Fifteen: G-Ma meets Tanya Dodge & her Billy Boy. She likes them.

 

Tanya and Billy Boy walked around the downtown area for thirty minutes to give them both more exercise to stretch their legs. She looked in shop windows. She tied Billy Boy outside to parking meters when she went into several pharmacies, a candy store, a flower shop, a grocery store and a dry cleaners to show Vita’s picture. So far, nobody had seen Vita in or around the downtown area. Tanya started wondering if she’d gotten the name of the town wrong. Maybe it was one of the other towns in the area. She closed her eyes, trying to remember the other names she’d seen on the green sign. Ah yes, their names were Redwood and Applegate. At least she had other options, she mused as she kept walking. Her belly growled loudly.

Billy Boy whimpered.

Tanya squatted down to talk to the big puppy. “Humph! You just wait. You ate twice today. I’m hungrier than you are, so just be quiet. We are going to find the Family Diner. I’m gonna eat like a piggy. Then we find a place to sleep for the night. One that likes dogs enough to house one, okay, Big Boy?”

She and Billy Boy kept walking until they found the diner. She tied Billy Boy to a parking meter and went inside the restaurant. At the maître’s desk, a waitress asked if she wanted takeout or to eat in the diner.

“I’d like to eat in here by the door. I got a dog outside. I’d like to keep an eye on him.”

The waitress walked over to look outside the door. She giggled. “You sure that ain’t a pony? He’s a big guy.”

Tanya grinned at the waitress. “Nope. He’s just a big, friendly puppy.”

The waitress whistled as she continued to stare at Billy Boy. “I hate to see ‘em when he’s full grown.”

Tanya chuckled. “Now that you mention it, I wonder how much it’s gonna cost me to feed him.”

“I’ll try to get you served quickly as possible.”

“Nah, don’t. I’d like to enjoy my meal. I’ll keep checking on him myself,” Tanya promised. From where she sat, she could see several pedestrians stopped by to pet the big, friendly puppy. Billy Boy loved all the attention. He licked feet and wagged his tail. He didn’t try to jump up or overwhelm the strangers who stopped to touch him or pet him. She was glad he was acting like a real gentleman with everybody this evening, so she didn’t have to come out and apologize for something silly her big, goofy but lovable puppy did.

 

 

Not too far away, maybe two blocks from the diner, G-Ma was looking outside the corner window of her small shop, Store Full of Bears and Dreams, as she often did this time of day. It would be dark soon. She loved watching the darkness creep over the streets and avenues. She’d had twenty curious customers today. Over half of them bought something. Three customers did pre-orders for scarves, mittens and hats for the holidays. They had specific designs and colors they wanted to order for not-yet-born grandchildren and their mothers.

The Pirellis produced a catalog of knitted designs they could make. They added G-Ma’s shawls, blankets and scarves, Charlie’s toys and musical instruments, Linda’s bird watercolors, Dutch’s landscapes and Ozzie’s caves and tunnels. She chortled when several of the customers wanted to buy the catalog itself for its beauty. It was then she decided she would create bear, fox, bird books for children. She would convince her granddaughter, Dutch and Ozzie to paint pictures of the stories she told at the caves and tunnels.

Looking outside, she noticed what looked like a large brown and white animal with a bear-like face tied to a parking meter outside the diner. She frowned. What animal has bear face? Curious now, she decided to see. “Vita, I go outside. See bear at diner.”

Vita came onto the sales floor with an armload of stock from the rear storages area. “Did you say a bear was at the diner?” She studied the older woman with a half-smile. “You meant a large Teddy Bear for an early holiday celebration, right?”

G-Ma shrugged into her coat and wrapped a shawl around her shoulders and head. “I see. I return. I tell.”

“All right do what you must, Miss G-Ma. I have plenty of inventory to count and a storage space to re-arrange. I’ll be in the back.”

“It’s okay, G-Ma. I’ll be watching the store from in here in case we get any customers,” Ozzie volunteered.

G-Ma studied Ozzie. “Not talk so much. You like lightning hand machine. Customers no like talk.”

