Читать книгу Small Town Cinderella - Caron Todd, Caron Todd - Страница 9

CHAPTER FIVE

THE BELL OVER the door jingled when Matthew went into the post office the next morning. The place had just opened but there were already a number of customers inside and, if he wasn’t mistaken, half of them were Robbs. Four men, two older and two younger, visibly related, clumped together at the far end of the grocery counter drinking coffee from takeout cups, visiting as if they were in one of their own kitchens. They noted his arrival, then ignored him.

A woman with her back to the door sorted mail. She smoked while she worked, keeping two fingers busy with the cigarette and managing envelopes and flyers with the other three.

“Good morning,” Matthew said.

The hand came up, telling him he would have to wait. From a distance she looked young, with one of those unnaturally red hair colors. Up close, her neck and hands and the way she stood gave a more realistic idea of her age. Late sixties, he guessed. This must be Virginia Marsh. Born in Three Creeks, widowed at thirty. Bought the store in ’72 and finished paying off the mortgage just twelve years later.

While he waited he half listened to the conversation by the coffeemaker. One of the older men was saying something about looking on the bright side. His voice became louder as he made his point, confident and nostalgic.