Inhaling deeply, Faith enjoyed the fresh, salty air as she continued her exploration of downtown Somewhere. The main shopping district consisted of several blocks and was resplendent with colorful facades and business signs with such interesting names as: Mama Pink's Diner, Betty B. Breverton's Beauty Boutique, Handy Dan's Hardware, and Classy Coffee Cafe. It was obvious that the city planners did not require coordination of colors, such as in other cities, and the overall affect was quaint and eclectic because each business was unique unto itself.
Faith paused in front of Mama Pink's Diner and perused the posted menu of DOWN HOME COOKIN'. A chalkboard beside the door advertised the daily special.
TODAY'S SPECIAL - $9.95
The best meatloaf and mashed potatoes you ever tasted, with homemade sourdough bread and your choice of veggies! And our famous marionberry pie!
Continuing down the street Faith decided she would try some of that marionberry pie on her way back to the B & B. She walked three more blocks, visited a couple of antique shops and a clock shop, and then crossed the street to enter Art's Art Gallery. The artworks included paintings in several mediums, glasswork and pottery, wood carvings, and bronze and clay sculptures. The wood carvings of sea animals mounted on driftwood were intricately detailed and very expensive.
A thin, short-statured man approached Faith after she had perused the gallery for a few minutes. "Welcome to my gallery. I'm Art Hope. Please let me know if there's anything in particular you're looking for."
Faith was surprised by his last name. "Are you related to Gabby Hope?"
The gentleman smiled. "Yes. Her husband and I were distant cousins. Are you staying at the B & B?"
"I am, and I'm very impressed."
"Gabby is a genius when it comes to hospitality. Welcome to Somewhere."
"Thank you. This is my first foray into town and I must say it's one of the loveliest I've ever visited."
"I couldn't agree more."
Faith motioned to the carving of a starfish. "These wood carvings are astounding. Is the artist local?"
"Yes, but he doesn't want his identity known." Art chuckled. "He signs each one with 'Beach Bum' and he's becoming nationally popular."
"He's very talented."
The proprietor then began pressing Faith about her art preferences and suggesting several pieces. Finally, she said, "I'm just browsing for now."
With a resigned expression Art inclined his head across the room. "I'll be at my desk if you need help."
Faith continued strolling through the gallery until she thought she'd seen everything. She was just about to leave when she spotted an alcove she had missed. Entering it, her eyes widened when she felt something akin to static electricity lift the hair on her arms. There were six paintings of scenes depicting various aspects of daily life in Somewhere, but the artist had cleverly intermingled two timelines on the same canvas: a modern day one and another from around the turn-of-the-century. However, there was one painting that was different. It was a boy and his dog playing on the beach. The boy was wearing a blue ball cap and had tossed a Frisbee into the air that the dog was chasing. Faith thought about Owen and his pet, and stepped from the alcove to ask the owner if the picture was of them, but he wasn't at his desk. She returned to study the painting once more and searched for the artist's signature. It was signed simply, "Vee." The other pictures were also signed in the same manner. Since Faith didn't want to wait for Art to return from the back room or have him pressure her into buying something, she left the gallery and started walking back in the direction of the B & B.
When she was across the street from Mama Pink's Diner, she jaywalked to the other side. She entered the diner and realized every table was taken; even the counter at the back was packed. A sign just inside the door read, "Welcome and Seat Yourself!"
Faith was about to leave when a waitress wearing a pink T-shirt and carrying a tray loaded with three plates of meatloaf and mashed potatoes, called from across the room, "Honey, your best bet right now is to sit at the counter until a table opens up. There's an empty stool on the end."
Faith glanced at the counter again and saw the stool. Smiling at the middle-aged woman with ponytailed bleached blond hair sprouting brown roots, she nodded a response because answering would have required her to shout. As soon as she sat at the counter a glass of water was placed in front of her by an elderly woman also with a ponytail and wearing a pink T-shirt. She looked to be in her seventies with massive fine wrinkles—not the deep etched kind—covering every inch of her face and neck. She was tall and big boned and her hair was shockingly pink. Her bone structure was such that it was obvious she had once been a stunning woman. She grinned at Faith. "Howdy. My name is Edna Jolene Elizabeth Pink, otherwise known as Mama. Are you staying in Somewhere or just passing through?" Although her greeting was direct and somewhat abrasive, Faith took no offense and instinctively knew that Mama Pink was a wonderful woman.
A sudden clatter interrupted the buzz of conversation and Faith turned to see a young woman, probably not more than twenty, bending over a tray of drinks and ice scattered across the floor. The poor girl with a brunette ponytail and wispy bangs looked like she was about to cry and Mama called out. "Now Suzy, honey, don't you worry about that. If I had a dollar for every tray I dropped, I'd be a rich woman."
Faith watched the first waitress and another one rush to help the young one. Even some of the customers jumped from their seats to assist as a busboy hurried to the scene with a broom, dustpan, and mop. Quickly, the disaster was cleared and everything returned to normal.
Mama Pink, who had stepped from behind the counter to speak with the mortified waitress, gave her a quick hug and returned to Faith. She pointed to a vacant table. "We got an open table now if you want it."
Faith shook her head. "I think I'll stay here."
Mama said, "And what can I get for you? Today's special is our most popular."
"Maybe next time. Right now, I'd like to try that marionberry pie with a cup of coffee."
"You got it."
For thirty minutes Faith enjoyed her pie, chatted occasionally with Mama, and found out the woman's last name was really Pink.
Mama refilled Faith's coffee cup and said, "I think the stars must have been aligned just right when I was born. My favorite color has always been pink and this diner was a success from the first day it opened back in the '60s. And I let every man I married know that I was keeping my maiden name. Some of 'em squawked about it, but I stood my ground and refused to marry 'em until they agreed."
Faith wondered how many times Mama had been married, but refused to ask something so personal.
Mama continued, "My first husband even had the nickname of Pinkie. My second husband, Roberto, showed up for our first date in a pink Cadillac. And just to let you know, everything they say about Latin lovers…" she winked, "…is true. And I could go on and on about my five husbands, but I'll save that for another time."
During the course of their intermittent conversations Faith learned that Harriet was the bleached blond waitress, and Julie, the second waitress—a younger version of Harriet—was her daughter. And, of course, Suzy was the sweet girl who had spilled the drinks. Faith mentioned that she was staying at Hope B & B for the summer and Mama said, "Gabby and me go way back. We get together at the B & B sometimes and gossip." She grinned. "Join us and you'll learn some of Somewhere's secrets."
Faith laughed. "I may just do that." She ate the last of her pie, finished her coffee, and decided that Mama had an endless supply of talking points, and if she didn't break away, she'd be there the rest of the day. Mama bid her a cheerful goodbye and made her promise to return.
Faith jaywalked again to the other side of the street and spent an hour exploring. She came to a sign with the word MUSEUM and an arrow pointing down a side street and walked in that direction.