Ozzie’s healthy peaches and cream skin tone turned beet red. He hung his head in shame. “Yes, Ma’am, I will. I just like talking about my drones and computers.”

“Talk caves and tunnels. Show water-paintings.”

“I’ll try to, G-Ma,” Ozzie promised, watching the woman he admired and treated like a mother leave the store.

Both Ozzie and Vita watched G-Ma walk up the street three blocks to the diner. She held out a hand to the dog and allowed him to sniff it first. She cackled when he sniffed first then licked her hand with a big wet tongue. “It tickle,” she exclaimed, petting the big dog with a bear-like face. “You good boy. I bring special treat.” She fluffed his fuzzy ears and left for the butcher shop several blocks further up the street.

Inside the diner, Tanya had just ordered pot roast with everything, including white rice, toast and coffee and slice of pie. She was sipping her coffee. She’d just missed the woman admiring her dog as she went out to check on Billy Boy. He sniffed her boots and licked them. Then he tried to jump up and lick her face before she backed away. “Stop it, boy! Eck, that’s nasty! Not the face after you licked the dirt from my boots.” She laughed as she petted him. “I’m going back inside to eat. You wait here. Sit.” She watched him sit on the sidewalk near the meter. “Good boy.”

She went back inside to finish her coffee and wait for her meal. Three more times, she came out to check on Billy Boy. She was waiting for her slice of apple pie with melted cheese on top when an older woman with a waist-length, ink-black braid petted her dog. Then the woman gave him what looked like a large bone. She stepped outside to check on Billy Boy. She watched him tear into the bone.

“I see you made a friend, Billy Boy.”

The woman studied Tanya with dark, bright, knowing eyes. She pointed to the dog. “Billy Boy like bone. Good for teeth. Make strong.”

Tanya nodded at the older woman. “Thank you, Ma’am. I should have thought of that when I left him out here. It would have kept him busy while I ate.”

“You eat meal. I stay with Billy Boy.”

Tanya frowned at her and shook her head. “It’s cold out here, Ma’am. He’ll be fine. He’s got that bone you gave him. You go on home and get warm.”

“When meal done. You come here. See shop,” G-Ma remarked, handing her a colorful business card she had Dutch, Linda and Ozzie design. It looked like a miniature watercolor painting of the farm.

Tanya looked at the card and whistled softly. “This is beautiful. Does this place on the card really exist?”

“Yes. You come and see?”

“I gotta do something real important first. Then I hope to be free enough to do things.”

“See shop. You like.” G-Ma petted Billy Boy while he chewed on the bone. She started imagining designing braided leather leashes and harnesses in various colors for dogs.

Tanya shrugged. “I’ll think about it.”

The waitress interrupted further discussion when she stuck her head outside. She nodded and then smiled G-Ma. “Evening, Miss G.” Then she looked her customer. “Your pie is ready … nice and hot. Better eat it now before it cools off. I also have your bill ready like you asked.”

Tanya grinned at the waitress. “Coming.” She offered a hand to G-Ma, who refused and gave her a hug instead.

“You find. Then you return,” G-Ma whispered and released her.

Tanya watched the older woman, who seemed to float down the two blocks to her shop. Then she went back inside the diner to enjoy a slice of hot apple pie with melted cheese. She loved the tart versus the sweet of the dessert. She grinned when the waitress offered her the last slice for free. The waitress said, “Pies always taste better when fresh.”

 

 

Ten minutes later, Tanya was on her way to the older woman’s, Miss G, craft shop down the street. She rubbed her full belly as she and Billy Boy strolled down the street looking into various shops and stores along the street. She’d have to remember to come back for breakfast at the diner. She enjoyed the pot roast. It tasted as good as her mother’s version. She hadn’t been spending as much time at her mother’s home as her mother wanted. But she did make sure to be there for every one of her mother’s surgeries and rehab sessions. In fact, it was during one of her mother’s sessions when her mother encouraged her to find her heart. That was what she was doing here and now. She was suddenly missing her mother and sent a text.

