For the last month, Father’s been talking about the crowds that were going to show up. In the end, there was only a handful of people. Most of them were other merchants from the town square and were more polite than enthusiastic. Father gave a ridiculous speech about how the pharmacy would provide for all of Kingsbrook’s medical needs. He boasted of the tonics from the East and powders from Africa. Then, he announced that he would be giving away samples to prove their effectiveness. Carol was livid. Afterwards, they disappeared in the back and left me to work the register. The machine jammed and I needed Father’s assistance. I went through the curtain to the storeroom and found them arguing.

Carol was furious and said he was throwing money away. Father said that once everyone sees how well the products work, they’ll be back for more. Carol said that they didn’t work and that Father knew it back in Boston. That’s when they saw me standing by the curtain. I told them about the register.

Carol said she would take care of it and left us.

“Isn’t it wonderful?” Father asked with a forced smile.

“Isn’t ‘what’ wonderful?”

“The store!” he replied. “It’s going to do such wonderful things for our family.”

He’s said that before about the grocer’s we had in Boston and the launderette. And now, this.

Father and Carol continued to be hostile to each other and arguing in the storeroom. The stream of customers dwindled, and Father decided it would be best if I ran the store and the two of them went home to talk. I was fine with the idea; anything to get them out of the store.

There were some customers throughout the rest of the day, but nothing of the magnitude Father had predicted. Some of Kingsbrook’s elite who couldn’t be there earlier for the opening stopped in later. They seemed relieved when I told them that Father was gone for the day. Then, they beat a hasty retreat, promising to return another time and congratulate Father on the pharmacy’s success.

One of the latecomers was Mayor Fleming. To my surprise, he was followed by the young woman I had seen under the window at my party—the one named ‘Patricia’. We recognized each other immediately. She smiled with false politeness as he introduced her as his daughter. He asked to speak to Father and I told him that Father had gone, but that I would tell him that he had stopped by.

As they turned to leave, you’ll never believe who walked in … Mr. Carrington!

He exchanged pleasantries with the Mayor and a few words with Patricia before making his way over to the counter.

Those eyes.

“Ms. Harker,” he said.

“It’s good to see you, Mr. Carrington.”

He was pleased that I remembered his name and winked at me, again.