Meant To Be (17 page)

She slowly scanned past them to a selection of side and coffee tables and a collection of single chairs. Suddenly she gasped and her mouth fell open as she spotted a wingback chair upholstered with a large floral print in monotone dark green – that could almost pass as black – on cream. She'd had in her mind a stripe or check design, but this was even better. She rushed over to it.
Please be perfect, please be perfect.

And it is,
she thought as she ran her eyes all over it. This was the chair for her – and her office.

‘Wow, what a beauty,' Jake said. Emily was slightly startled. She'd become so focussed on the chair she'd almost forgotten she wasn't alone.

‘Hmm,' she replied, as she stared at the chair and its price tag, hardly able to believe the bargain price of five hundred dollars. The new ones she and Barbara had seen the other day in Port Lincoln started at a thousand – and that was with the cheapest, plainest fabric. She didn't know much about fabric quality, but this sure looked expensive. And totally gorgeous!

‘And a bargain,' Jake said, peering over her shoulder.

‘It's great, isn't it?'

‘I can attest to its comfort. It was one of mine.'

Emily turned at hearing the shopkeeper's voice.

‘I've spent many an hour curled up reading in it,' the lady added. ‘I had to downsize to go into business, so a few pieces had to go. The price you pay and all that,' she said cheerfully with a little flourish of her hand.

‘Oh, right, fair enough,' Emily said, feeling a little awkward. What else was there to say?

‘Did you see the back of the tag? There are matching curtains if you're interested. If not, I'll knock a hundred dollars off the price.'

‘Oh, I wish I'd measured the window,' Emily said.

‘If you've got an older house, they fit the standard single-sized double-hung window – if that's any help,' the woman offered.

‘That's exactly what sort of window you have,' Jake said as Emily thought the same thing.
This is totally meant to be.
She was so excited, she felt like shouting from the rooftops.

‘What have we found, kids?' David asked jovially, wandering up with Barbara.

‘Oh, it's perfect!' Barbara cried.

‘And there are matching curtains that should fit my window,' Emily said.

‘Well, quick, snap it up before I do,' Barbara said.

‘Don't you dare,' she said to Barbara. ‘I'll take the chair and the curtains, thanks,' she said to the shopkeeper.

‘Oh, I'm so pleased it's going to go to a nice home,' the woman said, smiling warmly.

Emily smiled back.

‘Hey, this would be perfect for your cuppa and a book; just the right size and height I reckon,' Barbara said, holding up a small round occasional table in a medium-coloured polished timber. ‘Go on, sit. Make sure it's comfy,' she urged, putting it down beside the chair.

Emily settled into the chair with a big grin. She reached over the side and pretended to pick up something from the table. Yes, definitely just the right height. It was big enough for a mug and book, and maybe even a small vase of flowers. ‘It's perfect.'

‘Lucky we brought the ute,' David said.

‘I'll get the curtains out for you to see. They're in great nick, but I'll let you be the judge.'

‘Jake, let's take the chair out the front,' David said.

‘Thanks very much, you guys,' Emily said, and began making her way over to the back left of the shop, where she could see modern laminex office desks. Hopefully there were some pieces with character hidden behind.

‘Well, this is clearly meant to be,' Barbara said, joining her. ‘I bet you'll find the perfect desk here too.'

Emily stopped at a stacked pair of pedestal-style desks next to another stacked pair of simple desks with turned legs and a single drawer. She looked from one style to the other, unable to decide which she preferred.

‘These are nice,' Barbara said.

‘Which sort?'

‘Both,' Barbara said with a laugh.

‘That's the problem I'm having.'

‘What problem are you having?' Jake asked, appearing beside them and draping an arm around Emily.

‘I can't decide which style I prefer. I'd like a few drawers to put stuff in, but I also like the turned legs and slightly more dainty look of these,' she said, pointing.

‘Take one of each,' he said.

She looked at him curiously. ‘I don't have the space. Anyway, you can't have two desks in a room; that would look silly.'