 

mom, i arrived in Wickwire 6 hours ago. looking 4 her. haven’t found her yet. remain hopeful. love little T.

She waited several minutes before her mother answered.

i know. received info on u through grapevine. sheriff’s office doesn’t like u. wanted to toss your butt under jail. need i remind u? notify folks in law-enforcement when u come into their towns. it’s a courtesy. now u better watch your back. don’t trust he 4got u pulled gun 1st. mom.

did no such thing. reached 4 ID. 4got i had full shoulder holster. got quickly reminded. 2 deputies jumped me. cuffed me. dragged me thru stationhouse to sheriff’s rear office. waited 4ever 4 decision. sheriff never apologized. cussed me good. threw me out. T.

i believe u. be careful little tee. watch your back. stay safe. love u, mom.

love u 2. T.

 

Tanya felt better as she always did after talking with or texting her mother. Although her mother drove her crazy at times with her grandchildren talks, she still loved her. She slid the cellphone back into her raincoat pocket. It was getting cold outside. She wished she’d worn a heavier coat or put on a sweater under her blazer. She sighed as she drew closer and closer to the older woman’s craft shop. She felt drawn to the shop. She didn’t know why. It was something her mind said she had to do.

She and Billy Boy kept walking down the street. She could see the corner window as she approached the store. It felt as if she was looking at something magical. The woman named Miss G was right. She should see the store. Go inside and see the rest of it. She stood gazing at the corner window, marveling at the watercolors and tiny oil paintings for a time. She imagined being in the places that the paintings depicted.

She inhaled and then exhaled. She’d bet the air was sweeter there than the air, which was already sweeter and fresher than the city’s smells. She never thought she’d find the quiet of the streets here in Wickwire soothing, but she did. She walked around to the front windows and stood staring at the copper necklaces with the beautiful colorful stones. She liked the twisted leather bracelets in soft earth tones. The tiny leather baby shoes were cute too. What also drew her attention were the handwoven blankets, shawls and scarves.

A tap on the window brought Tanya back to reality. She stared into twinkling dark eyes. Miss G motioned her to come inside. She nodded and smiled then went over to tie Billy Boy to the parking meter.

G-Ma walked over to the front door and opened it. “Come. Bring Billy Boy.”

Tanya frowned at her. “Ma’am, Miss G, he’s big. He might be clumsy inside your shop. He might break something.”

G-Ma walked over to the parking meter and untied the dog’s leash. She bent down to whisper something in Billy Boy’s ear. He dropped the bone and whimpered then licked her hand. She led the big puppy dog inside the shop.

“Well, would you look at that!” Ozzie exclaimed.

He figured Vita would hear him and come outside to see what all the fuss was about. When she didn’t respond, he sighed. Vita was probably busy counting and arranging stuff in the storage room. She seemed so set on counting, organizing and arranging. If she wasn’t doing that in the storage room, she was on the main room fixing displays or designing and creating new ways to show off the store’s wares. Or she was busy taking pictures of the catalog items and posting them on handcraft sites to see what would sell.

Vita was in the rear of the shop’s storage area. She’d finished counting the inventory and organizing it to make it easier to find and count next time. Currently, she was sorting through new products. The Pirellis, Ozzie and Linda had been collecting odd colored and shaped stones both inside and outside the caves and tunnels for years. On occasion, Lottie, Dutch, Dee and G-Ma added to the collection. Charlie was teaching himself to do light welding, the kind that could create simple bracelets and necklaces. Vita smiled. It was logical Charlie and the others would teach each other to create wonderful eye-catching bracelets and necklaces made of metals like copper and those same stones.

Her personal favorites were the braided leather and stone necklaces and bracelets that she knew G-Ma had a hand in creating. G-Ma had a certain style with her works that carried over from her weaving to her jewelry. There were a couple of unsigned watercolors of bears in the mountain’s mist or in the tunnels and caves. She was sure G-Ma painted them but didn’t want to take credit for them. She wondered why that was. The old woman could be so mysterious at times, particularly when giving predictions or advice based on those forecasts.

