Chapter 5
They pulled up in front of Robinsons Grocers. It was an older grocery store, built over a century ago, but Mr. Robinson always made sure it was spotless and updated. He always kept it well stocked with the finest fresh fruit and vegetables, and Harry the butcher was always ready to pack up a few fresh steaks.
Walking into the store, Marti’s eyes lit up. She smiled, “Oh, Annie, it feels like old times. Remember when we were little and came in here after school?”
“Yeah, how could I forget? You were always running around touching and eating everything. Remember when Old Man Robinson kicked us out when you ate all those apples? I thought Grandpa was gonna beat your ass! He didn’t need to…you were in the freakin’ bathroom for days!!” Annie busted out in a full belly laugh.
Marti winced, “Shut up! I was just a kid.”
“You know Gramps came in later and paid for those apples. He felt so bad for you.” She covered her mouth to stifle the giggles.
“Stop,” she whined. “Don’t make fun of me. That hurt, my butt was on fire.” The girls laughed so hard Mr. Robinson walked over to see what the commotion was.
Annie looked up, a big smile on her face. “Hey! Mr. Robinson, how are y’all doing?”
“Oh honey, we’re good, we’re good. Now what’s got y’all so worked up you can’t control yourselves?” he asked, smiling a big toothless grin.
Marti piped in, “Oh, we were just reminiscing about how things used to be here at the store. You know, when we were kids?”
“Yep, as I recall, you girls were just about the death of me. Good thing y’all are all growed up. How y’all doing up there at the ranch? And I’m real sorry to hear about your grandpa. Old man Gibbons was an old bastard, but he was one of the good ones.” He took his handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped his nose. “Been getting cold around here, y’all better stay warm out there. Anything I can do for y’all, just let me know.”
“Well there is one thing. You know we had the ranch remodeled last summer? Well Tommy and I were thinking about opening up the little store out there. You know for the tourists who pass through Mountain View?”
He shook his head, “Yep, yep I remember that itty bitty shop Gibbons used to have. Y’all thinking about opening it up again?” He sniffled again, wiping his nose.
“Mr. Robinson, you really need to take care of that cold. Why are you working anyway? It’s the holidays and you don’t look very well. Do you need a ride home? I’m sure Annie and I can run you home and get you some hot tea.” She glanced over at Annie, who nodded in agreement.
“Aww, hell, I gotta be here. My grandson done went and got married; I don’t have anyone else to tend the store. I gotta stay open for the holiday, that’s where I make my best money. I’ll be alright. He looked at Annie, ”You tell that sheriff I said y’all can go ahead and open that store, I’m just about to give up on this one right after the holidays. Man can’t work like a dog when he’s old. I’m just tired. Too tired.” He shook his head. “Now, did y’all need anything or did you just come in here to waste my time?”
Marti went to give Mr. Robinson a hug. “We love you Mr. Robinson.”
He wrapped his old arms around her and Annie. “It’ll all work out, girls, it’ll all work out.” He sighed. “Now, did y’all need anything?”
“Well, sir, if you can point us in the direction of the turkeys, that would be just wonderful.”
He nodded to the back of the store where the refrigerator section was. “They’re right over there. Now y’all know how to cook ‘em, right?”
“Yes, sir, Tommy is the best turkey man in town.” Annie smiled and they walked off toward the refrigerator section. She turned around to look at the old man. “Bye bye, Mr. Robinson, happy holidays!”
Marti sighed, “How sad. This is an amazing little store and he doesn’t have anyone to carry on the name. After all those years right here in town…it’s just sad.”
Annie grunted as she lifted a huge turkey into the cart. “Yep, people grow up and they move away from this little bitty town. I heard the sushi place is about ready to close too.”
“I should buy it. How cool would that be?”
“The sushi place? No one goes there anymore.”
“No, this store, I could turn it into a little farmers market and you could bring the peaches here to town.” Her eyes were wide with excitement, like a kid in a candy store.
Annie scoffed. “Marti, what the hell are you going to do with a grocery store? In this town? Seriously? What do you know about running a store?”
Marti stopped, “I wasn’t gonna run the damn thing, I was just going to buy it. I can hire people to run the store. Duh!” She picked up a few sweet potatoes and dropped them into the cart.
Picking up a pumpkin pie, Annie turned to Marti and asked “Do you still eat pumpkin pie? And now that I think about it, who the hell you gonna hire in Mountain View that is good enough to run this store like Mr. Robinson does?”
“Listen to you, little missy bitchy pessimist, you really know how to squash someone’s dream don’t ya?
Squash.
It.
Like.
A.
Fucking.
Bug”
…she snapped, not believing Annie could be so pessimistic.
She hurried to the register, sliding her hand into her purse and pulled out her credit card. Oh well, he already knows I’m here. Marti just wanted to get out of there. Annie was getting testy with her, and she just wanted to drop the whole conversation. Taking a deep breath, she put the groceries on the conveyor at the register. This was not how she wanted the day to go. It was no better than the shit she put up with in Memphis.
Annie slid up behind her, whispering, “Had I known owning a small time grocery store in Mountain View, Georgia was one of your life’s dreams, I would’ve bought you the damn store myself.”