‘No, not both for your office. One for your office and the other for a reception desk for the gallery.'

‘Isn't it a bit soon to be looking at gallery furniture?'

‘I don't think so. That's the thing about buying second-hand. It's not like ordering new from a catalogue. You might not find the right thing when you want it.'

‘He's got a point,' Barbara said, nodding thoughtfully.

Emily could see it too, but the conservative voice inside her was already saying it was pretty decadent to buy a chair
and
two desks. But the longer she stood there looking at the desks, the more she liked both styles equally. And, Jake was right, she might never see anything in this condition again.

She leaned closer to where white price tags dangled from handles, almost holding her breath.

‘How much?' Barbara asked.

‘Seven hundred and fifty each.'

‘Bargain,' Jake and Barbara said at once.

Maybe, but that would mean she was spending two thousand, not including the small side table. She'd never spent so much in one hit in her life. Well, except when buying her car, but that didn't count.

‘Hey, Dave, can you give me a hand to take this one down so Em can get a better look?' Jake said over his shoulder to David who had wandered up to join the small group.

‘No worries.'

Soon the two piles were split and there were four desks sitting on the floor. Emily's mind began to boggle. Before she was struggling between the two styles, but now she liked all four desks.

‘Oh, God,' she said, putting her hands to her head. ‘They're all nice.'

‘Well, if it helps, these two are nine fifty each,' David said with a shrug.

Hmm.
Ordinarily Emily would have gone with the cheaper, but things were different now she had some money. She'd never
been one to splurge, but perhaps she deserved a lift in standards. And, after all, an art gallery needed to make a good impression.

Jake was inspecting each piece with a critical eye and running his hands over them. Emily stood nibbling her lip whilst trying to decide.

‘Aren't they great?' the shop woman said, appearing again.

‘Yes, but I can't decide between them,' Emily said. ‘I've got the decision down to one pedestal and one with turned legs, but that's as far as I've got,' she added with a laugh.

‘Would a cuppa help with the thought process?' The woman asked kindly.

‘Do you run a café here as well?' Barbara asked, looking around.

‘No, but I've got a machine hiding out the back. I'm going to make myself a latte, but I can do a cappuccino, flat white, or short black. Or hot chocolate.'

‘A latte would be great, thanks,' David said.

‘A hot chocolate would be lovely,' Jake said.

‘Ooh, yes, hot chocolate would be fabulous,' Barbara said.

‘And for me, too. Thank you so much. Maybe a sugar hit will help me make this decision,' Emily said.

‘You know, you can always sleep on it for a few days,' the woman offered. ‘If someone else is desperate for one, I could call you.'

‘Wow, that's very generous, but I think I really should make a decision today.'

‘Well, at least wait until after you've had a cuppa. It always helps me,' the lady said, beaming, and left.

‘Isn't she nice?' Emily whispered.

‘Yes, lovely,' Barbara agreed.

‘I wish more people in the city understood the value of good service,' Jake said from almost out of view beside a desk. ‘Sorry, but I think you're definitely better off with the two more expensive desks. There is a bit of damage at the back of that one,' he
said, pointing to the cheaper of the pedestal desks. ‘Remember, in a gallery people will be walking up to what is the back of it if you're sitting behind it,' he added.

‘Good point,' Emily said thoughtfully.

‘And the legs of that one are a bit sturdier and the proportions seem better all round,' he said. ‘Ultimately it's your choice, though.'

‘Okay, done. I'll take both the more expensive ones,' Emily said, her mind suddenly clearing.
What's a few hundred dollars in the scheme of things?

‘And they are tax deductible,' Jake added.

‘Your drinks are ready,' the lady called from the doorway a few moments later.

They all made their way back through into the other shed and over to the counter, where five steaming mugs sat next to a sugar bowl, some teaspoons on a plate, and a plate of chocolate Tim Tam biscuits. Below the counter, five chairs were arranged in a semicircle.