She heard the bell above the shop door tinkle once and then again. That was good, if it meant two more customers before the business day was over and they closed the store. She could see Ozzie greet the customer. A dog barked loudly. It sounded mighty close. She wondered what Ozzie and G-Ma would say to the dog’s owner if the dog was inside the store. She didn’t have to wait long for the answer. G-Ma introduced the dog to Ozzie. She heard Ozzie chuckle then finally tell the dog named Billy Boy that was enough kissing and licking.

She heard the dog’s owner tell the dog to sit. Then dog’s owner asked G-Ma if she’d mind taking the dog outside. She heard them arguing back and forth about tying the well-behaved dog outside. She frowned at the familiar voice. Not G-Ma or Ozzie. She’d lived with them. She knew what they sounded like. The dog owner’s voice sounded amazingly like the woman she was trying to avoid. She frowned. Tanya Dodge never mentioned anything about a dog. It must be a wonderful animal. G-Ma must like the dog a lot to argue about letting him stay in her small shop.

Too curious by half, she peeked through curtain over the rear door glass. She nearly had an anxiety attack. Her heart thumped and thudded against her ribcage. She almost swooned. Detective Tanya Dodge was in the flesh, here in Wickwire. Dear God, how did Tanya know to come here? She was very careful not to talk about family with anybody. Neither Ross nor MB knew she had a cousin up here. And they’d known her for years.

The lieutenant knew about her emergency contacts too. However, he could lose his bars for giving up that kind of personal information in a non-emergency situation. No. Somebody else must have told her. She rubbed her temples. She wasn’t ready for this. She really wasn’t ready for this. She left the inventory count unfinished. She left through the delivery door and hurried to her cousin’s car. When she was safely far away, she called Ozzie.

“Do not say my name. Ozzie, it’s her. Tell her you’ve never seen me here in Wickwire. If she asks, you don’t know who I am. If you can get G-Ma alone in the back room, tell her the same thing.”

Ozzie watched Tanya Dodge and G-Ma chat about the watercolors, and then the blankets and where each one was created. He stepped away from the two women. He walked into the backroom to speak in a normal tone of voice to Vita while keeping an eye on the two women through the stockroom’s window. “Okay, but she seems nice, Vita. Are you sure about this?”

Vita groaned. “Who can be sure of anything these days, Ozzie? I am sure I don’t want her to see me right now. I wonder how she found me.”

“Why don’t you come out of hiding and ask her?”

“I’m on my way back to the farm where it’s safe for me to be.”

Ozzie frowned as he looked around the stockroom. With the two looms and ever-growing stock stacked in boxes on the floor and self-standing shelves, it was difficult to see. “Weren’t you just here in the backroom counting and organizing stuff?”

“I’m not there now. Ozzie, send her away. Tell her you heard I might in the next town over.”

“You mean lie to her, right?”

“A little white one. By the time Tanya figures out she’s been had, I’ll be ready to see her. I’ll call her and explain all of this.” Vita was glad she’d bought a disposable phone and gotten rid of her old one weeks ago.

“I don’t like this, Vita. I’m not good at lying. Zee can always tell.”

Vita sighed. “Ozzie, she’s not Zee.”

“No. It’s worse. She’s a cop. They tend to be good at picking out lies and liars.”

“Ask G-Ma to come to the phone, then. I’ll ask her to do it.”

Ozzie sighed. “I’ll do it.” When he heard the bell tinkle, he glanced out the small window of the storage door. “Hmm, she and the dog are leaving, Vita.”

“Where did she go?”

G-Ma motioned to him and he opened the door. “What’s going on, G-Ma?”

“I handle. Tell her try Redwood or Applegate. Vita might be there. She go to motel. Sleep. Look for Vita morning.”

“You heard that?”

“Tell her I said thank you.”

G-Ma waved her hands in the air. “Do this so that happen. Not do. That not happen.”

“Riddles and more riddles,” Vita muttered, hanging up.