The municipal building was across from the department store. Its ground floor garage bays were open, revealing two modern, new-looking fire trucks and an ambulance. There was a movie theater on Main Street. It wasn't showing a first-run film but at least it was open. It advertised a bowling alley in the basement. Twin Mills was a beautiful little town. He was impressed. People seemed to know each other -- he heard lots of friendly greetings and impromptu conversations up and down the sidewalk.
Lisa came out of the diner. She had changed out of her waitress uniform into a cotton dress like the one she'd worn the day before at the carnival.
"Hi," Fabian smiled, rising from the bench. Bruiser pranced from foot to foot, his jaw dropped in a doggy grin.
"Hi," Lisa smiled back, then reached down and gave Bruiser's head a good scratching.
"You know, I didn't ask how you get to work," he said. "This isn't inconvenient if I walk you home, is it?"
"Inconvenient how?" she asked.
"What about your car?"
"I don't have a car," she told him. "I usually walk. Sometimes I ride my bike, but not today. There aren't a lot of cars here. Usually if you see someone driving, it's a tourist."
"What about when it rains?"
"I take an umbrella." She shrugged. "If I have pies or something, either someone comes to get me or they just pick up the pies."
"You've lived here all your life?"
"I have."
"I've been wondering -- what is that blue stuff that's growing in the fields?" He didn't mention it, but he had noticed that the blue flowers were almost exactly the color of her eyes.
"That is flax," she told him. "Exactly how boring do you want me to get? Why don't I just tell you that this is one of the few areas in this country that grows fabric-grade flax. Usually in the United States flax is grown just for its seeds. The east mill spins and weaves linen in addition to some cotton and wool. There is a west mill that makes flour and animal feeds. Hence "Twin Mills"."
"Do all the farms grow flax?"
"Yes and no. There are four farms and all specialize in something different. I don't really understand the arrangement, but they all rotate into each other's fields. So for all I know, there could be some flax growing on my dad's land right now." A bell rang in town. "Sounds like school is out -- we're just getting out of town in time."
"How many people live here?"
"About 10,000 or so. We're pretty self-sufficient, which is part of the draw for the tourists. That and the mills."
"Why the mills?" he wanted to know. They stopped heading east, turning a corner to start heading north. This was a more residential part of town -- townhouses started getting farther apart as they moved along.
"The mills are still water-powered," she told him. "In fact, the water wheels generate most of the electricity here in addition to powering the mills."
"You're a fountain of information," he smiled.
"I get a lot of questions from tourists at work. Anne and George pay very well, and I don't really scramble for tips, but I can get extra if I do a little tour guiding."
"Where would I get groceries?"
"That's just down the block here." Lisa gestured to her left. "What do you need?"
"I could really use some eggs."
"Then you're headed in the right direction. I have chickens; I usually have a lot of eggs. Do I get a turn now?" She smiled a mischievous smile at him and he laughed. He handed her the leash.
"Oh, thank you," she said, taking it, "but I meant with questions." Bruiser trotted along happily, either unaware of or content with the change at the other end of the leash.
"Sure. Ask away."
"What do you do in the winter?"
Fabian laughed.
"I think it would surprise you. It surprises most people."
"Really?
"What do you think we do?"
"I have no idea, Fabian. That's why I asked." Bruiser pulled on the leash, but to Fabian's surprise, Lisa kept him under control very well.
"Do you have a dog?" he asked.
"No. Do you and your family pack yourselves in crates and hibernate until spring?"
Fabian burst out laughing.
"No! My parents -- the magician and the fortune teller? They're both college professors."
"Say what?"
"Seriously. Most of the carnies are teachers or students. I just graduated from college myself."
"Really? Wow! That's impressive. What did you study?"
"I am a fully qualified elementary phys ed teacher," he told her. "I can also teach history and coach a variety of sports. My mom teaches European history. My dad teaches psychology. One of my sisters graduated from culinary school and the other is a veterinary assistant and animal trainer. My brother ... well ... Franco isn't well."
"The one who judged the pie contest?"
"Yes. He has a pretty good head for business and was doing well in school, but had to drop out. He almost had his CPA, but never did the internship. I suspect his health problems are weight related. You knew he's my brother?" He looked at Lisa.
"It was a topic of gossip in the diner after you all got here," she said. Bruiser stopped to sniff a tree thoroughly, then lifted his leg. Lisa paused to wait and looked at Fabian. She had noticed this morning that her friends were right -- Fabian was beautiful. He was large and well-muscled, but looked more athletic than like a body builder. He had dark curly hair and a perfect, straight Grecian nose. If she had wanted to draw him, she would have made his nose as an upside-down 7. His eyebrows were dark and level, his eyes were a warm brown and almost almond-shaped. He had a well-groomed moustache and very straight, white teeth. If she wasn't careful, she would fall head over heels for this man.
"How did you get started doing the strong man show?" she wanted to know. Bruiser finished at the tree and they started walking again.
"I got very sick when I was a kid," he told her. "I learned the routine when I was young mostly to get my strength back. I got it and then some. I did some gymnastics in high school and college. Some of it I'm not too tall for. My turn. Do you have sisters and brothers?"
"I have one of each," she said. "My brother is finishing veterinary school and my sister is married to the Rector of St. Mark's. She directs choir and is the organist. Both my brother and sister are older."
"Franco and I are the oldest," he told her. "My sisters are younger."
"You're twins?"
"Yeah," Fabian sighed.
"My best friends are twins."
"The ones you were with yesterday?"
"Yes. They really enjoyed your show. You wouldn't believe how they harassed me for not seeing it. I would have, but I was running late. I was working yesterday, and barely got my pies to the judging on time." They passed a large stone church with a sign that said "St. Mark's Episcopal Church", then a matching stone house. A woman was in front of the house, pulling weeds from one of the flower beds. She saw them and waved.
"Lisa!"
"Hi, Carol!"
"Do you have a minute? I have something for you."
"Sure." The woman went into the house. "That's my sister," she explained to Fabian.
Carol returned with a large basket.
"First of the season!" she crowed. The basket was full of quart boxes of strawberries.