‘Please, help yourselves,' the woman said, picking up a mug in one hand and Tim Tam in the other and then sitting down. ‘I'll knock something off the price if you buy the chair and the two desks,' she added cheerfully as she dunked a corner of the biscuit into her coffee.

‘I think I'll also take four of the timber mantelpieces,' Emily said. ‘What do you say, Jake?'

‘Sounds like a good idea to me.'

‘I could do a good deal on restoration, too, if you'd like.'

‘What do you think, Jake?'

‘We've got plenty of time until we need them. Why don't we take them now and then bring them back for restoration later if we decide not to do it ourselves?' he asked.

‘Fine with me. Whatever you decide. Are you renovating a house?'

‘Building one, actually. I'm hoping to open an art gallery, but it's very early days. We're still in the planning phase,' Emily said. ‘And I've never run a business before,' she admitted.

‘Ah, nothing to it. I think a gallery is just what the district needs. You'll do great. And I'd love to come to the opening if you have one. I'm Maureen, by the way,' she added, extending her hand. Emily introduced herself and then the others.

It seemed as if they'd been sitting there for only minutes chatting with Maureen, but when Emily noticed long shadows crossing in front of the open shed door, she was surprised to find it was half past five.

‘We'd better pack everything up and get going so you can close up,' she said, standing, putting her mug on the counter, and getting out her wallet.

‘Oh, don't worry about keeping me,' Maureen said, getting up to attend to her. ‘All part of the job. And I've enjoyed the company.'

‘It's been lovely,' Emily said, handing over her card. ‘I hope you don't mind if I borrow your idea about serving coffee to customers,' she said while waiting for the transaction to go through. She could imagine visitors browsing her gallery with cup in hand, or sitting and looking at art from strategically placed bench seats. Perhaps she could serve scones and jam and cream, too, so people could sample her jam.

‘Not at all. And feel free to pick my brains about anything. We small business owners have to stick together,' Maureen said, smiling as she handed back Emily's card. ‘I'll just do up a receipt.'

‘We'll start bringing everything out and loading the ute, right Dave?' Jake said.

‘Absolutely,' David said.

‘I'll get the little table,' Barbara said, setting off after the two men.

It was almost six by the time the four fireplace surrounds, one armchair, and two desks were loaded and securely tied down. Maureen had lent them a couple of old woollen blankets for extra padding, which they promised to return in a few days. The small round side table was stowed between Barbara and Emily in the back seat and they set off waving to Maureen, who was out the front of the shed bringing things in. They had offered to stay and help, but she'd insisted that she was fine and that as she had a good system down pat it was easier to do it on her own.

They drove away chatting excitedly about meeting someone new and how lovely Maureen had been. She and her husband, who was in mining and spent two weeks at home and two weeks away, were ring-ins – people from outside the district.

Barbara said with a laugh that it was lucky they had to return the blankets, because she'd been so caught up with Emily furnishing her office that she hadn't had a good look around for herself.

‘That was probably the plan all along,' Jake said with a laugh.

‘Yeah, you return the blankets, buy something else, take the blankets again, have to go back again et cetera,' David said, chuckling. ‘Very clever.'

‘Can you believe she gave me twenty-five percent off everything?' Emily said.

‘Really? That's very generous,' Barbara said. David and Jake murmured their agreement.

Despite the saving, Emily still felt a little queasy at how much she'd spent. Oh well, too late now, as Gran would say.

‘Golly shopping is exhausting,' Emily said, thinking aloud. But it was a satisfied exhaustion, she thought. Whoever said shopping was therapy was so right.

‘Imagine doing it all day every day,' Barbara said.

‘Don't you go getting any ideas, wife of mine,' David warned, raising his eyebrows and locking eyes with Barbara in the rear-vision mirror.

‘I think you're pretty safe, darling,' she said, reaching forward and touching his shoulder.

They lapsed into silence, a sure sign they were all tired.

‘Who's for tea at the Wattle Creek pub then,' David said a few minutes later. He was approaching the intersection where the dirt road to the right was a shortcut through to Emily's. If they stayed on the bitumen they'd end up in Wattle Creek.