Wanda E. Brunstetter (3 page)

Her heart did a little flip-flop. He was tall with sandy-blond hair and wore a pair of tan slacks and a long-sleeved white shirt rolled up to the elbows.

Bev recognized him—but from where? She’d never been in this store before. She was tempted to ask if they’d met somewhere, but that might seem too forward.

The man stepped up beside her. “May I help you?”

Bev moistened her lips, feeling as though her tongue were tied in knots. “I—um—do you have any dolls?”

He smiled and made a sweeping gesture with his hand. “All over the store, plus toys of all sorts.”

“I’m looking for something inexpensive that’s in good condition.”

“Shouldn’t be a problem. Most of the toys are in pretty fair shape.”

“Would you mind if I have a look around?”

“Help yourself.” He stepped aside, and Bev walked slowly around the room until she came to a basket full of dolls. Surely there had to be something here Amy would like. And if they weren’t too expensive, maybe she could buy two—one to replace Amy’s Baby Sue, and the other for Amy’s Christmas present.

Bev knelt in front of the basket and riffled through the dolls. A few minutes later, the man pulled up a short wooden stool and plunked down beside her. “Have we met before? You look familiar.”

She felt the heat of a blush creep up the back of her neck. “I’m…uh…not sure. You look familiar to me, too.”

They stared at one another a few seconds, and his scrutiny made Bev’s cheeks grow even warmer. Suddenly she remembered where she’d seen the man. It was at Bethlehem Steel, the day she’d rushed into the hallway in tears after receiving her layoff notice. She had been mortified when she bumped the man’s briefcase and it opened, spilling his photographs. But no, this couldn’t be the same man. The man she’d met was obviously a photographer, not a used-toy salesman.

“I’m Dan Fisher, and I have a photography studio in the back of this building,” he said, reaching out his hand.

“I’m Bev Winters.” She was surprised by the firm yet gentle handshake he gave. “You’re a photographer, not the owner of Twice Loved?”

“I do both. The used-toy store was my wife’s business, and I took it over after she died two years ago from leukemia.”

“I’m sorry for your loss.” Bev’s heart went out to Dan. It was plain to see from the way his hazel-coloredeyes clouded over that he still missed his wife. She could understand that, for she missed Fred, too.

“Were you at Bethlehem Steel a few weeks ago?” she questioned.

He nodded. “I was asked to take some pictures for management, and—” Suddenly his face broke into a smile. “Say, you’re that woman I bumped into, aren’t you?”

“Actually, I think I bumped your briefcase.”

“Ever since you came into the store, I’ve been trying to place you.”

“Same here.”

He motioned to the basket of dolls. “What kind of doll are you looking for?”

“I might buy two. One needs to be a baby doll, because my daughter’s favorite doll is broken beyond repair. I’d also like to find something to give her for Christmas.”

“How about this?” he said, pointing to a pretty doll with a bisque head.

Beth looked at the price tag and released a sigh. “I’m sure Amy would like it, but I can’t afford that much right now.” She plucked a baby doll from the basket. Its head was made from compressed wood, and the body was cloth. “I think this could replace Amy’s rubber doll. How much is it? I don’t see a price sticker.”

“Some of the dolls in that basket came in last week, and I haven’t had a chance to price them yet. How does twenty-five cents sound?”

Her mouth fell open.“You can’t be serious.The doll probably cost at least three dollars when it was new.”

He shrugged. “Maybe so, but it’s used now, and twenty-five cents seems fair to me.”

Bev sat a few seconds, thinking about his offer and trying to decide how best to reply.
I shouldn’t have told him I couldn’t afford the other doll. He probably feels sorry for me or thinks I’m a charity case
. She pinched the bridge of her nose, hoping to release some of the tension she felt. “Maybe I’ll take this doll now. If I find a job soon, I might be able to purchase The bisque doll later.”

His eyebrows lifted in obvious surprise. “You’re not working at Bethlehem Steel any longer?”

She shook her head. “I was laid off. A returning soldier used to have my bookkeeping position.”

“I’m sorry.” the compassion Bev saw in Dan’s eyes made her want to cry, but she couldn’t. It would be humiliating to break down in front of someone she barely knew.

“I understand that a lot of women who were filling job slots during the war are now out of work,” he commented.

“Which would be fine if my husband were coming home.”

“He was in the war?”

She nodded, willing her tears not to spill over. “Fred was killed during the Pearl Harbor attack. He was aboard the USS
Maryland.”

“I’m sorry,” Dan said again. He reached out his hand as though he might touch her, but quickly withdrew it and offered Bev a crooked grin instead.

She felt relief. One little sympathetic gesture and she might give in to her threatening tears.

“An elderly lady from church worked here part-timefor a while,” Dan said, as though needing to change the subject. “Alma fell and broke her hip a few weeks ago, so she had to quit. I’ve been trying to run both Darcy’s toy store and my photo business ever since. It’s become an almost impossible task, so I’m looking for someone to manage Twice Loved.” He released a puff of air. “You think you might be interested in the job?”

Interested? Of course she was interested. That was one of the reasons she’d come here today. “I did notice your H
ELP
W
ANTED
sign in the window,” Bev admitted.

“I put it there yesterday. Also placed an ad in the newspaper.”

“I read that ad in last night’s paper,” Bev said, feeling the need to be completely honest with him.

“You did?”

“Yes, but that’s not the only reason I came here this morning. I really do need a doll for my daughter.”

“I appreciate your truthfulness,” he said smiling. “I’m a Christian, and I believe honesty and integrity are important—especially where business matters are concerned.”

“I’m a Christian, too.” Bev fingered the lace edge on the baby doll’s white nightgown. “I would have told you right away that I was interested in the job, but I was taken by surprise when you stepped into the room and I couldn’t figure out where we had met.”

