Snowspell

Chapter 1: Avery’s Corner Thrift November 15 Seven inches of snow covered Templeton, Pennsylvania, overnight. Katy Davidson, the meteorologist on Channel 8, WTMP, forecasted another storm for the day, adding seven more inches to what had already fallen. Sometimes Katy Davidson didn’t know the weather and cared more about her husband, Rick Davidson, and her twins, Billy and Winston. No matter what Katy cared about or not, Mother Nature had planned on dumping a load of snow on many Lake Erie towns, maybe offering the storm of the century. Avery Gauge loved the snow, winter, ice, and bad weather. It calmed his nerves and settled his whimsical soul. At thirty-four, the owner of Avery’s Corner Thrift couldn’t get enough of winter, despising the summer months along the lake. The colder or wetter the weather, the better off his mood. Throw in a blizzard or hurricane, he felt like he had won the lottery. Even when Avery opened his thrift store on the corners of Mulberry and Lake Avenues late because of seven inches of snowfall, his mood didn’t turn sour. Rather, he’d been happy, enlightened by life and the white stuff outside, pleased that Mother Nature had once again politely given him a personal gift of low temperatures, frost on his store’s windows, and a bitter chill within his store. Avery’s Corner Thrift in downtown Templeton covered six thousand square feet. Dishware and flatware sat on tables to the far left, secondhand furniture stood at the rear of the establishment, and the right side of the sales floor consisted of picture frames, artwork, vintage and rare books, glass paperweights, purses, pillbox hats, and faux minks. Other smaller areas of merchandise included various ceramic figurines, lamps, toys, puzzles, and rugs. Avery Michael Gauge’s apartment sat above his business. Most would have thought he owned the building, including the apartment and business below, but he didn’t. Edward Kinney, Avery’s uncle, had purchased the property in 1988. When Avery graduated with a business degree from Pulzer College, near the Ohio/Pennsylvania border and Lake Erie, he decided to open his thrift store, renting the property from his uncle. Twelve years later, Avery still lived in the apartment above his business and never had been as happy in his entire life. The apartment at 193 Lake Avenue looked massive in size, an open space with high ceilings and brick walls. Close friends considered the place a museum lacking art. Others called it The Cavity since it just happened to be a massive area of space. Avery’s twin, Evan Michael Gauge, tried to stay away from the apartment, claiming, “My voice echoes too much in that place. I hate it. Avery can do better.” Simple, humble, and good with money, Avery lived a moderately unchallenging life. His parents, Henry and Trixie, were still alive, both retired from teaching careers and living in a bayou of Louisiana. His older brother (by approximately two minutes) had been his best friend since they were in their mother’s womb. Avery drove a 2017 Jeep Wrangler the color of midnight, worked out three times a week to stay healthy, and didn’t suffer from hazardous addictions such as gambling, smoking, drinking, drug use, or hiring young men for s*x. Avery did have one problem in his middle-aged world: meeting the right guy. Unfortunately, his dating life lacked luster, and he had been single for the last few years. Yes, he went on dates, all which ended badly for him. Construction workers smelled. Truck drivers couldn’t compile a sentence without using the word f**k in it. Cops were too aggressive. Handsome bankers were into themselves a little too much. English professors were snobby. Bakers worked odd hours. And priests—two that he dated in the last year—were a little more into Jesus and praying than him, which he completely understood. Unlike Evan, his twin, he hadn’t met the right person to spend the rest of his life with. Evan had fallen in love with a clothing designer by the name of Amy Write. The young woman of twenty-eight just happened to be making a killing off her bathing suit designs and their high sales. Engaged for the last month, Evan and Amy were going to celebrate their nuptials in Maui in a year. Of course, Avery was invited and would be his brother’s groomsman. But anything could change in a year, and he didn’t count on attending the beachside function, at least for now. * * * * Evan had a key to Avery’s apartment, rousted his brother out of bed with three pokes to Avery’s side, and told his twin, “You’re late. The store downstairs needs to be open. Amy’s waiting to get inside to buy one of those rare nesting dolls for her friend, Milly Medley. I guess Milly collects them or something, and it’s her birthday.” Avery liked his sleep. He couldn’t recall how many times he had opened his store late. Not that citizens of Templeton were rushing to be patrons of the store at eight o’clock in the morning, especially on Monday after a night of heavy snowfall. He stirred awake, flipped on his back, and looked up at his twin. “The key for the place is on the kitchen counter. What happened to the one I gave you?” Evan said, “Make me another one. No harm. No Foul.” Avery sat up and shook his head. “That was the fourth key I made you in the last eight months. What are you doing with them?” Evan shrugged. “It’s no big deal. Just make me a new one.” “It is a big deal, Evan. You probably have ten keys floating around the city to my store. Be a little more responsible.” A car horn beeped three times out front. Both men looked at the string of windows hanging over the avenue. Evan said, “Amy’s waiting. I’m taking the key. I’ll make you a copy.” Avery realized how irresponsible his older brother could be, shook his head, and huffed. “Forget it. Just take the key. I have other copies here.” “I’ll shovel the sidewalk around the store to make it up to you.” “Deal,” Avery said. “And put a pot of coffee on for me down there.” Evan saluted, kissed his brother goodbye on his forehead, tussled his hair with a palm, and said, “Will do, Mr. Gauge. I’m here to serve you.” Avery rolled his eyes, settled back into bed, and stared at the ceiling. He loved his brother, and Evan’s fiancé, Amy, with all his heart. Without them, he wouldn’t have a family in Templeton. Having something was better than having nothing. Amen to that.