, and puzzles. Dan excused himself soon after showing Bev what needed to be done, and he’d been in his photography studio ever since.
    Should I ask him to cover for me so I can see that Amy is fed, or should I serve Amy her lunch and try to eat my sandwich while I keep an eye out for customers? Guess the latter would be better
, she decided.
No point bothering Dan. He’s probably busy and might not appreciate the interruption. After all, he hired me so he could be free to operate his own business and not have to run back and forth between Twice Loved and the photography studio
.
    “Amy, please have a seat at the table again, and I’ll bring your lunch,” Bev instructed her daughter, who was now on her knees in front of a