They easily worked out a method for moving people through: Rachel and Pastor Dean worked the store, and when people found the items they needed, they would then be sent to Lily at the counter. She would check the amount of aide they had available for the month, then bag their items for them. It was a rewarding experience for Lily, seeing those in need were given simple basics that would make their lives easier.
By midday, the customers had slowed to a trickle, so Pastor Dean excused himself, explaining he was scheduled to give a counseling session.
“If I didn’t know better, I would think Pastor Dean had a hangover.” Rachel’s speculative voice drew her attention from filing paperwork.
“I’m sure you’re wrong. He told me he had a headache this morning.”
“I have three brothers; I’m very familiar with the signs of a hangover. Pastor Dean has all the symptoms. Did you see his face when I handed him his sandwich?”
“Yes, but I’m not a fan of meatloaf sandwiches, either. I’m sure it gets old having to eat other’s cooked food all the time.”
“Maybe.” Rachel’s tone still sounded doubtful.
Lily didn’t get the chance to talk about it further because the door opened and closed, bringing in more customers. Lily worked steadily as a member of the congregation came in searching for winter coats for her children. Lily knelt in front of the little five-year–old, helping her zip a jacket up.
Her little hand tugged the fur collar up, brushing her face with the soft fur. “Can I have this one, Mama?”
The mother looked inquiringly at Lily.
“Of course you can.” Lily smiled at the little girl’s excited face.
Standing up, she searched through the racks until she found one for her older brother. Going through a plastic tub, she then found each of them gloves.
She bagged everything up, handing the mother the large bag.
“Thank you.” The woman started to say something else then gripped the bag tighter in her hand.
Lily knew what the woman wanted to ask without being told. Coming out from behind the counter, she put her arm around her shoulders.
“I think Mom needs a little something for herself.” Lily led her to another coat rack, going through several before the woman found one that would fit.
“There. Now everyone has a new coat.” Lily reached out, hugging the smiling woman. “Come back the first of December. We’ll have the Christmas section open and you can choose some toys for them.”
The woman nodded. “I will. I don’t like to take help, but Brian was hurt on a construction job. He’s been looking for something that’s not as strenuous, but he hasn’t found anything yet. I have several applications out, but no one’s hiring.”
“That’s why we opened the store. We’re happy to help,” Lily said matter-of-factly, sensitive to the woman’s pride.
“Thank you, Lily.”
“Bye, Christy.” Lily watched the small family leave, filled with a sense of satisfaction.
“It makes all of our hard work worth it, doesn’t it?” Rachel said, straightening one of the clothes racks.
“Yes, it does.”
Rachel went to lock the door, staring out the window. “Now that’s one man I wouldn’t mind fighting my brothers over,” she said.
Lily kept filing the paperwork but glanced up briefly, noticing Rachel still staring out the window. “Who?” Lily asked curiously.
“There’s someone new in town. He’s talking on his cell phone. The hood to his car is up. Jeez, Lily, he’s dressed in a suit. I bet he was driving through town and his car broke down. Darn, why can’t someone who looks like that move to town?”
“That good?”
“Oh, yeah. If I knew anything about cars, I would have been gone five minutes ago. That car looks expensive, too. Good looking and has money. What else could a woman ask for?”
“Maybe he’s a jerk,” Lily warned.
“I wouldn’t care,” Rachel said reverently.
Lily laughed, coming out from behind the counter and walking toward the window.
“Where?” she asked Rachel, gazing out the window.
“There.” She pointed out the window. “He’s going inside the diner.”
Lily saw a tall, broad shoulder man walking into the diner. She only managed to catch a brief glimpse of his back as he walked inside. He had jet-black hair and even Lily could tell the suit he wore was expensive.
The car parked in front of the diner was one of the luxury models she had seen advertised on television.
“Maybe it’ll take a couple of days for him to fix his car,” Rachel said hopefully.
Lily grinned at her friend before turning away. “You could always go to the diner and get us some coffee,” Lily suggested.
“You think?” Rachel grinned back.
“Go for it.”
Rachel grabbed her purse, taking off out the door before Lily could suggest it twice.
Lily went back to work, and Rachel was gone quite a while before she walked back into the store carrying the coffee.
“How did it go?” Lily asked curiously.
“We were right. He was passing through when his car broke down. He’s even better looking close-up, too, but he’s older than I thought. My brothers would lock me up and throw away the key if I tried to get to know him better.”
“Did you get his number?” Lily wanted to know how bold Rachel had gotten with the stranger.
“No, but I did get his name,” she said triumphantly.
“Oh, what was it?” Lily asked.
“King.”
Chapter 31
“Well, that’s different.”
“I know. Isn’t it cool?” Rachel said, setting the coffee down on the counter.
“Did he say where he was from?” Lily pulled a stool up to the counter, taking one of the coffees.
“I forgot to ask.” Rachel looked nonplussed for a second. “Oh, well, it really doesn’t matter. He already has two strikes against him: he’s too old and he’s from out of town.”
Not long after, Lily saw Shade pull up outside. She threw her empty coffee cup away in the nearby trashcan. “I’ll see you next week.”
“Bye, Lily.”
Until Pastor Dean could find someone to run the store, it would only be able to stay open on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The store really needed to be open more frequently during the winter; she worried about so many going without their basic needs during the winter months.
Lily climbed onto the bike behind Shade after putting on her helmet, noticing the broken-down car was already gone.
When they got back to the clubhouse, she recognized Sex Piston and her crew’s car. Killyama was leaning against it with her arms folded, glaring at Rider as he talked to her.
Train was working on one of the bikes, watching the argument with an amused expression.
Lily got off the bike and Shade took her helmet from her hand. Lily greeted Beth’s friend as she drew closer.
“Hey, girl.” Killyama didn’t remove her glare from Rider.
“What’s going on?” Shade asked.
Lily listened curiously; she had been too polite to ask, but obviously, Shade didn’t have the same hesitation.
“I was supposed to give her a ride today,” Rider nodded his head sharply at Killyama, “but my bike won’t start. She thinks I’m fucking with her.”
“Babe, if you were fucking with me, I’d hope I would know it.” Killyama grinned evilly at the furious Rider.
Lily had to look away to keep from laughing at Rider. The laid-back man didn’t stand a chance against the biker woman.
“I meant that I wasn’t trying to get out of giving you a ride.” His choice of words didn’t make the situation any better; he kept digging himself into a bigger hole.
“I know what you meant. Do I look stupid?”
Silence met her question.
Killyama was dressed in leather pants and a black t-shirt that had a skull with a dagger in the eye.
It read “Come and get me.” Her make-up was dark and smoky, and her biker boots had metal spokes sticking out. She didn’t look stupid, yet she did appear scary as heck. Especially for a man who loved women who were very feminine. At least he makes an attempt to be a gentleman, Lily thought when he ignored her question.