He chuckled.

“So, about the position here…what hours would I be expected to work, and what would the job entail?”

“The store’s closed on Sundays and Mondays, so I’d need you to work Tuesday through Saturday from nine to five. Could you manage that?”

Bev nibbled on the inside of her cheek as a sense of apprehension crept up her spine. Would he refuse to hire her if he knew she couldn’t work Saturdays?

“Is there a problem?” he asked. “I sense some hesitation.”

“The woman who watches my little girl after school is not available on weekends, so it would be difficult for me to work on Saturdays.”

Dan shrugged. “That’s not a problem. Bring your daughter to the store.”

“You wouldn’t mind?”

“Not at all. I have no children of my own, but I like kids.” He shrugged. “Besides, a lot of kids come here with their folks. Maybe your daughter could keep them occupied while their parents shop. In between customers she can play with the toys.”

Bev could hardly believe the man was so accommodating. Her boss at Bethlehem Steel would never have considered such a thing. Of course, there weren’t a bunch of toys available there.

“What type of work would be expected of me?” she asked.

“Keeping the books, waiting on customers, going through boxes of toys that have been donated—that sort of thing.”

“I think I could handle it.” She felt her face heat up again. “That is, if you’re willing to give me a try.”

Dan stood and motioned her back to the counter.

Bev followed, wondering what he had in mind.

He reached underneath, pulled out a dark green ledger, and flipped it open. “If you’re a bookkeeper, you should be able to tell me if there’s any hope for this store.”

Bev peered at the page and frowned. The figures showed a decided lack of income, compared to the expenditures. “Why are so many of the toys given away for little or nothing?” she questioned.

“I donate a certain percentage of the proceeds from Twice Loved to children in need. It was something Darcy started before she died, and I plan to continue doing it.” His forehead wrinkled. “So many kids had to do without during wartime.”

“There have been so many people affected by the war—children who have lost a parent most of all.” Bev drew in a deep breath and decided to ask the question uppermost on her mind. “How can you afford to pay me if the toy store operates in the red?”

“I make enough as a photographer to cover your wages.” He motioned to the ledger. “And maybe you’ll figure out a way to sell more toys and put Twice Loved in the black. My only concern is whether you’ll be able to handle some of the repairs.”

She lifted one eyebrow in question.

“The dirty toys that come in aren’t such a problem. I usually take them home and soak them in the tub. However, I’m not good with a needle and thread, the way my wife was.” Dan nodded toward a colorful patchwork quilt draped over a wooden rack on the opposite wall. “Darcy finished that shortly before she died.”

Bev studied the item in question, taking in the vivid colors mixed with warm hues. “It’s beautiful.”

“Can you sew?” he asked.

She nodded. “I don’t quilt, but I can mend.

I’ve made most of Amy’s and my clothes.”

“Great. I think you’ll do just fine.”

“Is there anything else?”

He ran his fingers through the back of his hair, sending a spicy aroma into the air that tickled Bev’s nose. “You know anything about electric trains?”

O
n her trip home, Bev sat at the back of the bus, thinking about the job. Had she made a mistake in accepting Dan Fisher’s invitation to work at Twice Loved? She was sure she could handle the books, because bookkeeping was something she had been doing for the last four years. But what did she know about fixing broken dolls and stuffed animals? And a toy train, of all things!

Bev winced. Had Dan been kidding about her repairing the broken train, or did he really expect her to tackle such a job? She would have asked about it right away, but he’d received a phone call that interrupted them. When he hung up, Bev paid for the baby doll, and not wanting to miss the next bus, she had left in a hurry and forgot to ask about the broken train.

She glanced at the small box lying in her lap. Amy’s new doll. The one she’d paid a quarter for. She figured it was an act of charity, but since money was tight, she’d set her independent spirit aside.

I still can’t believe he suggested that I bring Amy to the store. But tomorrow’s Saturday, and I can’t leave her alone. I hope things will go okay during my first day on the job
.

“Excuse me, but is this seat taken?”

Bev was glad for the interruption, as her worrisome thoughts were taking her nowhere. “No, you’re welcome to sit here,” she said to the elderly woman who stood in the aisle.

The woman slid in next to her, pushing a strand of gray hair away from her eyes. “Whew! I almost missed the bus.”

“I’m glad you made it.” Bev could relate to what the woman had gone through. Since Bev didn’t own a car, she usually rode the bus and had dashed for it many times when she’d been late. When she worked at Bethlehem Steel, which was several miles outside of town, Bev drove to work with a coworker who owned a Hudson and lived near her apartment. With her new job being downtown, though, she would ride the bus every day.

As the bus continued on its route, Bev watched the passing scenery—the Karldon Hotel, Easton City Hall, Maxwell’s Book Store. How long had it been since she’d bought a new book to read? Money was tight, and America had begun rationing things during the war. She had a feeling that despite the end of the war some things might continue to be rationed for a while.

Even though Bev had Fred’s monthly veteran’s pension, it was small and not enough to provide all the essentials she and Amy needed. Bev only wished her wages at Twice Loved wouldn’t be coming from Dan’s photography business. She hoped to find a way for the toy store to make more money and get out of the red, while keeping prices low.

Bev closed her eyes and leaned against the seat, willing herself to relax and give her troubles to the Lord. After all, He had provided her with a new job, and so quickly, too. She needed to trust Him and believe He would care for her and Amy in the days ahead.

Sometime later, Bev arrived at her apartment and was surprised to find a note taped to the door. She waited until she was inside to read it, dropping her coat and the box with the doll in it onto the couch. Then she took a seat and opened the folded paper.