Chapter 4

Daniel hefted the teardrop-shaped show globe into place by the drugstore window, suspending it from the silver chains connected to a bracket on the wall. The brilliant blue liquid sloshed gently in the glass casing, the morning sunlight setting it sparkling like a deep tropical sea. Tropical seas sounded pretty good about now. Anywhere but Port Angeles sounded pretty good, in fact. His eyes watered from the mill stench drifting in the early morning air.

He wiped the glass with a damp cloth and stood back to admire the look.

The owner of the pharmacy in Seattle had scoffed at such old-fashioned symbols. Now, seeing it hanging in his Granddad’s window, a swell of pride rose in Daniel’s chest. He still remembered leaning against the counter as a small child watching as his grandfather mixed the chemicals, magically turning the liquid into a dark blood red or a dazzling emerald green. He loved guessing which mixtures of chemicals would create each hue. By his twelfth birthday, he’d mastered all the recipes.

A flash of blue outside drew Daniel’s eye. His pulse quickened as he recognized Laurie Burke, her blue dress a perfect complement to the freshly mixed globe.

Does your grandfather know what you are? Her words haunted him. He deserved an explanation. Daniel rapped on the window, catching her attention. He gave the show globe one final wipe with the polishing cloth before stepping down from the window display and hurrying through the front door.

Laurie Burke’s cool gaze sent goose bumps climbing his arms. He gestured to the window. “What do you think?”

She darted a look at the blue globe. “It’s lovely. My favorite color.”

He couldn’t help staring as her eyes mirrored the exact shade of sapphire he’d spent the morning concocting. “It looks good on you.” The words slipped out before Daniel could stop them.

The young woman took a quick breath, her hand fluttering to her chest.

Daniel scrambled for words. “Your dress—and, and . . . ” he swallowed, “ . . . and your eyes.”

She glanced down as if she had forgotten what she was wearing. “Oh, yes.” A pink glow touched her cheeks. “Well, thank you . . . Mr. Shepherd.”

Change the subject, you idiot. “I mixed it myself—the show globe. It’s copper sulphate, water, and ammonia.” Chemicals, really? Is that going to impress the lady?

She gazed back at the window. “It’s perfect—like the straits on a warm summer day.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen it during the summer. My grandfather has a boat and he used to take me sailing when I was a boy. And my mother and I would picnic at Crescent Beach . . . ” His voice trailed off, the recent memory of standing on the bluff with a mysterious young woman scattering his childhood recollections. He cleared his throat. “Yes, well. Maybe sometime we can—”

She broke in. “Excuse me, Mr. Shepherd, but I really must get to work.”

His heart sank as she walked away. “All right, have a nice day.” He lifted a hand in farewell and stood and watched until she disappeared into the switchboard office, two blocks away.

The sudden realization hit him like a rock between the eyes. He’d meant to confront her about her callous accusation the other day. Instead he’d complimented her dress and her eyes and nearly asked her out on a date. He pressed his fingers against his eyelids. This woman had a strange effect on him.

Granddad’s smiling face appeared in the window. He pulled the door open. “Well, well—pretty little thing, isn’t she?”

Daniel straightened his tie. “I suppose.”

“Bright blue eyes.”

“Uh-huh.” Daniel stepped past him, into the store.

“Seems like you’ve taken a fancy to that color.” Granddad nodded toward the show globe.

Daniel ignored the teasing as he made his way over to the coffeepot and filled a mug for himself. “You want some?”

His grandfather smirked as he removed his glasses from his shirt pocket and slipped them on, hooking them behind his ears. “There are a lot of pretty girls in this town. Aren’t you glad you took my offer?”

Daniel lifted the steaming cup. “There were plenty of women in Seattle. I came here for you, remember? I’m just here to help out until you hire a manager. I’m not looking for any long-term entanglements.”

The older man chuckled. “You say that. But I think small town life might agree with you.” He leaned back against the counter. “And you know it’s my dream that you take over the shop. I agreed to the short-term deal to get you up here. Now I’m counting on Port Angeles’s charms to make you want to stay.”

Daniel took a sip of the coffee, grimacing as the liquid scalded his throat. “And what kinds of charms could an old mill town like this one offer?”

“I’ve noticed quite a few lovely ladies coming by lately, and I imagine the number will be growing over the next few weeks.”

“And why is that?”

His grandfather laughed, well-worn lines forming around his eyes and mouth. “I don’t think they are coming to see me.” He lifted his cup.

The door jingled and two rosy-faced teenage girls sauntered in, busy with whispers and giggles.

Daniel gulped down his coffee, attempting to ignore his grandfather’s chuckle.

“Yes sir, Port Angeles has many charms, Daniel. Many charms.”

Laurie tucked a loose wisp of hair behind her ear. She closed the door behind her, taking a deep breath of the stuffy air in the switchboard office.

She must be mistaken. That man couldn’t have been preparing to ask her out on a date. She shivered. As if she would go anywhere with a rotten rumrunner, even if his dimpled smile made her knees melt. There had to be someone out there who was decent, trustworthy, and not connected with booze in any way. Of course it wouldn’t hurt if that someone looked like Daniel Shepherd.

She buttoned her sweater up to her neck. Even though the office was warm, Laurie’s arms and legs ached with the cold. Little wonder after spending the night on the back porch. If only she could keep her father from drinking. Maybe she should have a conversation with Dr. Pierce and convince him to stop writing those prescriptions for her father.

Laurie pasted a smile on her face as she waved at the women lined up along the switchboard stations. She hurried to the coatroom to deposit her hat and pocketbook.

But talking to Dr. Pierce would mean admitting her father’s problem to the world.